3) Jesus Was in the Business of Freeing Slaves
In John chapter 8, Jesus teaches that all of humanity, every single one of us, are slaves to sin. Sin is simply rebellion against God — the transgressing of the divine law. The language He uses here is metaphorically similar to the way people talk about addiction — how we can become slaves to it. Sin is like an addictive disease leading to death — and we are all caught up in its snare. Thankfully, He doesn’t just leave us there. Check it out.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
The religious teachers of the day were astonished (and often appalled) by what Jesus would proclaim (He forgave sins, called himself the Son of Man [a messianic title], and even claimed to be God [“before Abraham was, I AM”]). What if He was God? Could God free us from the penalty and power of our sin addiction? He is the only one who could.
