Ellet J. Waggoner
The Present Truth, “Back Page” : April 25, 1895
“O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, and the son of Your handmaid; You have loosed my bonds” (Ps. 116:16).
That is the language of the soul that has learned that “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful” (Ps. 116:5).
But the loosing of bonds is the work of the Holy Spirit; “for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). The Spirit of the Lord proclaims “liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isa. 61:1).
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:14-16).
Therefore as soon as we recognize the fact that God has delivered us, so that we may serve Him, and we acknowledge that we are His servants, and free, He says, “You are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:7). When the returning prodigal said, “Father, I have sinned . . . make me like one of your hired servants,” the father said, “This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:18-24).