Freedom

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15

The text provides a defining moment in theology. Jesus Christ “became flesh and blood” just like us. Jesus shared in our humanity when He became like us so He could die for our sin and break the power of the devil over our lives. In this way, we can experience the freedom from fear. He did not only appear like us but He really took the form of humanity. He did this so He could meet our need. By His death at the cross, we were forgiven of our sin. When He died at the cross there was no sin in Him but our sin. When Jesus died at the cross, He was not defeated. He was triumphant over sin and death. Sin always brings death. “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (Romans 5:12). “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23). We do not yet experience the full victory of Jesus’ death over Satan for we still see how active he is. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But the future of the devil is sure destruction in the end. “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). The death of Jesus Christ at the cross guarantees the doom of the devil in the future. Christ’s death at the cross also provided us freedom from humanity’s chief source of fear; the fear of death. No longer we are enslaved from fear of death. Because of our relationship with Christ, we can no longer be intimidated by death for we are assured that we will experience resurrection when Jesus returns. “‘Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54). We still face physical death but because of our salvation, we do not fear dying because one day, Jesus will completely eradicate death. To know Christ as Lord and Savior is to know true freedom.

Blessings.