On this day of remembrance for the sacrifices people made on 9/11 in New York, I was considering the name or attribute of Freedom for God. This name is most closely associated with the Holy Spirit and Jesus rather than God the Father. It is also linked to God’s Word. The idea of freedom in scripture is pointed towards our bondage to sin, sin nature that we received when Adam and Eve sinned and were put out of the Garden of Eden. Until that time man had communed and walked with God, but after eating from the tree of good and evil they were barred from the garden, so that they would no eat of the tree of life and thereby seal their fate of sinfulness for life. God made a way through Jesus for us to be reconciled to Him, and it is this plan that we study and seek to understand in the Bible. God’s plan is for us to be restored to communion with Him.

So how does one shed the bondage to sin? There is only 1 way. Faith in Jesus’ work on the cross as He died to take our sins away. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is explained in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 8:34 “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:14 “
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”

Scripture is clear that belief in Jesus brings freedom. Jesus had a discussion in Johns 8:31-36 about this freedom. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus promises that everyone who knows the Son will be freed from sins bondage and payment which is death and will receive eternal life. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I also love Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” In Luke 4:18 Jesus told the people that the Spirit of the Lord was in Him and that His mission was to bring freedom to all who were bound by sin. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”

Christ brings freedom, represents freedom, for the believer, but so does the indwelling Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 “ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” The Holy Spirit brings freedom through faith in Jesus into our lives!

The Word of God also brings freedom. Psalm 119:44-45 “I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever. ⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom,  for I have sought out your precepts.” Living by and studying God’s Word leads us to greater freedom in Him. James also tells us in James 1:25 “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” Looking, studying His Word brings blessing and freedom.

Even though I might not give God the name of freedom, I see it as a by product of knowing and believing in Jesus. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know freedom from sin which allows me to commune with God and not worry about sin’s penalty which is death. That is FREEDOM indeed!

Linda