Freedom In Christ
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Introduction
Introduction
Freedom is the most sought after virtue in our Western World. Many seek political freedom. Many seek economic freedom. Many seek freedom in many ways and we have done so throughout history. There are many things that may enslave a person and prohibit him or her from being free.
Horace Greeley was the Editor of the New York Tribune from the 1840’s to the 1870’s. He is credited to have written: It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.
This is a profound statement. Principles and precepts that are found in God’s word have the ability to set us free from so many things.
I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
Psalm 119:45
If you take Mr. Greeley’s statement a bit further, we find that not only are the principles of the Bible the groundwork of human freedom, the every book in the Bible points to freedom in Christ.
If you take Mr. Greeley’s statement a bit further, we find that not only are the principles of the Bible the groundwork of human freedom, the every book in the Bible points to freedom in Christ.
sums it up when it says:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
If Christ has set us free for freedom, what exactly does that mean? Some believe that freedom in Christ means we can do whatever we wish, whenever we wish to whomever we wish because our sins, past, present and future are forgiven. I call these folks James Bond Christians because they feel they have a license to sin. Even though in Christ our sins, past, present and future are indeed redeemed if we confess Jesus our our Lord, we do not have a license to sin. True repentance will not permit us to do that. So as we study scripture, what does it mean to have freedom in Christ?
There are at least four themes in scripture that give us an idea of what it means to have freedom in Christ.
The first theme I see is that we are relieved from the penalty of sin.
Relieved from the Penalty of Sin
Relieved from the Penalty of Sin
We learn in Genesis that sin first came into the world by individual choice. We see in that the serpent was crafty in convincing the woman that the best choice was disobeying God. Because of sin, God tells Adam and Eve they would die. Human history has since been inflicted with sorrow, suffering and ultimately death because of sin.
We are born with this sinful nature. When we become of an age of accountability where we are able to be spiritually and intellectually aware of our sin, then we are individually responsible and accountable for our sin.
Theologians call this an age of accountability.
Isaiah
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.
All of us will be accountable.
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Sin is a problem that we all experience.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
All indicates this is true of everyone: all individuals, all human beings have sinned. “Falling short of the glory of God” means that we are not able to hit the mark for which we were created. You and I were created, designed, and made to share in the divine glory of God.
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
But because of sin, we can’t co-exist with the glory of a Holy God.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So many churches proclaim the first part of this verse but fail to give us the assurance of the second part. Sin promises life but gives death. Sin separates us from God and His Holiness.
William Barclay wrote:
“Sin leads to sin. Lawlessness leads to lawlessness. To start on the path of sin is to go on to more and more.”
The contrast to death is life. God gives eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is another passage that gives us great assurance:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
We given eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. This means that it is Christ who purchased it, who prepared it, who prepares us for is and who preserves us in it. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is all in all our salvation. This means it is for freed Christ has set us free. That means that we are relieved from penalty of sin.
We are also released from laws and rituals of religion.
Released from Laws and Rituals of Religion
Released from Laws and Rituals of Religion
Freedom in Christ liberates believers from the law. Throughout the Bible and even in today’s world, there are those that feel like you have to do, believe and act according to some ritual or legalistic process.
The Galatians thought they had to appeal to Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law was given to the nation of Israel. It was given as instructions on how to live. It consisted of 3 parts: the Ten Commandments, the Judgments, and the Ordinances or Ceremonial Law. People could not obey it to the exact letter. However, it set forth a moral code to live up to. The law turned into a legalistic way of life. People would do things to promote works and to gain points with others and believed they could gain points with God. It became a life of self effort instead of a life lived by the person and power of the Holy Spirit.
There are those that believe if they keep the Ten Commandments and stay squeaky clean, they think they are right with God and can be assured of getting into heaven because of their good works. The Ten Commandments were just part of the law. There were over 600 commandments that made up the whole law. Breaking just one of those led to brokenness before God.
They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew
God made it known that there was a new way:
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:4
A righteousness from God that was apart from the law was needed to be made known for several reasons.
The law cannot justify.
know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
The law cannot give life.
Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
Galatians
The law cannot give the Holy Spirit.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
The law cannot sanctify.
Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
The law cannot make perfect or permanently deal with sin.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
H
Christ is the end of the law.
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Because Christ is the end of the law, freedom in Christ means we can renew our relationship with God.
Renews Us for a Relationship
Renews Us for a Relationship
God’s desire since man was first created was to be in fellowship with His most prized creation. The Bible says there is an open invitation from God to us and all we have to do is receive Him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
As a result, our relationship with God through Jesus is the most incredible relationship we can have!
We can trust Him.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Isn’t reassuring that we can trust God and His Son? Trust is the foundation of any relationship. Trust not seeing the end but knowing who will be at the end with you. Trust is knowing that the journey may be difficult but the traveling will be successful. Trust is that calm assurance that everything will be okay.
We can also know Him.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Paul wrote that nothing could compare to knowing Christ. Do you know Jesus? Do you want gain all that He is? You can!
We can be at home with Him right now.
John 14:23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
This verse could be seen as a verse that deals with eternity. However, the reality of it is that it is right now. The tense indicates that God and Jesus will make a home with you right now if you love Him and obey His teaching.
We can be understood by Him.
H
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
It is amazing to me that we not only have a Savior that wants to know us, but one that can sympathize with us because He has been there. Jesus understands heartache, pain, anguish, and everything you deal with because He has in some form or another, experienced that same pain.
Freedom in Christ relieves us from the penalty of sin, releases us from the law and rituals of religion, renews us for a relationship and finally, recovers for us a life for which we are designed.
Recovers for Us a Life for Which we are Designed
Recovers for Us a Life for Which we are Designed
We are designed to stand firm in the truth of God’s Word.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
You and I do not have to return to the bondage in which we were in before Christ came into our lives. We are given a new opportunity. We can experience newness.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
We are designed to be children of God. We mentioned earlier that we can receive Him by believing and I shared with you . Listen to the -13.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John
We are designed to be disciples of Christ.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Are you holding to the teachings of Jesus? Does your life really reveal it?
Ultimately, when we experience freedom in Christ, we are truly set free.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Bondage often is a place where we start believing everything but the truth. The Bible reminds in all of these passages that have been shared that God’s plan for you and me is to be free. In order to do so, we have to recognize that which we have been bound to is set loose through Jesus.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Are you free? Are you standing firm? Are you ready to experience the fullness of Christ?