KNOW IT AND YOU ARE FREE!

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32[KJV]

Although many Bible versions render the above verse as, “the truth shall set you free,” to be set free is not exactly the same as to be made free. To be set free is the instance when that which kept a person in bondage was taken away: but it is possible for a person to still be in bondage in his mind, even when the yoke has already been removed because he does not know it. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hos. 4:6[KJV]

In Acts 12:6-12, Peter had been imprisoned under heavy guard by Herod to be executed the next day. I believe Peter himself was very sad, because James had been killed earlier that week and he believed he would be the next. As the Church back home kept vigil in prayers for him, God sent an angel who loosed Peter from His chains, led him out through dozens of dazed guards, and through three secured prison gates all of which opened by themselves. One would think Peter would have been basking in joy all through these glorious experiences, but no! He was still behaving every bit like a prisoner because he thought he was only seeing a vision. It wasn’t until after the angel left that he realized that he had been set free.

Peter was set free the moment the angel came and the chains fell off him, but it wasn’t until he realized that the experience was real that he was made free. He became free when he realized the truth that he had been set free.

Is the Christian going to be set free when he knows the truth? No! The Christian has to realize that he is in every respect a free man, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2Cor.3:17). Now here is something greater, even the sinner who is still in bondage to the spirit of sin has already been set free; for Jesus Christ is the propitiation (the price paid to redeem and to make peace with God) for Christians as well as for the whole world (1Jn.2:2).

Christ redeemed all mankind from the curse and wages of sin when he took the sins of the whole world upon himself in his body and nailed it to the cross. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. Col 2:14[KJV]

Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isa 53:4,5[KJV]

Then in His death, Christ defeated Satan and his demons and delivered all mankind from their captivity. Having spoiled [defeated, disarmed, stripped naked] principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15[KJV]

Christ has paid for the freedom of all mankind. However it is those who believe and confess Him who are able to obtain this freedom. In the same way, even though every believer has been set free, it is those who become aware of the knowledge of their freedom who are able to walk in this freedom. Beloved, the point I am making here is that Christ has set us free already. Therefore if you were suffering defeat or bondage in any area of your life, know that it is over according to the word of God and the truth you know shall make you free. Know that you are already an overcomer because He who is in you is greater than whatsoever is in the world (1Jn.4:4). You are more than a conqueror in Christ (Rom 8:37) because Christ died and went to hell in your stead[name] (2Cor 5:15), and it was in your stead[name] that He defeated Satan and all the host of demons 2000 years ago. You need to walk with these facts deeply engraved upon your heart, always keeping them in mind and confessing them with your mouth; for the righteous shall live by his faith (Heb 10:38).

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1Jn 5:4[KJV]

Where there is no knowledge of the truth, darkness rules and wherever darkness rules the devil reigns. The point to note here is that even though you are free from any kind of bondage; be it financial, sin, disease, etc., as a result of your position in Christ, you will not be able to live like it till you come to the knowledge of your freedom. It is just like a royal who lives like a peasant and is even bullied by other peasants because he is unaware of his status as a royal. So how do you go about it?

You may want to read: KNOW IT AND YOU ARE FREE! --part 2