Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
As mentioned previously, one way to examine the life of grace is to look at living by faith in the promises of God. Let us now proceed in our consideration of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). The promise of spiritual freedom in Christ is certainly a magnificent and priceless promise. Although we have already given considerable attention to the liberating work of the Lord, this promise gives another appropriate opportunity to meditate on this vital theme (which appears repeatedly throughout scripture).
When people come in humility to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him for freedom, they will be genuinely liberated. This is what the saving grace of God is all about. In coming to the Lord for His salvation, a person is delivered, rescued, set free. This gracious freedom that we find in Christ has both a "from" and an "unto" aspect. Those who look to Jesus for spiritual liberation are free to leave old things behind. They are also free to enter into corresponding new things.
Those who come to Christ are set free from death unto life. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24). Those who come to Christ are delivered from condemnation unto justification. "Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life" (Romans 5:18). Those who come to Christ are rescued from hell unto heaven. "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? . . . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (Matthew 23:33 and 1 Peter 1:3). Those who come to Christ are liberated from the bankruptcy of vain human resources unto the richness of abundant spiritual treasures. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Romans 7:18 and Ephesians 1:3).
Dear Lord Jesus, You are the one who has truly set me free. I thank You that I am no longer spiritually dead, condemned, headed for hell, and limited to inadequate human resources. I praise You that I am alive in Christ, justified, headed for heaven, and enriched by all the resources of Your grace, Amen!
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Bob Hoekstra ( - 2012)
Bob's involvement with the Calvary Chapels began in 1971, when he and his wife Dini visited Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on a Sunday evening. They were deeply touched by the life-giving teaching of the word of God, the simple worship "in Spirit and in truth", and the profound expressions of the love of the Lord among the saints. Upon returning to Dallas, they regularly obtained Pastor Chuck Smith's teaching tapes and eventually became daily listeners of the Word for Today on the radio.Since 1993, Bob had been teaching at Calvary Chapel and other church fellowships across the country and overseas (including, Seminars, Pastors' Conferences, Church Services, Leadership Conferences, Retreats, and Schools of Evangelism/Ministry). He has taught numerous classes at Calvary Chapel Bible College (both at its former location in Twin Peaks, CA and its current location in Murrieta Hot Springs, CA) as well as at the extension campuses of Costa Mesa, Vista, San Diego, El Cajon, and others. Bob's teaching generally highlights such subjects as Counseling God's Way ,Family God's Way ,Growing in the Grace of God ,The Church: How Jesus Builds It ,Contending for the Faith ,Promise Believers ,The Sufficiency of Christ and His Word ,The Psychologizing of the Faith , and related themes.
Pastor Bob Hoekstra is the founder and Director of Living in Christ Ministries (livinginchrist.org). He has been in ministry since 1967, including fourteen years in Dallas, TX and eleven years as Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Irvine, CA. He and his wife, Dini, were married in 1966, and have three adult children and eleven grandchildren. Bob graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1973 with the Master of Theology degree.
Bob's involvement with the Calvary Chapels began in 1971. Since 1993, Bob has been teaching at Calvary Chapel and other church fellowships across the country and overseas. The Living in Christ Radio Program is heard on several stations across the country.