for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. [galatians 5:1]
what did and does “freedom” look like for Jesus?
1) we receive our freedom from Christ – who was and is “free.”
Jesus Christ was and is God. and as God, he is free from sin. he has never known sin. while he walked on this earth he was tempted in every way as we were but he was without sin.
for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [heb 4:15]
Jesus suffered but did not sin. he was sinned against but did not sin. he was tempted but did not sin. by the power of the Spirit of God who strengthened his humanness – he never gave into sin. he was free from sin. one day we will be completely free from sin. (rev 21:27; 22:3; 22:14-15) but for now, we have his freedom through the Spirit that empowers us to say no to sin.
we know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. for one who has died has been set free from sin. [rom 6:6-7]
Jesus walked in holiness – free to love God and love others, free to fully and completely be with Father, and free to completely and fully follow his Father’s will. we too have this freedom. we are not just empowered to say no to sin, but we have the freedom and power to say yes to Jesus! before the Spirit came to live in us by the work of Christ, we had no power to freely run after loving God and others fully and completely. we could only run after our own desires that ultimately are against God and his will. but now, in Christ – we have freedom to run with and after God.
but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. [rom 6:22]
1) stand (submit and rest) in your freedom in Christ and don’t return and submit to slavery.
today, every day, every hour, every minute – you and i have a choice. will we submit to who God says we are and what we have in him – freedom. or, will we submit to the lies upon lies that return us to the slavery of sin, guilt, shame, despair and more. the lies are many. but the truth is more. the truth is MASSIVE!
the lies says this thought, this way, this thing will bring comfort, hope, joy, fun – without pain or consequence. so, we think and act outside of God’s revealed will and … sin. the lies say, “you do good – you get good.” the lies say be a good person and God will reward you. so, we use obedience to manipulate God and others and … sin. in all this, we submit again to sin – hurting others, ourselves, and worst of all, we defame the name of God.
the truth says – you are free in Christ with Christ! empowered by Christ and God’s Spirit, walk away from slavery and its lies and walk with Jesus in his joy-filled presence that leads to joy-filled obedience.
what will you choose right now? freedom or slavery?
who will you chose? Jesus or your self?
right now, submit to the Free One and the freedom he gives us by his work.
for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. [galatians 5:1]
come Lord Jesus – we submit to you and who you say we are and what you say we are in you – free!
~ john ryan