Christian Freedom

Christian liberty is a topic often discussed in Christian circles. Christian freedom, in general, must be based on the account of what Christ did for us. It informs how we live our lives as believers and how we serve our Lord Jesus Christ. The subject has been further discussed to include the grey areas that are not likely to be considered immoral. Christians have sought to develop principles that guide their approach to such matters. This article focuses on the particulars of the freedoms Christ accorded us through salvation. 

Conditions for Freedom

To receive our freedom, various conditions must be fulfilled. Failure to do what is expected of us will keep us in a state of slavery and prevent us from enjoying the gracious gift of God. 

1. Acknowledge your sins: 1 John 1:8 says that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and that God’s truth is not in us. Admitting that we are sinners in need of a Savior is the first step toward gaining freedom. The opposite, which leads to slavery and judgment, is living in a state of denial or even philosophizing about the struggles we face. Job and David offer helpful examples here. Instead of concealing his sin as others do, Job confessed and forsook them (Job 31:33). David said that if he had regarded sins in his heart, then the Lord would not have heard him (Psalm 66:18). God is calling us to acknowledge our sins and turn to him for forgiveness.
2. Repentance: True repentance begins with true remorse and repentance, that is, a turning away from sin and placing our trust in God. This is evidenced by a transformed heart and a change in lifestyle. These indicate dependence on a higher power to overcome our struggles. The Scripture says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and that he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).
3. Trust that you are forgiven: Many people struggle to accept forgiveness, not only from themselves and other people, but also from God. Other times, it’s people who want to keep us in a state of guilt. This can really stagger complete trust in the forgiveness that Christ offers. We must remember that Christ died for our sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18).
4. Live by God’s Grace: After salvation, we must learn to rely on God’s grace in our day-to-day lives. The Galatians were rebuked for having received salvation by faith and then going back to live by the law (Galatians 3:1-5). It is normal to fall in sin time and again. However, this should not cause us to give up pressing on to finish strong. We have the grace of God, which teaches us to say no to sin, and thus, we can rely on it throughout our Christian life (Titus 2:12).
5. Pursue discipleship: It is necessary to pursue discipleship upon becoming born again. Discipleship will help us continue to grow in our relationship with Christ. Jesus not only commanded the disciples to preach the good news but also to make disciples, teaching them to obey everything he commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). 

The above steps are critical for us to begin a life of freedom in Christ. The results of fulfilling the above conditions are freedom from guilt due to sin, freedom from the wrath of God, freedom from the curse of the law, freedom from bondage to satan, freedom from the sting of death, and everlasting damnation.

Freedom From the Guilt of Sin

One of the struggles we will have, even as Christians, is the battle with guilt and self-condemnation. As mentioned earlier, because we are born in sin, we will often fall into sin, even when we know what is expected of us. Paul says that he knows that the law is spiritual, but he is unspiritual and enslaved by sin (Romans 7:14-25). He cries out concerning his helpless state and asks who will save him from this body of death. Fortunately, we have Christ, and through him, we are saved and can confidently say that there is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in him (Romans 8:1). We are consequently freed from the burden of guilt and condemnation. 

Freedom From the Wrath of God

God’s wrath comes to sinners as a consequence of their sinful lives and disobedience (Romans 1:18). John 3:36 adds that those who reject Christ are actually under the wrath of God. By continuing to sin, we store up God’s wrath against ourselves on the day of judgment (Romans 2:5). The only way to escape God’s wrath and experience freedom is by placing our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). 

Freedom from the Curse of the Law

Believers have been liberated from the demands of the legalistic Old Testament laws (Galatians 3:13). The law exposed the sins of the people, but it could not provide a way out of their bondage. Think of it this way: every nation has a constitution and laws of the land that guide it. Despite these laws, leaders continue to be corrupt, even after vowing to protect the Constitution and uphold the laws of the land. There is no good constitution that can sanctify the heart of a man, which is utterly wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Through his death on the cross, Christ became a substitute for humans and took the curse of the law upon himself (Galatians 3:13). 

Freedom from Slavery

Christians are free from the power and influence of the devil. This freedom is both a present reality and a future hope for every believer. Among the issues Christ commissioned Paul to address was freeing people from the power of Satan (Acts 26:18). After being freed from that power, we are enabled to resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9) using various spiritual weapons to win against his kingdom (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). 

Freedom from the Fear of Death and eternal damnation

Christians are given eternal life upon receiving Christ (John 3:16). Christ conquered death on our behalf, and hence, we can rejoice and boast in him, asking death, where is your sting (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Jesus has freed us from the constant anxiety that fear of death can cause. His death broke the power of death, setting free everyone who was bound by the fear of it (Hebrews 2:14-15). 

Galatians 5:1 declares that it is for freedom that Christ set us free, and hence, we should not let ourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. May all these truths lead us to live in freedom, while constantly giving thanks to our Lord Jesus for what he did for us at Calvary.