no longer slaves!

Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child.  And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.  Galatians 4:7​ (NLT)

​Imagine being set free from slavery and not realizing it!  That is exactly what happened to many of the slaves in the United States after the conclusion of the Civil War!  The NPR website notes, "After the Emancipation Proclamation, some slave owners kept the news from their slaves."  Essentially, many slaves still lived in bondage because they didn't know they were free!  As Born Again Believers, we are no longer slaves to sin as we once were (Romans 6:20).  Why are we no longer slaves to sin you may ask?  Romans 6:14 explains that "sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.  Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace" (NLT).  We are no longer a slave to sin and the condemnation that follows because of God's grace after Jesus's sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection on the cross as us!  In fact, Colossians 2:14 explains that because of Jesus's death on our behalf, God blotted "out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."  The law which unveiled our sin has been nailed to the cross!  We no longer have to carry the burdensome load of sin because Christ has carried it on our behalf!  God declares, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Romans 6:18). Remember that you no longer have to carry the condemnation and guilt that tries to come in after you accidentally fall short because you are no longer under the law.  Once you accepted Christ, you are no longer a slave to guilt and shame but perpetually righteous regardless of how you may have fallen short!  You are not a slave but a son!