Freedom of the Christian
Open Your Bible
Galatians 5:1-15, Numbers 11:1-20, Romans 2:25-29, 1 John 3:19-24
BY Rebecca Faires
Give us an inch, and we’ll take a mile. Christians can fall prey to the same temptations as everyone else. It can be hard to know where to draw the line in our Christian freedom. We’re “called to be free,” but how free? (Galatians 5:13). What movies should we really allow ourselves to watch? How much time can we spend on our phones every day? How often do we actually need to be in church on Sunday morning? We are not bound by the ten thousand commandments, and we instead enjoy the freedom and grace of two:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands” (Matthew 22:37–40).
Really, in just these two commands, all are fulfilled. In this we see what Paul means when he calls the Galatians to “faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6). With this in mind, suddenly, it seems we actually have a lot of freedom.
The law of the Spirit is not rooted in a slavish obedience to the law of Moses, but in a loving obedience to the God of grace. The law itself was never designed to save us, as the Judaizers were teaching; it only signifies our guilt and condemns us, because we are unable to keep it (Matthew 5:17–20). But the gospel of grace delivers us from bondage to the law and its condemnation. We are indeed free! For in Christ, there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
The Ten Commandments allow for freedom in Christ, but that freedom is not for us to see how much we can get away with; rather, it is freedom to bear the fruit of love for one another, as brothers and sisters. It is not to be used as an opportunity to return to the flesh. So how do we use our freedom rightly?
The Holy Spirit must quicken us inwardly. Our hearts must be circumcised, not our bodies. “Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision” (Romans 2:25). Outward acts of faith are not a measure of our identity in Christ. It is the inward washing of the Spirit alone that sets us free.
In fact, a faith that looks amazing from the outside can be deceptive. Man judges by the outside, but God judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Our hunger for outward approval and reputation often ensnares us, and distracts us from our need for the inward work of the Spirit. The end result is a shallow and fruitless faith, which actually makes us “alienated from Christ” (Galatians 5:4). Furthermore, the pride of self-reliance also produced discord in the church at Galatia, prompting Paul’s warning: “If you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another” (v.15).
True freedom is found in the love and Lordship of Christ, which “compels us” to love others as He has loved us (2 Corinthians 5:14–15). In Christ Jesus, we are free from bondage to the law, and free to serve Christ instead. He has called us to walk in the liberty of love. May we use our freedom to show our gratitude to Christ.
22 thoughts on "Freedom of the Christian"
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Thank you, Shawn. Yes, Lord Your plan is PERFECT. Help me to trust You in the midst of this plan and not veer off on my own. Guide our steps and light the way. We want You, Jesus and all You have for us. Only You.
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Thank you Shawn
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Deuteronomy chapter 6, verse 5 is the first time we read that we are to love our Lord our God with all your heart, soul and strength (might, mind). Leviticus chapter 19, verse 18 is the first time we read for the first time that we are to love our neighbor as ourself.
Jesus is asked to declare the greatest commandment, found in Matthew 22 and Mark 12. Jesus responds “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Jesus seamlessly, flawlessly quotes scripture. Jesus speaks for His Father. Jesus is the Word! Jesus reminds us that we are to love God, the Father with everything we have and are. Jesus then gives the second greatest command which is loving your neighbor as yourself. We see this coming up again in Galatians 5:14. In fact, if we do a little scripture searching these concepts come up a lot.
So let us go forward asking our Father to help us love Him with all that we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Revolutionary!
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Seeds sprinkled upon my heart this morning.
Seeds of Truth and Love.
Allow them to take root Father and grow
as they flourish may their blossoms open to You,
may the beauty and glory be Yours alone.My heart wrenched when I read this morning, “If salvation is earned, the cross accomplished nothing.”
NO! May it not be so in my life.
The sacrificial gift of your pure, perfect life Lord Jesus, accomplished ALL.
Because of the cross, because of your love, we have God’s love and are His children.
Jesus, Lion and Lamb, You alone are worthy to break the seal and open the scroll
You gave your life for me.
In Christ there is no condemnation.It is not the outward, the visible, that measures our identity with Christ
Please don’t see me, see Him alone.
Forgive me for weeping over the precious manna You have perfectly provided.
I am forgiven.
My heart flows, pumping forth the blood of the Holy Spirit
Giving pulse, life, and love to my heart, hands, feet, eyes, and…lips.
“Love Me and
Love them”
The commands of my Savior and Lord.
May it be in me as You have commanded.
Lordship of this life in Christ
Gratitude and praise poured forth
To the Only God, worthy of all praise.
Amen and Amen
Selah-
Love this. ❤️
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Amen!
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As I lay here praying and contemplating this scripture, my extensive “to do” list creeps into my thoughts. Then my loving Father gently reminds me, “Two commandments- love me with your whole heart and love others.” He did not tell me to fix the student who troubles my heart so, be sure to send that email, confirm the resources for the presentation, review the packing list, address the invitations, or make time to walk. No, “love me and love others.” Beautiful, simplistic, freeing. But, I questioned, “don’t I have to DO something to show You love and to love others through my actions?” Again, my spirit heard Him whisper, “Trust Me. I will DO.” To obey, I need to fully love Him and others. The details of my day are not important and when I trust Him, fully trust Him in the love I claim to have for Him, He, not I, will see to the most important details of my day—His will be done, not mine. If He moves through me to accomplish these tasks they will be done. If He opens a door, I will walk through it. If He closes a door, I will not put all my efforts and energies into trying to force it open. I will trust Him. I am free indeed. My God’s plan is perfect.
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Amen!
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Amen and AMEN!
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Amen!
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Beautifully said! My “to do” list was also in my thoughts as I read this morning. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
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Here is that link of the site I was taking about: https://www.gotquestions.org/what-does-the-Holy-Spirit-do.html
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She said the Holy Spirit must quicken us. I know I was confused about who the Holy Spirit is, but I’ve heard good teachings to help with this. He is God. He is our promised Helper that Jesus talks about. I searched about the jobs/roles of the Holy Spirit. The site http://www.gotquestions.org had good information! He does so many things to help us in our Christian life. If we don’t know, how can we receive His help? It’s worth checking out.
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Paul doesn’t mince his words. We are to stand firm in our freedom in Christ. We accept no substitutes. We don’t selfishly use this freedom for our advantage. Rather, we use our freedom to lavishly love others in His name. They will know we are authentic Christians by our love. Let us stand firm in our freedom and let us freely love. Amen.
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