Martin Luther King said in his “I Have A Dream” Speech:

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force…I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”…Let freedom ring…

We all know the saying, “the truth will set you free.” But what many don’t know is that quote is taken straight from the Good Book (John 8:32). So what is the truth? John 14:6 answers our questions – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 1: 17 says “For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

I know that this might sound quite abstract. To break it down – there are only two kinds of people (in the spiritual sense) – free and slave. Those that are free are free from death and sin. Romans 8:2 says “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” The way Christ redeemed mankind from death is almost like a plot of the best ever epic movie. By Christ dying on the cross, tasting death, and then resurrecting himself from the dead, and ascending into heaven – anyone who believes in Him will experience the same thing – death, resurrection, and ascension to be with the Father.

To be free from sin is another blessing we get when we believe and follow the ways of Christ. Sin is defined as “the transgression of the law..” of God (1 John 3:4). Even when we “that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17).

When we make the excuse “I can’t help it, I was born this way,” we are speaking the absolute truth. We are all born into a fallen state, where we cannot and do not desire to do the things that please God. It is difficult to fathom how holy and righteous God is. So we naturally and instinctively go after the things that are pleasing, those things that satiate our human desires. Like Marcus Garvey was sold for a bag of rice, we were sold for a piece of “fruit” from the tree of knowledge. Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of bean soup. And we sell our soul for vanities, sexual pleasures, money, and fame. The same slave mentality has permeated our mind and souls since the dawning of human existence (thanks to brother Adam and sista Eve). Paul writes, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Rom. 7:14). Although when we are set free from this bondage of sin, which is being compelled to follow after our physical impulses, it doesn’t mean that these things don’t feel, taste, look good even after being set free. It is our mind that is set free, our bodies are still “fallen”. Paul says “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Rom. 7:23)

It is a cycle, we are in bondage to sin and we are a slave to death. But it is through sin that we are destined to death. “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23). But we are given power even over sin and death through Christ. In this way, although we make mistakes, we are not compelled nor do we love sin. We don’t have a mind to sin. As an extreme example, most of us know people that do evil things, such as molest a child or go on a killing spree, we say, “how can that person do such a thing?” I believe it is purely a problem of the mind. Their minds have been set on doing evil, and they even enjoy evil. Although those are extreme examples, likewise, there are things that we do that may be seen as completely acceptable in the eyes of man but is reprehensible to the Most High (many examples in the bible). While we live in this earth, we will not be able to be free from those human desires of the flesh. But to be truly transformed and free from the offenses of sin, we must have a changed mind. “For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.” (Rom: 8:6).

And in the words of MLK, if we truly believe in Christ and his resurrection, we too will be free at last.

John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”