Every thing that Jesus Christ offers us, was provided over two thousand years ago. Forgiveness of sins, eternal life, freedom from death, healing for our bodies... the list goes on and on... all of it was provided when he redeemed mankind from the power of darkness. This is not something we are waiting for, it is something we have in our spirits as born again believers. In today's passage, Paul gives us the key to how we receive this. He wrote that all of these things became present tense realities when we wholeheartedly obeyed what we heard. It happened by faith when we committed ourselves to Jesus.
It took faith. Jesus is what set us free from being a slave to sin, but it was our faith that activated this change in our own hearts and made it a present tense reality. The writer of Hebrews said that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" ( Hebrews 11:1 KJV ) Which means that when you entrusted the Word of God into your heart, it took root and grew. When ready, by faith you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior. It was faith in what Jesus Christ did, two thousand years ago that saved you. God provided the means, but it took faith or action upon our part to become a reality. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say in verse 6 of the same chapter, that "without faith it is impossible to please God" ( Hebrews 11:6 ) which means, that faith pleases him.
Today we can praise God that we are free from slavery because of our faith mixing with God's grace and mercy. No longer kept in bondage to our old nature but freed completely in order that we should become slaves to righteousness overflowing from our new nature. Today, I pray that this revelation sinks deep into your heart and yields much fruit! Amen
