Our Freedom in Christ
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Introduction
Introduction
Good afternoon! Today we are going to look at our freedom in Christ. What does that mean? How are we free? Jesus himself first proclaims our freedom in Him.
John 8:31–36 “31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31–36 “31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
We can already see in one way that we are free here in these verses. But, before we go into that, we can see that the concept of our freedom in Jesus is carried throughout the New Testament through Paul’s letters. First, to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 “17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 “17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
And we cannot miss Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The whole letter is about freedom!
Galatians 5:1 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
We are free because of Christ and his sacrifice for us on the cross! But in what ways are we free?
Free From Sin
Free From Sin
Our most important freedom is freedom from the power of sin! Before Christ, we were slaves to sin. Jesus himself mentions this in the verse we read from John.
John 8:35–36 “35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:35–36 “35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Jesus uses this analogy where before we are slaves. But after believing and trusting in Him, we are called sons to show more clearly our freedom. Paul expands upon this.
Galatians 4:1–6 “1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
Galatians 4:1–6 “1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
The Law was a guardian to us, teaching us right and wrong. And we were under enslavement, of a sorts, to it. Or we were under enslavement to other things: our false beliefs and, of course, sin.
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!””
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!””
We have become sons because we are adopted into God’s family by believing in Jesus: the only begotten and true son of God. Both here and in Romans, Paul is tying our slavery to sin to being under the Law. As Paul says:
Romans 7:7–9 “7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Romans 7:7–9 “7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.”
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.”
Through Christ we are no longer under the law, but under grace!
Romans 6:14 “14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
Romans 6:14 “14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
We became free from the bondage of sin by being crucified with Christ. Spiritually, we were not only crucified with Him, but we were also buried and raised just as He was. We were crucified with our sins but raised to new life in Him!
Romans 6:3–8 “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3–8 “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 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.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 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.
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
We are not left alone in this new life. When we have believed, we have received the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us and empowers us to be in sin in our lives!
Free From Past Guilt
Free From Past Guilt
We are not only free from the power of sin now, we are free from the guilt and shame of our past sins. Let’s meditate on what scripture says, for it is rich in giving us the assurance of this!
Psalm 103:11–12 “11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:11–12 “11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Isaiah 1:18 “18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Isaiah 1:18 “18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Colossians 2:13–14 “13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Colossians 2:13–14 “13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
How wonderful is this! But this continues on in our new lives through Christ!
1 John 1:7,9 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:7,9 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Through repentance and confession of our sins to God, we enjoy freedom from the guilt of sin in our present lives!
Free From the Law
Free From the Law
We are also free from what can be called: achievement-oriented piety. In other words, we are free from our closeness to God being measured by how well we keep rules and regulations. The Pharisees in Jesus’ time were very good at that. Their belief in their closeness to God was measured by how well they kept His Law. If that was only on what God had commanded, that would still be wrong. What happened, though, was that they also added to the Law, producing a burden that no one could bear. Jesus rightly condemns them.
Matthew 23:23–24 “23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”
Matthew 23:23–24 “23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”
In Paul’s day, there was an effort to effectively steal the grace of God from believers and put the yoke of the slavery of the Law back onto them. Paul’s letter to the Galatians addresses this. Paul says to them:
Galatians 3:1–6 “1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:1–6 “1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?”
5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?”
And we can be tempted to do the same thing. It happens when we “check off the boxes” in our spiritual life. These boxes are good things that are important for our Christian walk: going to church, praying, reading the Bible. Yes, these are very good things! But where is our heart when we do them? Is it to commune with God? Is it to glorify Him? Or is it to make sure we did the correct things to “be right with God.”
Brothers and sisters, if you are in Christ, you are already right with God! The righteousness of Christ, His perfect keeping of the Law, was imputed to us as believers! Now, we are free to do those same things: attending church, praying, reading the Bible,. And all of that to maintain and strengthen our relationship with God with the joy God has placed in our hearts!
We should always be careful not to add to the simplicity of the Gospel that gives us freedom. It happens all the time. But, if we find that someone has, let us speak to them in truth with love. But let us not burden ourselves and show grace to them.
Colossians 2:16–23 “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Colossians 2:16–23 “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
In conclusion, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, through His death, burial, and resurrection has set us free! We are free from the power of sin! We are free to turn away from the sin that so easily entices. We turn to Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus! We are from the guilt of who we were before we believed on Christ! Those sins are wiped away and God remembers them no more! We are free from worry of not doing enough or not being good enough because Jesus did it all — and He did it perfectly!
So, brothers and sisters, let us live in the Freedom of Christ!
