What the Bible says
The Bible speaks plainly about what masters us. Jesus said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34), and Peter adds, “of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19). Paul refused to be ruled by anything: “all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Bondage is real, but it is not the end of the story.
Paul cried, “O wretched man that I am … who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” and answered at once, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24–25). Deliverance is found in a Person. Christ came “to preach deliverance to the captives” (Luke 4:18), and to all who belong to Him He promises, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Freedom begins with honest confession. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13), and “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Then the grace of God teaches us daily that, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12).
When the pull returns, remember that “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), so come boldly to Him for help. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
14 verses, King James Version
2 Peter 2:19
What overcomes a man brings him into bondage
19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
1 Corinthians 10:13
God makes a way to escape temptation
13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 John 1:9
Confession brings forgiveness and cleansing
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Luke 4:18
Christ came to preach deliverance to the captives
18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
John 8:34–36
The Son sets you truly free
34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Romans 6:12–14
Sin is no longer your master
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
1 Corinthians 6:11–12
Washed, and not mastered by anything
11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Galatians 5:1
Stand in your freedom
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Romans 7:24–8:2
Rescue through Jesus Christ
24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Titus 2:11–12
Grace trains us to say no
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
James 5:16
Confess to one another and pray
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Proverbs 28:13
Mercy for those who confess and forsake
13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Romans 13:14
Make no plans for the flesh
14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians 5:16–17
Walk by the Spirit
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.