Is freedom itself something that occurs with no effort? One of many great signs that point to the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 61:1. Here are two things to signify the work of the Messiah (Christ) when He would come. One is proclaiming liberty to the captives and the other is the opening of prison to those who are bound. If the Messiah proclaims liberty, opens the door of freedom does not the individual have to walk out of the prison to freedom? Did His work of proclaiming and opening mean that man had nothing to do? This is the work that Jesus came to do, that is save man from his sins. The gospel, God’s power to save reaches the heart of a man and tells him to come to freedom. He walks out of prison by obeying the Son of God (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 5:9).
Paul closes his letter to his beloved Ephesians by speaking of responsibility. Let us carefully consider his closing remarks. Grace, the favor of God, with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity (Eph. 6:24). How do we love God? We love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength ( Mark 12:30). The favor of God is, therefore, bestowed on all them that love the Lord. All spiritual blessings reside in Christ (Eph. 1:3). All humanity is blessed by God through the laws of nature which He has ordained and put in place (Rom. 14:17). The spiritual favor of God rests on those who love the Son of God, that is Jesus Christ the Lord.
No grace is ever free. The freedom we now enjoy in this country has places like Bunker Hill, the Alamo, Gettysburg, the shores of Normandy, jungles of Korea and Viet Nam. Please do not tell me that freedom is at no cost. Why then turn to God and say it is not costly for us. It was to all of the Godhead by Jesus dying on the cross. It is costly to us when we know and act upon doing the will of God (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9).