All paid for!
Set Free: The Verse That Liberated My Soul
Have you ever felt weighed down by guilt—crippling, relentless guilt? I have. For a long time, I carried the heavy burden of all the things I wished I’d done differently: the missteps, the outright disobedience to God’s voice, the neglected Word, and the stubborn paths I chose instead of His.
Every time I tried to come into God’s presence, guilt would whisper in my ears like a courtroom prosecutor. I felt unworthy. Inadequate. Like I had failed God, failed those around me, and failed myself. I felt chained, convinced I could never repay the debts I’d accrued, never undo the past.
Then one morning, everything changed. I received a deep revelation of Colossians 2:14, and in an instant, a light bulb turned on in my spirit. Freedom entered the room.
New International Version: “Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
New Living Translation: “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
English Standard Version: “By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Every time the devil tries to drag up my past, I stand on this verse. I say boldly, “Not today, Satan. Not anymore.” No more torture. No more spiritual blackmail. Jesus paid for it all.
Jesus Paid the Debt in Full
The Bible doesn’t complicate it. Every single thing that makes us feel inadequate—He has paid for it. There are weights we carry, debts we feel too ashamed to even mention, but Jesus already took them upon Himself. He nailed them to the cross.
What did He nail?
Every failure.
Every sin.
Every accusation.
All of it.
But There’s a Condition: Confess and Repent
Here’s the caveat: freedom begins with confession and repentance. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness.”
But it doesn’t end at confession. Acts 3:19 calls us to “repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Repentance seals your freedom. Without it, the enemy finds legal ground to torment you with your past.
The devil doesn’t quit easily. He will keep coming back, but when you grasp the truth of this scripture, you’ll be armed. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32
Jesus has paid what I owe.
Justice Satisfied: A Divine Courtroom Exchange
Now here’s the part that took me longer to accept. Let’s talk about the legal demands mentioned in Colossians 2:14.
In any courtroom, when someone is found guilty, a sentence follows. The best-case scenario is to be found not guilty or to be released despite guilt. That’s exactly what Jesus did. He satisfied the legal demand of justice by offering His own life.
We were guilty—but Jesus stepped in and took the punishment. That means we are scot-free in the eyes of heaven. Incredible, right?
You might wonder, “Won’t people take this freedom for granted?” But God, in His justice, already accounted for that.
Paul asks in Romans 6:1-2, “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not!”
Galatians 5:13 echoes this: “You have been called to live in freedom... But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
And for those who persist in sin even after knowing the truth, Hebrews 10:26 gives a sobering warning: “If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.”
Stay Free
Paul reminds us again in Galatians 5:1: “Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
Friend, Jesus has already paid the price. Don’t let guilt keep you in bondage. Receive your freedom. Walk in it. And guard it.
You are free indeed.