Bound by Freedom

Published in the Omaha World Herald’s “From the Pulpit”

August 31, 2025
Reverend Eric L. Jay

“Bound by freedom”

Since the Christian church was born on Pentecost in Acts 2, the singular purpose and function of the church have been made clear from the very first sermon preached by Peter. The church is to proclaim the truth about who Jesus is and the truth about what he has done for the whole world through his life, death, and resurrection.

Peter preached on Pentecost, “Jesus of Nazareth, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2). Then, after being persecuted and jailed for proclaiming the truth of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, Peter declares only more clearly in Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

No other name. That’s the thing about truth. It sets boundaries and defines what is not true. Everything can’t be true. If everything is true, then nothing is true.  If everything is right, nothing is right. Something isn’t right just because you want it to be. It’s not right just because you feel like it should be. If everything is right according to everybody’s “truth”, then nothing’s right and nothing is true.

The Christian message has always been singular. There is one truth, there is one right, and he has a name. Jesus. No other savior, no other prophet, no other religious leader ever dared to come and tell you (and lovingly offend you with) the truth. Only Jesus. He did not give us the false hope, as so many other manmade religions do, that you can do enough, be good enough, or check enough boxes to secure your own salvation somehow and assure yourself that you’re good enough. Jesus alone comes to us and says, “No, you can’t, but I will.” The good news is, He has!

Christ has fulfilled the laws of God that we have broken through His life, death, and resurrection.  God’s laws were never given to exclude or to bind in shame, but to point to our desperate need for and reveal our Savior, Jesus.  The laws of God reveal the truth that we are sinful and unable to save ourselves, calling us to put our hope not in our righteousness but in the promise of God to bring salvation in Christ, and through faith and obedience to His Word, be eternally bound to freedom from sin, death, and the devil.

When we are bound to the Word of God, we are bound to freedom.  Be free.  Believe in and follow Jesus, who alone is the way, the truth, and the life.