He Has Sent Me…
To Set at Liberty
Jesus came not merely to improve man's circumstances, but to restore humanity to God and liberate those held in bondage.
“He has sent Me… to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Luke 4:18Adam Was Created to Rule
Adam was created in the Image of God. He was placed on the earth to represent God, serve God, and exercise God's authority over creation.
Adam was never created to become his own master. His authority came from his relationship with God. God was his source, his wisdom, his identity and his life.
Man was created to serve the King, not to become a king without Him.
Then Came the Fall
When humanity sinned, something much deeper happened than simply leaving the Garden.
Man lost that intimate relationship with God. His understanding became darkened, his authority was broken, death entered, and the Image of God in humanity became distorted.
Humanity began trying to rule the earth without the One who had given humanity authority in the first place.
Humanity Became Vulnerable
Man was created with the capacity to be governed by a spirit. Originally, that relationship was meant to be with the Spirit of God.
But separated from God, humanity became vulnerable to deception, darkness and spiritual bondage.
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 6:5The Prisons of Humanity
Throughout history, humanity has experienced many forms of bondage:
Humanity kept building civilizations and kingdoms, yet could not free itself from the deeper bondage within.
God Had to Reach Out
Again and again, God intervened.
He reached Noah. He called Abraham. He raised judges. He established kings. He sent prophets.
And finally—
God came Himself.
The Coming of ChristThen Jesus Appeared
Jesus stood and declared His mission:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me… He has sent Me… to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Luke 4:18Jesus came to address the deepest captivity of mankind. He came to restore what sin had broken.
He came to reveal the Father. He came to restore sonship. He came to bring truth where there was deception and light where there was darkness.
The Truth Makes You Free
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32The Gospel does not merely tell a prisoner that the prison exists.
The Gospel opens the prison door.
Christ calls the addicted into freedom. He calls the sinner into freedom. He calls the fearful into freedom. He brings truth where deception has ruled.
Freedom Means Belonging to God
Freedom FROM
Sin, deception, darkness, fear and the bondage that separates humanity from God.
Freedom FOR
Knowing God, belonging to God, walking by His Spirit, and becoming what He created us to be.
When a person receives Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within them.
The person who was once a slave can become a son. The person who was governed by sin can learn to walk by the Spirit. The person blinded by deception can begin to see.
This Is Why Jesus Came
The King came to liberate the captives. The Son came to restore sons. The Truth came to destroy deception. The Light came to overcome darkness.
“What is governing you?”
And even more importantly…
“Who will you allow to govern you?”
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