Eleutheroo (FREE) is used 7 times in the NT -- Jn 8:32, 36; Ro 6:18-note, Ro 6:22-note; Ro 8:2-note, Ro 8:21-note; Gal. 5:1 (and only in Pr 25:10 in the Septuagint).
John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 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.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Romans 8:21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
In short, the Spirit, Who brought the life of God Himself into us, has set us free from the power of our flesh and free to be the person God wants us to be. In Romans 7:24 Paul asked "Who shall deliver me?" The answer given in this verse is that: "Christ has already delivered me!" The last part of Romans chapter 7 was a description of a believer's struggling, failing condition. In Romans 8 Paul encourages the believer to focus upon his perfect, unfailing position in Christ Jesus! The more we believe God’s facts about our position the more this will affect our actual condition!
Eleutheroo is used primarily in three ways in the NT, First describing as in the present verse, describing spiritual and moral freed. Jesus described this same freedom when He declared to those Jews who had believed Him...
"If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (eleutheroo)." (Jn 8:31, 32)MacDonald comments that the "Jews did not know the truth, and they were in a terrible form of bondage. They were in the bondage of ignorance, error, sin, law, and superstition. Those who truly know the Lord Jesus are delivered from sin, they walk in the light, and are led by the Holy Spirit of God." (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
Secondly eleutheroo is used to describe the freedom from binding legalism as Paul taught in Galatians writing.. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free (eleutheroo); therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1). MacDonald has an excellent word on this verse writing that "This first verse of chapter 5 refers to his practice—he should live as a free man. Here we have a very good illustration of the difference between law and grace. The law would say: “If you earn your freedom, you will become free.” But grace says: “You have been made free at the tremendous cost of the death of Christ. In gratitude to Him, you should stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made you free.” Law commands but does not enable. Grace provides what law demands, then enables man to live a life consistent with his position by the power of the Holy Spirit and rewards him for doing it." (Ibid)
Thirdly, eleutheroo is used to describe nature’s deliverance from decay and corruption, Paul writing... "that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom (related noun eleutheria = to enjoy the freedom of that golden era when we as God’s children will be revealed in glory) of the glory of the children of God. (Jn 8:36). Here in Romans 8:3, "has set you free" (eleutheroo) is in the aorist tense which signifies a once-for-all act of setting the captives free. It is a positional reality for every person who is in Christ. This is a past tense event. So what? Well, it means that now believers are not to struggle for freedom, but to stand firm by faith (not sight) in the freedom that we have in Christ (see similar truth in notes Ro 6:18 and Ro 6:22 where the apostle also used the verb eleutheroo, cf Gal 5:1).
In a sense the ultimate (or perfect) realization of this freedom awaits our future glorification (see Romans 8:21-note). Note also that Paul is not teaching sinless perfection for remnants of our sinful flesh are the objects of the Spirit's ministry as long as we are in this physical flesh. What Paul does teach is at the time of regeneration the liberty began and will continue until it is perfected in glory.
Free (1658) (eleutheros) (See related verb eleutheroo above) is an adjective which means freedom to go wherever one likes, at liberty, possessing the capability of movement, exempt from restraint, obligation or liability, unconstrained, unfettered. In the Greek culture this word pictured one who can go wherever they please) (from Homer down). For example, in one secular writing we find this statement "the temple of Artemis at Ephesus is open (free) to all" (source: preceptaustin.org).
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