eleutheroo – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: eleutheroo

Romans 8:2 – His Faithful Spirit

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Will

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit is continually working in Christians.

Behind the Words

This verse starts with “For,” a translation of the Greek article gar, which is “a causative particle expressing the reason for what has been before.” In other words, the expression that follows is an explanation as to why “there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.”

The word translated “in” is the Greek preposition en, which refers to “a fixed position in place or time,” but by implication here it means “instrumentality.” In other words, the law of the Spirit of life is brought about through the work of Christ.

“Set me free” is translated from eleutheroō, which means “to liberate from the power and punishment of a master.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that occurred at a point in time in the past. In other words, it was not a gradual act of liberation but one that occurred immediately. This liberation occurred the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Meaning Explained

Paul is explaining why there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It is because, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death.” The expression, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” refers not to a written law but a natural law as we discussed back in Romans 7:21. The Spirit of life mentioned in this verse refers to the Holy Spirit who brings life.

Paul is telling us that there is no condemnation against those of us who are saved because the natural law (supernatural law in this case) of the Holy Spirit, providing life through our faith in Jesus Christ, made us free from the control of sin and the death which results from that sin. We were set free from the law of sin and death at the moment we were saved.

It is because we believe God’s message about the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross that God’s grace has been bestowed on us and the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a seal of our salvation. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us both eternal life and the ability to overcome our own sin nature. Hence, we have free will to obey God or not. Before we were saved, we did not have this free will, we were slaves to sin.

Why, then was Paul so frustrated back in Romans 7:15? It is because having a free will does not mean that we always do what is right. It means that we have the choice to sin or not to sin, and when we choose to sin we are convicted by our conscience (and by the Holy Spirit) and we regret doing it. This sin that separates us from fellowship with God requires confession to restore that fellowship and to restore our peace. Unsaved people don’t have this free will; they are under the dominion of their sin nature without the ability to resist.

Application

It’s easy to believe that because we have been declared righteous by God we can sin and not suffer the consequence of sin. However, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and prompts us to confess our sin. Thank you, Lord, for the freedom to obey and for the work of the Holy Spirit in us when we don’t obey!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 6:18 – Slaves of Righteousness

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Will

And having been set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.

Truth to Learn

When we were saved we were released as a slave to sin. At the same time, we became the slaves to righteousness.

Behind the Words

“Having been set free” is translated from the Greek verb eleutheroō, which derived from the noun eleutheros, meaning “one who is capable of movement.” In the Roman world a slave was not permitted to travel without the permission of his or her master. However, someone who was freeborn, or a slave who had been given his or her freedom, could travel about without restraint. Thus, someone who could travel about (who was capable of movement) was considered free. It is expressed here in the aorist tense which implies past action which took place at a point in time (not continuous action) and it is in the passive voice which means that it is something done to us (we were set free).

The words “you became slaves” are translated from the Greek verb douloō. This may look somewhat familiar because we looked at the noun form of this word, doulos (one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another), back in verse sixteen. Douloō means “to enslave.” It is expressed in this verse in the aorist tense indicating action that took place at a point in time in the past.

Meaning Explained

Once again, let’s start out by seeing what Paul is not saying. Paul is not telling us that Christians will never sin again. What he is saying is that we don’t have to be enslaved to sin.

Back in verse fourteen he said:

sin shall not have lordship over you.

The reason that sin will not have lordship over us is because we have been set free from sin. We don’t have to obey our old master because we have been set free from him. Then, in verse sixteen Paul told us:

you are slaves of that one whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness

When we were slaves of sin we had to obey that master. But, since we have been set free, we are now able to move away from sin and “leave it in the dust.” As a result, we don’t have to obey sin any longer.

If we combine yesterday’s verse and today’s verse we see that Paul is telling us that when we believed that doctrinal form that molded us like Christ we were immediately freed from the bondage of sin and made the property of righteousness. This is a reference to the point in time when we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and became a Christian. At that time we were set free from the authority of sin and we became the property of righteousness (that is to say, the One who is righteousness).

