Faithful Freedom

Freedom, the state of being free.  Freedom is meaning-laden term when used theologically.  It loosely means liberation and deliverance, but from what? to what?  Needless to say, this is a complex issue steep with significance and full of theology that goes beyond the scope of this dialogue; however, understanding the foundation of Christian freedom is essential.

First of all, and most importantly, Christians are free from sin.  The wages of sin, which is death, has been paid in full by the blood of Christ.  Therefore, Christians have been freed from the bondage of sin.  Freedom in Christ implies that we were not free apart from Christ.  The truth is that we were in utter bondage to sin, enslaved to the flesh and its desires before we believed in Jesus (Rom. 6).  Now, we are no longer slaves to the flesh but have put the flesh to death and its sinful desires and have been made alive in Christ, and become slaves to righteousness (Rom. 8; Col. 3).

Additionally, when we become believers and become free in Him, one of the consequences of sin that we are freed from is shame.  This is profound but biblical.  Believers have been freed from the shame and guilt of sin.  Once we have been forgiven, we do not need to be forgiven again; we are free.  It is important to point out that Satan wants us continually to feel shame and guilt for past sin.

Satan is the accuser (the book of Job; Rev. 12:7-12).  He desires to condemn and accuse believers for their past sins.  He deceives believers continually and accuses believers so that we are not truly set free from the bondage of sin.  However, believers are set free and should stand firm in that freedom (Gal. 5:1).

Jesus says, "the truth will set you free...free indeed (John 8:31-32, 36)."  We have been set free and are to live in that freedom, not to be pulled back into the bondage of sin.  It is challenging but it is absolutely essential.  We need to remember that we are free in Christ and should strive to live in that freedom that is only solidified by His grace.  God desires us to be set free, totally free, from sin.

Freedom is a result of pursuing Him, not focusing on ourselves but looking only to Him as the source of our identity and our salvation.  The tragic thing about introspection is that it often leads to despair.  Instead, living lives of freedom means that we will be focused on the Lord as the reference for our freedom.  We need to sieze and live in that freedom.  But thanks be to God that He would grant us freedom from sin!