What Does Christian Freedom Mean?

Set Free

Under the leadership of Moses, God led the Israelites out of Egypt. Through Moses, God performed miraculous signs in Egypt, requesting the Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave. But the Pharaoh hardened his heart against God’s command. During the last plague, Pharaoh reached his limit after losing his flocks, people, and his own child. Finally, he allowed them to leave. After leaving, he pursued after them. At the Red Sea, God divided the water, allowing His people to pass through on dry land. It was God’s power that set them free from Egypt, giving them a new beginning.

The Law Was Powerless

Israel travelled on their journey to the Promise Land. At Mount Sinai, God gave the Ten Commandments as a moral compass to guide their lives in understanding His will in how they were to conduct themselves. When Moses read the law, the people promised to obey its command, but through their strength, it was impossible to live by its Holy Standards. The law was powerless to save them. By keeping the law as a means of salvation, it never led them into a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Its purpose was to reveal their sinfulness so they might turn to God’s grace for salvation and seek forgiveness.

No One Becomes A Believer By Working For It

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

“Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20 (NKJV)

“Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39(NKJV)

Freedom Isn’t Legalism

Pharisees and Sadducees were self-righteous and believed in works to please God. Like them, religious people do good deeds to please God. They attend church every Sunday, sing in the choir, donate to missions, help the needy, and are good neighbors. Because of this, they believe they will go to heaven, but Jesus disagrees. Self-righteousness doesn’t get people to heaven.

Here is what the Scripture says:

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19 (NKJV)

All the good deeds you do will never win God’s favor. You might decide to turn over a new leaf — stop going to wild parties, cussing, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, and many more. Even with good parenting and personal growth, it’s not sufficient. You’ll achieve nothing… It’s ludicrous… It doesn’t give you freedom, but it brings you further into bondage. 

Do you trust rules or good works to save you? Faith enables us to serve God freely, with a loving heart.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 (NKJV)

“Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; Romans 3:22 (NKJV)

Freedom Isn’t to Please Ourselves

Don’t get the idea when you become a believer you can live as you, please. God’s Word says, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 (NKJV)

Through faith, Christ’s blood has made you a holy saint with righteous standing. You’ve been called to live righteously. Avoid wrong thoughts and attitudes that go against God’s will. God has forgiven you when you make mistakes.

But to continue with the attitude that it’s alright to keep making the same mistakes without correcting your actions is to set a trap for defeat. In Christ, you have the freedom to choose who you will serve—yielding to sin or God. When the heart aligns to doing God’s will, right actions follow. Christian freedom isn’t a license to sin, but to please Christ by serving Him wholeheartedly. 

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1-2 (NKJV)

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:6 (NKJV)

“Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:11 (NKJV)

“Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Romans 6:12 (NKJV)

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14 (NKJV)

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13 (NKJV)

Freedom Is in Jesus Christ

Christ has set us free (John 8:36). In Christ’s humbleness, He left His glory in heaven to take our place on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus suffered a horrific death to deliver us from sin’s bondage. God sent Jesus to pay our sin debt — free us from the chains of sin, and give eternal life. This was His purpose for coming that we might be reconciled to Him through His death, burial, and resurrection (Titus 2:14; Romans 5:10). It is Christ who made us free from the Mosaic Law from its penalty and power.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”Galatians 5:1(NKJV)

We have been free from the entanglement of sin that kept us in bondage. In following the world system and its passions, we’ve not fully understood our freedom. Fleshly desires have consumed and led us to engage in immoral behavior. In Christ, we conquer and eliminate these things. 

Through Christ, our identity guarantees victory. Christians are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ (Galatians 4:1–7; 1 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus indwells within. We have His Spirit, power, and peace; nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:14; 35–39). Through Christ, we undergo a death to sin and a resurrection to a new life, anticipating His glory. We’re conquerors through Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:37). 

Freedom Enables Us to Love

The apostle Paul dealt with problems in Corinth. One discussion was about meat offered to idols in pagan worship. Both Gentile and Jewish Christians had different opinions. Some believers thought eating meat was no big issue, while others viewed it as sinful. In analyzing the situation, Paul referred to God’s Word to bring it home to their hearts. They have the freedom to buy and eat any meat (1 Corinthians 10:25–26). When choosing to eat, we should consider others’ rights rather than our own. If eating meat causes a brother or sister to stumble, our freedom ends as love motives the Christian’s actions. 

“Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” Romans 14:13 (NKJV)

The same message is for us today. The Bible doesn’t address certain grey areas, like going to a movie or engaging in other activities. These issues we settle by using God’s guidelines to guide our decisions. We put others first, and God’s glory is our highest desire (1 Corinthians 10:31).

How to Claim Your Freedom

• Become a slave for Christ (Romans 6:18)
• Recognize your identity (Galatians 2:20)
• Dedicate yourself daily (Romans 12:1-2)
• Resist temptation (James 4:7)
• Put away old habits and obey Christ from your heart (Ephesians 4:24-25; 31-32)

Conclusion

You can only be fully free in Christ through His working power that indwells. It is Christ who works through you to achieve victory as you renounce your self-life by yielding yourself to Him.  If you are living in chains, having burdens, attitudes, stress, worry, grief, or some other habit, Christ is the answer. Claim your victory and decide to stop depending on your strength or other means to achieve your goals. Face the facts and choose to grow in your love for Him. Commit your way unto Him and watch to see what He will do by His working power.