August 1

For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. — Rom 8:2 BSB

By nature and practice, we are slaves to sin and Satan. We are caught up by the influence of the ruler of the air, who takes us captive at will. We are also weighed down by many harmful desires. Even if we're not bound by obvious sin, we can be trapped by pride, greed, or self-righteousness. Maybe there's an idol in our hearts that corrupts us, or a trap of Satan that entangles our steps, and we are powerless to free ourselves from this harsh slavery. We groan under the weight of it, just like the Israelites under their heavy burdens, but we cannot free ourselves.

At some point, however, the truth steps in to help us—the truth in Jesus comes to rescue God's oppressed people. The Holy Spirit opens our understanding and seals it on our hearts with divine power. Under this gracious influence, as we believe the truth and feel its power and sweetness in our hearts, we are set free. The chains of sin and Satan are broken, and we experience a measure of holy freedom. There is no escape from the bondage of the law except through the gospel, by believing what it reveals. When the truth comes to the heart as the very word of the living God, power comes with it to believe. Faith rises up to trust the testimony, and as faith begins to grasp the truth of God and embrace it with hope and love, the bonds loosen. Then, like Peter in prison, when the angel came and a light shone in, and the chains fell from his hands, our spiritual chains also fall off. No barrier remains because, as with Peter, “the iron gate that leads to the city opened by itself.” So when the angel of mercy comes and the message of salvation is revealed, the chains of unbelief fall away, and the iron gate of hardness opens, making the soul blessedly free (John 8:32).