Outline
some scripture background
reference to World War II experiences of a man
conclusions

True freedom is of God, by God, and for God.

He has delivered them who through fear of death were in bondage all their life.
Hebrews 2:13-16 Romans 8:15,21 2Corinthians 1:10 2Corinthians 5:14 See also my writing on Reconciled at the Cross. The notebook is about 50 pages of scripture and explanation on how God reconciled all things at the cross through Jesus.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip.
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];
God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;
that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,
to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.
Hebrews 3:3 For this [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

For every house is builded by some [man]; but he that built all things [is] God.

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses verily [was] faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

For my children, whom I hope someday will read this.
Though I do not agree with the tenants of existentialism, I will now refer to a book titled using the word existentialism. It holds a great lesson. And though most of the articles written about it tend to miss a Christian interpretation, there is a great lesson which should be re-interpreted in the light of Christ.

My parents gave me this book by Victor Frankel somewhere around 1959. The point of it just barely sunk in possibly because I had not sufficent knowledge of truth to further appreciate the point. But I did get the big point of the man sitting in a chair with a gun to his head, and choosing not to agree with his tormentors. He had the freedom to choose to die instead of agreeing with his captors, instead of doing what they wanted him to do.

He tells a story of how he first lost his business to the Nazis.
Then after a while, the Nazis made him and his family move from their home to a special part of town for Jews only. So he lost his home to the Nazis.
Then, the Nazis separated him from his children, then his wife.
He was moved to a concentration camp where he was tortured, intimidated, starved, and forced to endure extreme cold and hardships.
As he lost each of these things, he suffered but came to realize he was still alive and still keeping on keeping on.
At some point he realized under torture that even though they held a gun to his head they could not make him do anything he did not choose to do.
All he had to do was choose what he wanted to do.
So long as he was not afraid of death, then the Nazis could not make him say anything he did not choose to say.

Some say freedom is doing what you choose. But true freedom is only to be found within the constraints of choosing to do what ever is God's will for you in Christ. Those with no constraints, no limits, no boundaries do go into excess which spins them out of control. A river must have boundaries lest it spread so thin it dries to nothing. A young man trying to live with no boundaries on his choices soon falls prey to disease and poverty, destruction and death. God's boundaries help you keep the strength of your life like the banks of a river keep it from spreading so thin it dries up till there's nothing left.

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