From Captivity to Freedom: Overcoming the Bondage of Sin

What do you think of when you think of captivity? In my mind, I picture a prisoner in chains. Someone who would love to go somewhere, but due to the shackles attached to them, they are bound and unable to be free to do as they desire. This picture is a physical representation of a spiritual state of being. The spiritual state of captivity is sin, which can be described as a transgression against God's divine law. In John 8:34, John explains, "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.'." The term "practices" refers to those who habitually commit an act knowing it is wrong, and do it anyway with no desire to change. The world is bound by sin, and they don't even know it or care. Nonbelievers are constantly searching to fill the void in their hearts that can only be filled with Jesus. In Romans, chapter two, Paul states, "But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;" (verses 8-10). This is the definition of captivity! Sin carries a heavy penalty. While it may be fun now, it will not end in celebration. It will end in separation from your Creator, where you will be held captive to the sin that entangled you in this life.

The good news is, as a follower of Christ, you are free from the bondage of sin through the blood Jesus shed on the cross. Jesus explains in John, chapter eight, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (vs. 31-32). So how do I know this truth that leads to freedom? You MUST abide in Christ. The word abide means to remain (don't stray), persevere (don't give up), stay (don't leave), or continue (don't quit). In ALL we do, we should be seeking Christ and His ways, especially when it is hard. How do you do this? By reading your Bible daily, praying ceaselessly, and seeking fellowship with other believers who are seeking freedom from sin. This might mean finding some new friends, or it might mean you share your struggles with ones you already have.

Learning the truth is a process, but as you learn something, you do it! In our house, we have a saying we use a lot, "To know better is to do better!" As you learn a better way to live based on God's truths, you live it out. Over time, you will see that the things that used to hold you captive, no longer have power over you! Don't be held captive by sin. Allow the gift of God's grace to wash over you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness. Jesus said if we abide, then we are disciples. After you seek to abide, you become a disciple. What is a disciple? It is a student or follower of a teacher. The more you study your teacher, the more you become like the teacher. The result of this is freedom. In John 8:36, Jesus exclaims, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Sin is captivating! That is why the world is entangled in it. Choosing sin is the easy way, but fighting against it is much harder. However, it leads to a much greater reward: freedom! As a follower of Christ, sin should bother you. Your sin as well as the sin of others should be detestable. If it is not, seek Him! Abide in Christ! The more you understand who God is, the more you will understand how much He loves you and wants the best for you. Then, you will trust His best over your fleshly desires, and you will want to run from the captivity of sin to the everlasting freedom of Christ!

Are you stuck in sin? Have you tried to stop, but you feel like the chains won't break? Contact us. We would love to hear your story and share the good news of Jesus Christ with you. We will seek to help you on your journey to freedom! We promise, it will be worth the hard work! Check out our YouTube video for more teaching.

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