Freed by Christ

Scripture Reading: Acts 13:13-39

              This scripture recounts for us Paul’s sermon in the synagogue of Antioch. Paul builds toward a gospel proclamation by setting the account of Christ’s death and resurrection within the history of Israel. He begins with the Israelites in Egypt and leads toward the gospel. He shows how the Psalms he quotes could not have been written about King David, but rather had been prophecies pointing toward Christ.

              His “therefore,” which is his application and conclusion based upon the reasoning of Scripture, is “by [Christ] everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” (English Standard Version, Acts 13:39). Now, if you read this verse from another version, NKJV for example, you will find that the word “freed” in the ESV is translated “justified” in the NKJV. Why?

              “Justified” is a good translation and the Greek word that is used generally has that meaning. The reason ESV went with “freed” is because in this case there is a preposition “apo” with the word for justified. The “Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament” explains:

Thus, diakaioo does not mean the mere declaration of innocence, but the liberation from sin which holds man a prisoner.

              So, while it is true and accurate to say that “justification” in the New Testament often means “to declare righteous,” in this case Paul is going further and saying that the one who believes is not only declared righteous, he is set free from that which condemns, namely sin.

              This is something the law of Moses was unable to do. God never intended for the law to be how one is set free. The law condemns us. It is a mirror that shows us what is wrong, but it cannot make things right. Christ, through and because of His death and resurrection, justifies and sets free from the power and condemnation of sin the one who believes in Him.