Set Free

Last Sunday afternoon my wife and I made our regular bi-annual trip to the county fairgrounds to attend the bookfaire put on by the Friends of the Sonoma County Library.  This is an event that we have been attending since our kids were old enough to read.  I am always on the look out for “treasures” among the hundreds of books that are stacked in boxes on the multitudes of tables that are set up in the exhibition hall.  Although the  pickins seemed a little sparse in the “religion” section this time around, I was still able to add an almost brand new NKJV leather Bible to my personal collection of Bible study aids.  That combined with six Clive Cussler books for a total out of pocket expense of six bucks, made the excursion a total success in my mind!

This morning as I continued reading in Romans chapter eight, I duly opened up my crisp new NKJV Bible to compare its rendition of verse two to that of my favorite God’s Word translation and the Message paraphrase.  The NKJV states: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  The God’s Word version says “has set you free.”  I tend to like that idea a little better as it allows me to liken Jesus’ new Zoe – absolute fullness of life – to that of a bird being set free from the confines of a cage in order to fly free of any constraints in the wide open spaces of the sky.

The Message Bible puts a similar twist in its picturesque wording by saying: “Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low flying black cloud.  A new power is in operation.  The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you…”  Have you ever experienced times where it felt like you just couldn’t get rid of the black cloud of problems, worries, or fear that seemed to follow you everywhere you went?  I think that may be where the old saying that “when it rains it pours” came from!

Romans 8:2 is telling us that we don’t have to be moved or dominated by those experiences anymore!  The word of God is declaring to us that we have been “set free” from the adverse convictions and sentences of the old ways of life!  Why?  Because “a new power is in operation!”  In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul basically tells his young protégé who is facing criticism and condemnation from his new Pastorate to “buck up!” in that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV)

As I have stated before, it is interesting to note that the phrase “a sound mind” in the original Greek, actually refers to the ability of the bringing of a sound mind to others as well as to yourself.  In other words, our new life has given us the faculties not only to think and act soundly according to the Word of God in any situation, but also the ability to help others develop a sound mind as well. 

So, if we go back to the previous verse in Romans which is centered around the thought of “no condemnation,” then we have a twofold responsibility on our hands.  One that leads us away from receiving condemnation and another that leads us away from putting any condemnation on others!  And the law of the Spirit of Life, which is empowered by love, gives us the personal integrity and strength to accomplish the task.  There definitely is a new power in operation… PTL!  See what I mean about being “set free!”  Have a terrific day, stay tuned to God’s word and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”