Fresco of the pentecostal dove (representing Holy Spirit) at the Karlskirche in Vienna, Austria
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. - 2 Corinthians 3:17
Just what makes us free? Is it a declaration of principles or a treaty of surrender that marks great victories in battle?
Is it a Bill of Rights or a system of government? As glorious as these are, they are not the true source of our ultimate freedom. They are outward means for securing temporal liberty and they are highly valued and worthy of honor, but our true freedom comes from God and is activated by His Holy Spirit in our lives.
If the Lord is that Spirit, what sort of Spirit is He?
He is the Spirit that removes the veil from our hearts, which has obscured the truth for so long. He clarifies, amplifies, and signifies spiritual reality and causes us to see what is in a new and clearer way.
The Spirit of God helps us to know the truth that sets us free. In a free society, the free flow of information is vital. Among spiritually liberated people, truth flows just as freely. Blindness flees. New sight is available.
He is the Spirit who liberates us from the bonds of defeat and causes us to triumph through Jesus Christ. We are no longer captivated by an attitude that limits our potential or builds fences around our desire to explore new territory for God.
He is the Spirit who puts an end to condemnation in our lives. He informs us of the redemption and reconciliation that are inherent in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He applies the work of the cross to our lives in liberating proclamation.
He is finally, the Spirit who transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ as we behold Him. That is the goal of our freedom – the freedom to become more and more like Jesus.
