FREEDOM (J.C. Ryle)

John 8:36

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” 

The freedom of Christ's people has been procured, like all other freedom, at a mighty cost and by a mighty sacrifice. Great was the bondage in which they were naturally held, and great was the price necessary to be paid to set them free. Mighty was the enemy who claimed them as his captives, and it needed mighty power to release them out of his hands. But, blessed be God, there was grace enough, and power enough in Jesus Christ. He provided to the uttermost, everything that was required to set His people free. The price that Christ paid for His people was nothing less than His own life-blood. He became their Substitute, and suffered for their sins on the cross. He redeemed them from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for them. (Galatians 3:13.) He paid all their debt in His own person, by allowing the chastisement of their peace to be laid on Him. (Isaiah 53:5.) He satisfied every possible demand of the law against them, by fulfilling its righteousness to the uttermost. He cleared them from every imputation of sin, by becoming sin for them. (2 Corinthians 5:21.) He fought their battle with the devil, and triumphed over him on the cross. As their Champion, He spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly on Calvary.

Christ's freemen are free forever. Once enrolled in the list of Heavenly citizens, their names shall never be struck off. Once presented with the freedom of Christ's kingdom, they shall possess it for evermore. The highest privileges of this world's freedom, can only endure for a life-time; the freest citizen on earth must submit at length to die — but the freedom of Christ's people is eternal. They carry it down to the grave, and it lives still; they will rise again with it at the last day, and enjoy the privileges of it for evermore. This is true liberty. This is to be free.

Romans 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”