Just as no one has the “right” to murder another human being, no one has the “right” to control another person as a slave.  Freedom is a gift from GOD given to all mankind.  There are, however, two spheres of freedom—freedom on the human plane and freedom on the spiritual plane.


Martin Luther King Jr. is honored today primarily for his efforts on the human plane although he was also involved on the spiritual plane.  Naturally, the Bible makes reference to being free and freedom also.  Tonight I want to quote some selected Bible verses in reference to spiritual freedom which in the final analysis is more important to each of us (or should be) than human freedom.  I would encourage everyone to check these references for themselves and read the context of them.


“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8: 31-32)

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son (JESUS as the SON of GOD—my addition) sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (John 8: 34-36)


“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience (to GOD through JESUS, the CHRIST—my addition), which leads to righteousness?  But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.  You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6: 16- 18)

“You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature….” (Galatians 5: 13a)

“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants (Some translations use the word “slaves” instead of “servants”—my addition.) of God.” (I Peter 2: 16)

Spiritually speaking we are destined to be slaves—slaves to sin or slaves to GOD.  It almost seems paradoxical.  To become free from sin we must become slaves to GOD through obedience through HIS SON—JESUS.  Yet, there is no greater freedom than that of being a slave to GOD since only through GOD can we be free from sin and the death that sin insures.  So, whose slave do you want to be?  GOD’S or a slave to sin?  It must be one or the other.  Being GOD’S slave leads to eternal life.  Being a slave to sin leads to eternal death.