Sin, Lies, and Freedom: How Faith in God Changes Everything

Our actions flow from what we believe. If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of sin, it's likely because you're believing a lie about yourself, God, creation, or all three.

In John 3:31-32, Jesus says “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus shows us that truth is not just a concept but a pathway to freedom. This truth frees us from the lies that keep us trapped in sin.

He expends on that thought in verses 34-36, saying, “very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Furthermore, in John 14:6, Jesus describes Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life.”

If you feel trapped, Jesus is the truth, and the truth sets you free, then Jesus is the solution to feeling trapped. In this case, it involves believing what Jesus says. Truth can’t set you free if you don’t listen to it. In other words, the path to freedom is faith and trust in God. To truly be free, we must believe what He says.

Why does God give the commandments that He does? Why are some thoughts and actions sinful, while others are righteous? To understand why God’s commandments are what they are, we must first understand His heart—who He is, what He desires for us, and why His guidance leads us to freedom.

It is clear that, from the beginning, God has loved humanity. He wants nothing but the best for us. Throughout the whole Bible, God is shown reaching out over and over again to a people who keeps rejecting Him. He makes promise after promise to them, eventually sending His Son down to fulfill the job that no ordinary man could.

God is our creator. He knows us inside and out. He knows what we need and what we don’t need. He knows what’s good for us and what’s not good for us. He knows our role in creation and what we need to do in order to best thrive in that creation. 

Understanding God's love for us helps us see that His commandments are not arbitrary rules, but loving instructions designed to protect us and lead us to flourishing. Often, His commandments are hard and do not feel good. But ease and pleasure are not always what is best for us. God is our good Father. If a father only feeds his children ice cream and candy because it makes his children feel good, he is a bad father. A good father feeds his children what is good for them, not just what they like to eat. 

Even with the knowledge that God gives us commandments for our good, they can still be hard to follow. Why is that? Often, a part of us still believes some contradictory voice. 

For example, many people struggle to give themselves proper rest, even though God commands us to rest when we need it. Why? Because they feel like they have to keep working in order to have what they need. They do not trust God to provide for them. They act as if there is no one looking out for them. As a result, they are in a near-constant state of burnout and overwhelm. If they would fully trust God’s provision and believe that He looks out for His children, they would be able to rest guilt-free, giving them more peace and fulfillment.

Where do you find yourself struggling in a cycle of sin? What lies are you believing that are keeping you trapped in that cycle? What are you telling yourself? What does God say? What are steps you can take to start believing God over the other voices?