The true cost of Redemption

The word "freedom" resonates deeply within us. We celebrate it, defend it, and even sing about it. Living in a nation that values liberty, we understand that freedom comes at a cost—someone paid a price, made sacrifices, even died to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. But have you ever stopped to consider the cost of spiritual freedom?

The Promise of True Freedom
In John 8:31-36, Jesus makes a profound declaration about freedom. He tells those who believe in Him that if they remain faithful to His teachings, they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free. When the people respond by claiming they've never been slaves to anyone, Jesus clarifies something crucial: "Everyone who sins is a slave of sin." He wasn't speaking about physical bondage, but spiritual slavery—and the freedom He offers transcends earthly circumstances.

This spiritual freedom is what God has always desired for His people. Throughout the book of Isaiah, God speaks promises of redemption to a future generation of Israelite's who would find themselves living in Babylon, far from home, oppressed and defeated. For seventy years, they would experience captivity, humiliation, and spiritual lethargy. But God had a message for them: their time of exile would end, and freedom was coming.

Wake Up and Shake Off the Dust
"Awake, awake, Zion!" God declares in Isaiah 52:1. "Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem."

These aren't just poetic phrases—they're a divine wake-up call. After decades of living in a foreign land, the Israelite's had settled into a defeated mindset. They were living as though their captivity was permanent, as though this was all life would ever be. God was calling them to recognize that change was coming, that their humiliation was ending.

Think about the imagery: when someone is pushed down into the dirt, there's a sense of defeat and shame. God had told Babylon to "sit in dust" as a sign of their coming downfall. Now He tells His people to "shake off your dust"—to rise up, because their time of defeat is over.

This same principle applies to spiritual transformation. Before anyone can experience the freedom Christ offers, they must first recognize their true condition. They must acknowledge that they live in slavery to sin. This is a difficult realization for many, but it's essential. We're all born into this world as slaves to sin—every single one of us. Only when we recognize this reality can we truly appreciate the freedom God offers.

Clothe Yourself with Strength
God tells His people to "clothe yourself with strength" and "put on your garments of splendor." This language echoes what the Apostle Paul would later teach about "putting off the old man" and "putting on the new man."

For the Israelite's in exile, their identity had become wrapped up in their captivity. Now God was calling them to put off that identity and embrace their true identity as His redeemed people in covenant relationship with Him.

For believers today, this transformation is ongoing. When we're born again, we're given the ability to live in an entirely new way. Through the Holy Spirit, we're being conformed to the image of Christ. But here's the key: while transformation is God's work, we participate in it. When we choose to put off old behaviors and put on new ones consistent with our life in Christ, we're not hindering the transformation God is doing in us.

The strength to do this doesn't come from ourselves—it comes from the Lord. As Scripture reminds us: "The Lord is my strength and my shield," "Be strong in the Lord," and "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Free Yourself from the Chains
"Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive," God declares in Isaiah 52:2.

When the Persian king Cyrus conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing the Israelite's to return home, every single Israelite had the opportunity for a new life. Yet out of hundreds of thousands living in foreign lands, only about 50,000 chose to return to Jerusalem. Only those who chose to go back actually experienced that new life.

This parallels our spiritual journey. As followers of Christ, we've been given new life and freedom from slavery to sin. But we must decide how we're going to live. Yes, we still sin—but here's the crucial difference: when we sin as believers, it's because we choose to sin. We're no longer slaves who have no choice. We have the power, through the Holy Spirit, to say no to sin.

An unsaved person, still enslaved to sin, may occasionally choose not to sin in certain situations, but that freedom only goes so far. They remain under sin's authority. But for believers, true freedom means we can choose differently—not in our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.

You Were Sold for Nothing
"You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed," God declares in Isaiah 52:3.

For the Israelite's, this spoke of their physical freedom from Babylon. But it foreshadows a greater truth: real redemption cannot be purchased with gold or silver. We cannot buy our salvation. We cannot earn it through good works or religious activity.

The redemption God offers comes at a different cost entirely—one that would be revealed through the suffering of the Messiah, the Servant described in Isaiah 53. His appearance would be disfigured beyond recognition. His form would be marred beyond human likeness. The flesh would be ripped from His back, His beard plucked from His face, His body beaten and broken.

Freedom is not free. Our spiritual freedom came at an immense cost—the life, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ.

Beautiful Feet Bringing Good News
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation," Isaiah 52:7 declares.

For the Israelite's, the good news was their freedom to return home. For us, the good news is salvation through Jesus Christ. And just as messengers brought news of freedom to the exiles, we're called to bring the good news of Jesus to a hopeless world.

Look around at our society today. There's a pervasive sense of hopelessness. The news is filled with despair. People are searching for something to believe in, something to give them hope. When we live our lives in ways that reflect the goodness, grace, and mercy of God, and when we point people to Jesus, we become those beautiful feet bringing good news.

Not everyone will respond positively. Many will reject the message. But that doesn't change the fact that what we're offering is genuinely good news. How people respond doesn't alter the truth or value of the gospel.

Living as Free People
God promised the returning Israelite's that they wouldn't have to leave in haste or flee in fear. The Lord would go before them and be their rear guard. What security! What peace! And the same is true for us today. God goes before us and has our back. What is there to fear?

We are free—truly free. But that freedom came at the highest cost imaginable. In light of this, we're called to live like free people. Too many believers live as though they're still enslaved, still chained, when they don't have to be.

Let's make the effort, by relying on the Holy Spirit, to live in the freedom we've been given.
Let's live in such a way that brings glory and honor to God and brings hope to the people around us. Our freedom was costly—let's not take it for granted. Instead, let's embrace it fully and share it generously with a world desperately in need of good news.