True freedom is found in Christ alone. Nonetheless, savvy salespeople attempt to lure us into believing we can obtain freedom in other ways — through more expensive and newer possessions, higher status and positions, or becoming mini replicas of the “right” people.
Those kinds of lies ultimately led to guilt, shame, or worse. Anything this world offers shrivels in comparison to the magnificent freedom we may have in Christ, gained by His grace.
Our faith journey begins with Jesus — by grace through faith.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
And honestly, every moment of every day, we continue to live the same way — by grace through faith.
In Christ
Living with freedom in Christ may sound incredibly difficult, yet it is equally simple. Paul uses the illustration of baptism to explain the concept. Baptism symbolizes a dying to ourselves and our agenda, being buried in death with Christ, and then being raised to life in Him. Sometimes we get so busy moaning and groaning about the hard parts that we ignore (or aren’t sure how to apply) the wonderful new resurrection life piece.
I’ve drawn a simple illustration of myself and placed it into my Bible, which represents living in Christ. When I zip that Bible up, where the Bible goes the image of me also goes. If I send the Bible to the other side of the world, I go with it. If the Bible falls into the lake, I’m going along. Wherever it goes, I go. Whatever it does, I do. Through faith, I have become one with Him.
Through this baptism, being united with Him, that we find true freedom in Christ.
“ Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.”
Romans 6:5-8
That sounds like good news. What about you?
The Problem
Unfortunately, I (we) have a problem. I (and maybe you) have an eyeball trained to look at disgusting things, a hand conditioned to reach in destructive patterns, or a mouth that, at times, flaps out of control. Truthfully, we will remind ourselves, again and again, that we don’t have to do these things anymore. Why? Because “we were set free from the power of sin” — not just the penalty, but also the power of sin. Wow!!! We were … past tense … done deal!
Because of baptism, being united with Christ in both His death and resurrection, we no longer need to obey old desires or follow the stinking thinking of our past. Because of baptism, we enjoy freedom in Christ. We are now free to choose who and what we will serve.
But wait! There is another problem. Our old enemy, the devil, taunts. “Freedom? Bah! That doesn’t look free! You are stuck on a short leash to a long list of rules … do this … don’t do that … go there … rules, rules, and more rules! That Bible is nothing more than a zipped-up box of rules!”
He is dead wrong, but still he mocks. If we pay any attention to his rhetoric, we soon become discouraged and confused.
We have all heard his arrogant hackle? But God speaks a different Word — a Word of truth over us.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
All things? Yes! All things! That is why the enemy is so afraid of Christians who live free. Yet, though everything is available for us, not everything is beneficial.
” I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”— but not everything is constructive.”
1 Corinthians 10:23
May we choose wisely!
Freedom In Christ
In Christ, the Anointed One, we live and are led by His Spirit into greater realms of His freedom — true freedom. In Christ, we become the best version of who we can be and were intended to become. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to live up to our full potential. Living free, Creator God ignites in us previously unknown dimensions of creativity and ingenuity. Without the shackles of sin, we rise in our Christ-given authority and discover an unmerited favor with both God and man. Without guilt and shame, we experience new and endless possibilities.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37
Remember the illustration of me inside the Bible. With God are key words here. In Him, nothing will be impossible for us. May we grasp the significance of this new found freedom in Christ. This isn’t a name it and claim it philosophy. Rather, we lay a hold of the sure promises of God and begin to walk in the freedom that He has made available to us. How? By grace through faith!
Each and every day, we step forward in faith. As much as we are willing to die with Him, we will also live a life full in Him — the divine paradox. Because of baptism, an immersion into His life, His purposes, and His good plans for us, we become the fullest and best dimension of ourselves — not only free, but fulfilled, satisfied, and complete.
Freedom in Christ is what our hearts long for. Freedom in Christ is what we all crave. In Him, through Him, by Him, and for Him we truly live according to His design.
Amen? Amen!
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