In John 8, Christ had to clarify the relationship between sin and slavery with his audience in John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
All unbelievers underestimate the nature and power of sin. It’s hard for any rational person to deny there is evil in the world, but it is defined from the perspective of how it affects people. There are earthly consequences of sin, but sin, first and foremost, is an offense against a holy God. He has Creator rights over his creation and no one else possesses his glory. The nature of sin, then, pertains to violating divine commandments.
With regards to the power of sin, it’s not just some things we do wrong sometimes; occasion evil that slips out of our mouths or unrighteous things that we accidentally do. Sin comes from our nature and flows forth from our wicked hearts and entails a bondage from which there is only one way of escape-Rom 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is not only freedom from the eternal consequences of sin, but freedom from the living in the practice of sin. The Apostle Paul explains what we are freed up to do?—2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Is this the freedom you have?