True Freedom
11/13/25 Bible Thought (2 Peter 2)
Freedom to sin is not true freedom at all.
In 2 Peter 2, the apostle Peter warns about false teachers who will come and afflict the church by promoting loose, sinful living. Just as there used to be false prophets amongst those who genuinely spoke from God (2 Pet. 1:21) there would be more false teachers in the future.
Peter makes it clear that God’s judgment is sure to come upon the ungodly and salvation will come for those who are His (2 Pet. 2:4-10).
This in mind, Peter offers a strong, final critique of those who promote lawless living:
“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Pet. 2:19).
True freedom is not freedom to sin, but freedom from sin.
Sin is an oppressor. It promises much but never delivers. It is deceitful (Heb. 3:13). At its best, its pleasures are fleeting (Heb. 11:25).
To test whether something is good or not we ought to look at its end. The apostle James encourages us along these lines when he showcases that temptation springs from personal lust which leads to sin which ultimately leads to death (see Jas. 1:14-15).
We must remember that God’s commands for us are not to restrict our true enjoyment of life.
God is not some cosmic killjoy who hands down the Bible as a rulebook for us to begrudgingly obey. No, rather the Bible offers to us what a true joyous life in the presence of God is to actually look like.
Borders are not a bad thing.
A fence in the backyard keeps a dog from getting run over in traffic. There is great freedom to be enjoyed within the boundaries that the owner has set. Outside of the fence is danger.
The fence isn’t designed to restrict happiness, but to ensure that a pursuit of happiness doesn’t kill the dog.
So it is with God.
True freedom is found in obeying God’s commands rather than the real slavedriver—sin. As Peter points out, that which overcomes a person, is that to which he is truly enslaved.
Obeying God isn’t slavery, within the boundaries God has set we can truly enjoy life and God’s gifts towards us and the ultimate end of these things is life eternal!
Sin will promise much but never deliver.
True freedom is found in freedom from sin, not freedom to sin. Let us not take the devil’s bait and think that sin will make us happy. In the end, it only brings death.
Today’s Challenge:
What temptation in your life might be a little less tempting if you looked at its end?
So many vices we embrace in the name of freedom, all while creating our own prisons in the process.