In the next verse, Paul will tell us that since we are slaves to righteousness (righteousness is our master), we should yield ourselves to the lordship of that righteousness by obeying Him.

Application

This is easy to talk about, but it is not so easy to do, is it? Even though we want to obey our Lord and submit ourselves to His righteousness, we constantly seem to be slipping away and going back to our old master. Lord, help us learn to flee from sin and yield ourselves to righteousness.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:21 – Curse Go Bye-Bye

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:21 – Curse Go Bye-Bye

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Truth to Learn

The curse on God’s creation will be lifted when we are glorified as the children of God.

Behind the Words

“Delivered” is translated from eleutheroō, which is the verb form of the noun eleutheros, meaning “free to move about, unrestrained, or independent.”

The word “corruption” is from phthora, which refers to “decay” or “spoiling.”

“Into” is from the Greek word eis. This preposition is most often translated “into” but it can have a lot of nuance translations as well. When this word is used in relation to time, it can be translated as “unto” or as “in expectation of.” This is very likely the use of the word in today’s verse.

Meaning Explained

We recently learned that the whole of creation was placed in a state or condition where it is not fully useful; it is perishable, and it is decaying. We also learned that God subjected creation in hope. This hope is explained in today’s verse.

Paul tells us that the reason creation was subjected “in hope” is because creation will be set free from this bondage of decay at the glorious liberty of the children of God. In other words, when God completes the final judgment and we who are saved are all given our eternal bodies, all of creation will also be freed from the bondage of corruption and it will be re-created. Here’s how the Apostle John described it in the book of Revelation:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5a)

I am eagerly looking forward to that day when all sin and all sinners will have been judged and the current heavens and earth are no more, when the new heavens and the new earth have been created and we will spend eternity in peace and joy (in Matthew 25:21, 23 it’s called the joy of the Lord). There, in God’s new creation which will have been freed from the bondage of decay, we will be serving and praising God eternally, for He is worthy!

Application

When you see corruption and decay all around, don’t despair. Some day in the not too distant future God will give His children glorified bodies, and He will recreate the heavens and earth as a perfect place for us to serve Him!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 8:2 – His Faithful Spirit

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit is continually working in Christians.

Behind the Words

This verse starts with “For,” a translation of the Greek article gar, which is “a causative particle expressing the reason for what has been before.” In other words, the expression that follows is an explanation as to why “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

“Free” is translated from eleutheroō, which means “to liberate from the power and punishment of a master.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that occurred at a point in time in the past. In other words, it was not a gradual act of liberation but one that occurred immediately. This liberation occurred the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Meaning Explained

Paul is explaining why there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It is because, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” The expression, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” refers not to a written law but a natural law as we discussed back in Romans 7:21. The Spirit of life mentioned in this verse refers to the Holy Spirit who brings life.

Why, then was Paul so frustrated back in Romans 7:15? Because having a free will does not mean that we always do what is right. It means that we have the choice to sin or not, and when we choose to sin we are convicted by our conscience (and by the Holy Spirit) and we regret doing it. This sin that separates us from fellowship with God requires confession to restore that fellowship and to restore our peace. Unsaved people don’t have this free will; they are under the dominion of their sin nature without the ability to resist.

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 6:18 – Slaves of Righteousness

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Will

Romans 6:18

And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Truth to Learn

When we were saved we were released as a slave to sin. At the same time, we became the slaves to righteousness.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Once again, let’s start out by seeing what Paul is not saying. Paul is not telling us that Christians will never sin again. What he is saying is that we don’t have to be enslaved to sin.

Back in verse fourteen he said:

sin shall not have dominion over you.

you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness

In the next verse, Paul will tell us that since we are slaves to righteousness (righteousness is our master), we should yield ourselves to the lordship of that righteousness by obeying Him.

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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