Freedom, Liberty, and Rights

Liberty started with God. He authored and gave it first to Adam and Eve and allowed them to enjoy its blessings. God has intended this liberty to be enjoyed by them forever. 

Everything was free in the garden of Eden. They did not have to toil, sweat, and labor to eat. The vegetation was lush and everything was abundant and organic. They were never bothered by calamities; not even by rain. They were free from any pain and from risks and any forms of danger. As parents, they have no parental issues. They were free of enemies, illness, virus, and any kinds of affliction. The had no expenses and no IRS to harras them with taxes. They lived in perfect and peaceful environment. Everything was provided. All the animals were their pets and at their beckon call to enjoy. Then came sin and liberty was gone.

In the beginning, God gave them the first law of liberty with only 1 provision: 

Genesis 2:16-17 KJV

[16] And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 

[17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

This first law of liberty was clearly given, but because they believed the lies of the serpent; they fell into sin. They suffered the consequences of this one sin. This was the greatest sin ever comitted resulting into many and eternal consequences. 

Sin placed them in bondage. They were taken out of the garden to protect them from eating the tree of life that would have made them condemed forever. They entered the way to captivity, with no hope in sight. They lost their freedom and replaced it with a life of misery. Because of their sins, we all became sinners in need of freedom. Praise God, from the beginning He exercised grace by the promise of a Savior:

Genesis 3:15 KJV

[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Man started living free in the beginning; but their desire for individual rights and independence from God, they disobeyed and broke the perfect laws of liberty. Consequently, they placed themselves in the poorest, loneliest, and harshest and in the most miserable life of slavery. They were convicted and sentenced by death: Spiritually, Physically, and Eternally.

The freedom that the Serpent enticed Eve with was the kind of freedom people are clamoring today all over the world. It is freedom just to be free. It is without purpose. It is freedom stuck in the past; still motivated by fear, regrets, and insecurity of the past. Their only desire is to avoid the wrong choices and mistakes that they did. It does not help since they look not at the opportunities. To them responsibility is an obligation and a burden. They do not stop looking for freedom for nothing satisfies them. They are right because nothing and no one in this sin-sick world can ever satisfy; and liberty can never be enjoyed. 

To get a clearer picture of true freedom, it is best to define the meaning of the 3 words we use too often when we talk about liberty:

1.Freedom - is the condition of being free or being unshackled. Its aim is to get away from captivity, without any reason but only to be free. There is no thought about being free from, and being free to. This is not liberty! 

2.Liberty - is freedom with a purpose and accountability. It is derived from the laws of liberty that comes from God. It is not unrestricted. It follows a pattern and a structure. It involves responsibilty and proper accountability. It has a set of standard and responsibilities. Oh yes, liberty is not free! Someone gave His life for our Liberty.

3.Rights - first, it must be truly defined according to the term, right. It means it is be based on righteousness. Rights are the result of the laws of liberty. We have rights because they are provided in these laws. It is like when we join an arganization, we are allowed certain rights as exclusive members. If we are not willing to abide, we lose our rights. 

Therefore, if we want to have freedom, we need to subject ourselves to Someone who gives liberty. Since God is the source of liberty from the beginning; true liberty can only be found in Him. The Liberty God provides has laws to follow and to observe. We must be willing to be under this law. 

However, before anyone can enjoy liberty, one must first of all be freed from his current condition of captivity in sin. In the case of humanity, we are bound to sin and unable to free ourselves from its eternal consequence. Man does not have the ability to set himself free. We need somone to free us. This requirement was fulfilled by Jesus Christ on the cross. He paid for our freedom when He gave His life at Calvary. He paid it with His precious blood. The only way one can experience this freedom is to put his trust on the Saviour in repentance and faith. (Romans 10:17)

Once you are free (salvation), God does not only set you free; but also gives you liberty to enjoy the Rights that come with it; with a condition to abide and continue in the law of liberty. You need to commit and agree with its provisions. When you submit to these laws, blessings and more opportunities will abundantly follow. 

With liberty there is a purpose. Countless of opportunities are before us. We need to forget the miseries of the past captivity because Christ has completely freed us once and for all. We can move on forward and claim all the promises and opportunities God gives. 

This liberty allows us to enjoy the rights He provides. Rights are not inherent to a natural man. They are God-given; derived and provided in the laws of liberty. 

Freedom, liberty, and rights all come from God. There is nothing in this world that can provise us these. It is because life and everything else: including all creations are subject to the curse of sin. The enemies and the world will promise freedom; but the wrong kind of freedom. It is freedom void of liberty. It is freedom that will never enjoy the divine rights from God. 

Freedom is not free. It is free for us to receive but to God it was not. The Father had to sacrifice His Son; Who had to shed His blood as payment for our sins. That’s how He loves us. 

Let us therefore be strong in the Liberty God has given us. As believers, we have been completely set free. There is no reason to continue asking God for freedom, liberty, and rigts: 

John 8:36 KJV

[36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Let us thank and praise God by enjoying this liberty and by being strong in it. Only surrender ourselves to its perfect laws and abide. Only then we will enjoy all the rights He gives. 

James 2:12 - So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Liberty that God gives is not only to be talked and discussed about. It is to be done and be shown in our lives. When we fail to do them, the laws of liberty will be our judge. It will burden us so that if even when we appear doing right and faithful, we will continue to feel miserable and unfulfilled. It is because we only show a false facade, but inwardly we are burdened and overwhelmed. However, if we obey and submit faithfully, Christ’s yoke will be easy and His burden is light. 

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.