How can I be set free, saved or be righteous before God is a question that has been ask since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden.
We find this question in Job 4:17, 9:2, 25:4, Acts 16:30 to name a few. To answer this question we need to answer 2 basic questions.
- What do I need to be set free from?
- How am I set free?
What do I need to be set free from
Romans 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We need to be set free from sin. Romans 6:20-21 tell us we are a slave to sin. Ephesians 2:1-3 tell us we are dead in our sins, we are a slave to our sinful flesh, our corrupt mind, and we are obedient to and in the control of demon spirits. We are under the wrath of God because we are disobedient to God. Psalm 7:11 tell us God is angry with the wicked every day. Sinners are described in Romans 3:9-18 KJV in detail.
In Romans 3 tells us there are no exceptions to be a sinner. Everyone in the world outside of faith in Christ are the “none” and the “all”. Which means before salvation we are all in this category. The cost of our sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is eternal death in eternal misery, hell (Revelation 20:13-15, Revelation 21:8,27; Revelation 22:15).
Should We Follow Our Heart?
The world tells us to follow our heart that it will lead us to do good, but here’s the problem.
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Every sinner’s heart is deceived by the father of all lies, Satan. Our heart refers to our inner man, mind, and will. Which means, all sinners thinking, feeling, and desires are influenced through lies and evil.
Because you have not been given a new heart and spirit through faith in Christ, you do not fear, seek or care about God. According to God, the unbeliever’s situation is as serious as life or death, eternal life or death (John 3:16). Which brings us to the question, How am I set free from my love of sin?
Luke 4:18 KJV The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Dive deeper into how truth can set you free by reading: Can Truth Set You Free
How Am I Set Free
The answer is quite simple, Jesus is the only way to be set free from slavery to sin;
Romans 3:20 KJV Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Jesus Paid The Price So You Can Be Set Free
Jesus death on the cross paid our debt for our sins in the only way that was acceptable to God. He was buried and raised from the dead on the third day. Jesus was seen by many after He was raised back to life (Acts 1:3).
Romans 10:9 KJV That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Salvation is the work of God’s grace which gives us faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith in Christ Jesus changes how our heart sees God and thereby our mouth verbally tells others, God changed my view of Him and myself.
Example of True Repentance of a Broken Heart
Luke 18:10 KJV Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
God Is Merciful
“God be merciful to me a sinner”. This is the heart of a humbled person in whom the Holy Spirit has convicted them of their sin. They know they need to repent of their disobedience to God because they have no way of saving them self. Faith in the name of the Son of God is the only way to receive salvation.
Acts 4:10 KJV Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Will you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Will you ask Him to have mercy on you, a sinner?
Bible Verses to read
Job 4:17, Job 9:2, Job 25:4, Acts 16:30
