Freedom in Christ - 1

One of the greatest blessings, and a foundational principle, of this great country is liberty - freedom!

Among the foundational documents of our nation, and the most recognizable quotes, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence).

But there a freedom even greater than the personal liberty we enjoy in this country. It is a freedom enjoyed by those even under the harshest of tyranny. It is a freedom that has been enjoyed by those imprisoned, tortured, even killed, for their faith. It is the freedom we enjoy in Christ.

John 8:31–32 NKJV

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:36 NKJV

36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Romans 6:17–18 NKJV

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

From What Are We Freed

The Domination of Sin

The Keeping of the Law of Moses

The Curse of Spiritual Death

The Fickle Whims of Man-Made Religion

How Are We Freed

By Hearing and Obeying the Word of Christ (; ).

John 8:31 NKJV

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

Romans 6:17 NKJV

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

By Faith ().

Romans 3:28 NKJV

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

By Obedient Faith (; ).

Romans 4:3 NKJV

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

James 2:20–24 NKJV

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Only this kind of faith can produce freedom in Christ ().

Romans 6:7–14 NKJV

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

When we obey the gospel of Christ we begin a life of freedom that cannot be had any other way!