Rules, regulations, and just a plain lack of freedom are a few thoughts that come to mind when some are confronted with the gist of the Gospel, which is a complete committal to Christ. There is a often a bit of confusion between "religion" and the actual person of Christ.

However, Jesus, Himself, makes this amazing and hopeful statement as recorded in John 8:36, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Just before He said that, He pointed out that anyone who commits sins is a servant to sin: John 8:34 -- "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."

By the Holy Spirit, Paul writes in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and we see from that passage and other passages that we are all sinners, which makes us servants to sin -- until we really come to Christ.

Most people outside of Christ think they are free, however I assure you as we look at the Holy Scriptures that satan* makes sure a person is fooled into thinking they are free. Most do not realize they are made as spirit, soul, and body, and until they commit to Christ, their spirit is ruled by their body, soul, and the world temperament. Behind all of that is satan himself. Someone who is not committed to Christ is essentially a puppet and pawn of satan.

Yet, those who come to Christ, though they become His servants, find true freedom in Him. Just some of the things one is freed from include the following: sin, the sin nature, guilt, judgment for those sins, hell, peer pressure, demonic influence, and fear of death. It is true that some Christians struggle with some of these things, but as they grow in Christ, they will begin to walk in the freedom that Christ has provided for them by His own blood. Some who are not committed to Christ might at times criticize those who struggle as being hypocrites, but there are those who struggle that truly do not want to sin, and God will help those who have a honest and truly determined heart.

Christ also liberates a person so they may grow in their use of the gifts of the Spirit granted by God and the development of His moral nature within them.

By His precious blood Jesus Christ has offered true freedom to everyone. If you have not done so already, commit fully to Christ and enjoy real freedom in Him.

* I realize that satan is a proper name and should be capitalized but, for personal reasons, I try to avoid doing so whenever possible.