for you were called to freedom, brothers. only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [galatians 5:13]
a phrase often used around memorial day and independence day is this:
“freedom isn’t free.”
freedom is costly. our freedom was purchased by the precious blood of Christ.
paul repeatedly emphasizes this in 1 corinthians 6, and ends with this admonition:
for you were bought with a price. so glorify God in your body. [1 corinthians 6:20]
we can experience freedom from sin and shame, freedom from guilt, freedom to love and serve in the Spirit! paul admonishes us not to taste freedom and choose the slavery instead!
i know the slavery of secret sin, i know its bondage. i know the crushing weight that feels like a suffocation from a heavy weight on my chest. i know the isolation and darkness, the chains of slavery to my sin.
but i am no longer condemned. i know the freedom from the bondage, the lifting of the weight, the gasping in of the fresh air, my eyes adjusting to the glorious light of Christ and the community that comes from confession and repentance and walking with no shame. i will not boast in myself for setting myself free, i will only boast in Christ for calling me to freedom, and for purchasing that freedom for me!
oh! i long for others to know this freedom! brother and sister–if you are in the chains of secret sin, Christ calls you to freedom! confess and repent, Christ will set you free!
~ conor eastman