Freedom?

Definition of Freedom

State of being free

Freedom from

Freedom to

Freedom to be

Types of Freedom

Man-made Freedoms

Freedom of Association

Freedom of Belief

Freedom of Speech

Freedom to express oneself

Freedom of the Press

Freedom to choose one’s state in life

Freedom of religion

Freedom from bondage and slavery

Freedom of education

Biblical Freedoms

Redemption as a Basis for Our Freedom

When thinking about freedom, it’s important to remember that redemption applies to all of life. On a personal level, we are redeemed from sin. On a corporate level, we are also brought into a new community, the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). But redemption extends beyond the personal and the corporate to the whole cosmos.  Acts 3:21 says that God’s ultimate goal is the “restoration of all things.” Creation itself “will also be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21).

Freedom cannot be limited to inner transformation. Of necessity it must extend to all of life. Jesus not only preached and taught; he also healed peoples’ bodies. People were freed inwardly and outwardly. Where Christ’s freedom is experienced, the natural outworking is towards political, religious, and economic freedom (read more about that here).

It’s no surprise, then, that believers have been on the forefront of freedom movements for the abolition of slavery both past (e.g., William Wilberforce) and present (e.g.,  International Justice Mission). Many believers have worked to fight for religious freedom nationally and internationally (e.g., Barnabas Fund). We are called to fight against injustice wherever we see it in personal and public life.

Four Things The Bible Says about Freedom

1. People have been searching for it for thousands of years.

2. God’s answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus Christ.

3. Jesus came to free us from death, sin and anything that enslaves us.

4. God gives us freedom to choose our own path.

The Biblical View of Freedom

1. Freedom is not autonomy or doing what you feel like doing without any constraints.

2. Freedom involves structure. Bondage to Christ allows us to be free to be what we are created to be.

3. Freedom is within the context of Law. We are not under the obedience to the Law as a condition of salvation, but the moral Law and Christ’s commands give us a guide to know how to live and to love.

4. We are truly free when we know the truth about ourselves and the world. This means throwing off the lies and deceptions to which we are so often captive.

5. Salvation is not primarily political liberation (as in some theologies). But God often intervened when his people were oppressed by unjust totalitarian leaders (See examples in Exodus, Judges, for instance).

6. Inner renewal often leads to outer consequences and renewal of the land.

7. The Bible doesn’t prescribe one type of government, but freedom (political, economic, and religious) is consistent with the Bible, not contradictory to it.

8. Inner freedom inevitably drives toward outer freedom. You can have political (economic and religious) freedom and still be in bondage to sin. You can have inner freedom in an oppressed situation. But inner and outer freedoms are the most ideal state for human beings (Micah 4:4).

With this background in mind, it is not surprising that freedom has become a cry for many people that are believers.

The Declaration of Independence sets forth our God-given rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

We have seen the cries for freedom that led to pulling down the wall between East and West Berlin.

Believers should be the most free to enjoy life and God’s creation, as long as it is within the structure of how God has made us. We are not free from God-ordained obligations, but we are free to live life as God intended it to be lived.