Freedom: Freedom to be Free!
Each of us must have something for which to live — a reason to seek survival. Some choose hedonism: simple self-pleasure. Some choose power or fame: the pride of having control over others or being praised by a populace. Some choose money: a commodity form of power, materialism, bribery, or satisfaction of personal lusts. Having chosen one’s goal, one’s goal soon becomes one’s god. Ambition becomes obsession and the individual becomes enslaved.
The Old Covenant Law enslaved. While it taught what God required, it provided no power to meet its impossible precepts. Yet still men were “bound” to keep trying. Jesus came on the scene and fulfilled this Law completely. He undeservedly paid the debt of all sinfulness making a way for those who choose to trust Him to transfer slavery to sin to allegiance to Him.
Paul addresses this freedom from slavery to sin in His epistle to the Galatians.
“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, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Gal. 5:1, 14)
To be free from bondage to empty pursuits, to be free from bondage to world and flesh, to be free from these is the whole point of Christ’s sacrifice: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” So Paul urges the Galatians not to waver in their stance of faith and not law. “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1) This freedom is not a freedom to sin, but a freedom to no longer be bound by the requirement of self-made holiness. It is Christ Himself Who makes righteous!
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Gal. 5:14)
This truth of salvation by grace, salvation as a provision of God received by one’s faith in relying upon it, this is the Truth which by repentance of sin and acknowledgement of it one becomes free! “…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). “…you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God….” (Rom. 6:22). This slavery to God is not enslavement to a Taskmaster, but in it one finds one’s true love… it is a commitment of love…. a bond-servanthood as the Old Covenant describes it, to have “life and have it abundantly.” as spoke Christ in the New (John 10:10).
Freedom in Christ is Freedom indeed. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).
It is Freedom to be Free!
Press on…
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