forces to free people from tyrants and dictators using unconventional methods. There is another special force that liberates those oppressed by a tyrant. Jesus frees those tyrannized by sin. This tyrant is not limited to a localized region or a particular regime. It knows no political, national, or geographic boundaries. It does not discriminate by race social class, or gender. All mankind has felt its oppressive grip (Romans 3:23). It is this most pervasive of tyrants that Jesus came to deliver us from (Luke 4:18). Sin enslaved all mankind and that called for a liberator.Jesus described his mission to set the captives free. He came to seek and to save (Luke 19:10). His was a rescue operation. But what do you do when the oppressed are so enamored with their oppressor that they prefer slavery rather than freedom (Isaiah 65:12). Sin can be pleasurable for a while (Job 20:12-14). It can appeal to us in many forms (Luke 12:15). The result is that the tyrant is preferred over the liberator (Psalm 10:3). Captivity is preferred over freedom. It isn’t until sin has stripped its captive of dignity and decency and leaves guilt and shame in its place that sin is seen for what it is (Ezekiel 20:43). By that time, however, the addictive nature of sin has taken over the will and the feeling of helplessness defeat are overwhelming. Like shackles or prison bars, sin holds its victim prisoner (Titus 3:3).
Happily, the great liberator stands ready to come to our aid (2 Peter 3:9). Though we feel overwhelmed and helpless, there are no prison bars or chains too strong for Jesus. He is more than a match for sin and through him, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Even so, we must come to a place where we are ready to call upon him. When we choose sin over Jesus, he can not help us. It is a contradiction to be both prisoner and free at the same time. We can not have it both ways (1 Corinthians 10:21). We must repent of sin, and trust Jesus (Ezekiel 18:32;Joel 2:12; Mark 1:14-15; John 11:26; James 4:9-10) . Only then are the captives set free. And if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36; 2 Corinthians 3:17)!
