What You Should Know about the Freedom to Love and the Freedom from Sin -

In Christ we have freedom: not freedom to sin but freedom from sin. We have freedom to love God.

By David K. Bernard

When God created the first humans, He gave them a choice to obey Him or not. Because they made the wrong choice, we may wonder why God ever allowed a choice in the first place and why He allowed temptation. While we can’t presume to know everything about God’s purposes, it appears that giving this choice was necessary to fulfill God’s plan.

The rest of God’s creation—both inanimate and animate—gave Him glory, but evidently, He wanted communion with rational, moral beings and a relationship of reciprocal love. By definition, love involves a free choice. Moreover, He had a plan of redemption that would fulfill His ultimate purpose despite human sin.

Choice inherently involves the possibility of temptation and choosing wrong.

Choice inherently involves the possibility of temptation and choosing wrong.

Both the devil (originally an angel) and the first humans were enough like God that they could create a new condition that had never existed before. Sadly, instead of using this power to pursue and develop their relationship with God, they disobeyed God, thereby creating the condition of sin.

When God created Adam and Eve, He established fellowship with them, placed them in a perfect environment, and gave them everything they could need and desire. He gave them freedom to eat from the entire Garden of Eden, except for one tree, which represented His sovereignty as their Creator and Lord. Thus, God gave the first humans true freedom including freedom of the will. His purpose was for them to experience and then reciprocate true love. In short, God gave them freedom to love.

The Freedom to Love God

Freedom to love God means freedom to obey Him. As Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). When we truly know God, we understand His way is best. When we truly love God, we desire to follow His way. The purpose of freedom is not to disobey God, because disobedience destroys our relationship with Him and ultimately destroys our physical, spiritual, and eternal life.

The truth makes us free because truth leads us back to God’s plan. Click To Tweet

God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The reason is that God alone determines what is good and evil. By definition, God is good. He always does what is best and can’t act contrary to Himself. The universe already had an example of the negative consequences of sin in the fallen angels. Had Adam and Eve obeyed God, they would have understood good and evil from God’s perspective rather than from destructive personal experience.

Both the devil (originally an angel) and the first humans were enough like God that they could create a new condition that had never existed before.

When they disobeyed God, they usurped God’s role of determining good and evil. The devil tempted them with pleasure and knowledge by appealing to lust (improper desire) and pride. Had they remained faithful to God, they would have experienced true pleasure and knowledge but without lust or pride. Their choice broke fellowship with God and subjected them to sin. Sin’s promise ultimately proved false, for while it brought temporary pleasure and partial knowledge, it thwarted God’s perfect plan for them. Individually and collectively, humans are still usurping God’s role today, with detrimental consequences.

Freedom from Sin

Thankfully, God has a plan of redemption to restore fallen humans to His original plan. The Cross breaks the power of sin and restores fellowship with God. The new birth forgives past sin and gives power over present and future sin. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31–32).

“Because of my father. I followed his example.” The other son said, “Because of my father. I made up my mind not to become like him.”

The truth makes us free because truth leads us back to God’s plan. Jesus also said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:34–36). The Son makes us free indeed because He delivers us from the consequences and power of sin and enables us to have fellowship with God. In Christ, humans once again have the power of choice: freedom to love and freedom to obey.

Putting It All Together

The story is told of two sons of a man who destroyed his life with alcohol. One became an alcoholic like his father, while the other became a successful businessman. Each was asked why he turned out the way he did. The alcoholic son said, “Because of my father. I followed his example.” The other son said, “Because of my father. I made up my mind not to become like him.”

The gospel gives us power to follow Christ instead of Adam. In Christ we have freedom: not freedom to sin but freedom from sin. We have freedom to love God.

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David K. Bernard is the general superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International, which has more than 5 million constituents in over 42,000 churches in 230 nations and territories. He is also the founding president of Urshan College and Urshan Graduate School of Theology. He has written 37 books that have been published in 39 languages.