Gaylord Diaz's Blog

THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY OR FREEDOM

What, then, does it mean to be free? What are we freed from? What are we free to do?

1. CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS FREEDOM FROM SATAN’S POWER OR CONTROL. When we were unsaved and without Christ Satan was our master. We were under his rule (Acts 26:18). But when Christ saved us He freed us from Satan’s power and rule. Colossians 1:12-13 reads, giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light.  (13)  He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

Christian liberty is freedom from Satan’s rule or domain. It’s like being rescued out of an oppressive, freedom-robbing, life-threatening country and being taken to a free country where you can live in peace and security. Spiritually speaking, you couldn’t escape the devil’s country on your own. He had you locked up in his domain of imprisonment. What Jesus did  is, like the Rangers and Seals of modern times, He came in and rescued you from your imprisonment. Then He put you on His chopper out of the devil’s country and brought you to His country of freedom, peace, joy, and love.

You see, as Christ-rescued souls, we are in Christ’s country now. We are free from Satan’s tyranny, rule, and imprisonment. We don’t have to listen to the devil and do as he says. Why? Because he’s no longer our master! He doesn’t have authority over us anymore! We are free from his dominion, power, and rule.

2. CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS FREEDOM FROM OUR SLAVERY TO SIN.  Without Christ we were enslaved to sin. We couldn’t rise above sin. We kept on sinning.  We couldn’t help sinning (Romans 3:10-12).

But when we gave our lives to Jesus, He freed us from sin’s mastery and power over us. Sin can no longer force or compel us to sin! We can choose not to sin. Romans 6:17-18 reads, Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.  (18)  Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Freedom from sin is like being set free from an addiction, let’s say an addiction to drugs. When you’re set free from a drug addiction you’re no longer addicted to the drugs. You lose your interest in drugs. You don’t find any more pleasure or enjoyment in drugs. It’s no longer a temptation to you, at least, it’s not the strong temptation that it once was in your life. You have the power and willingness of heart to overcome or resist the temptation to use drugs once again.

Freedom from sin, brethren, is the same way. When Christ set us free from sin He did something to us. He changed us. He delivered us from the captivating power and appeal of sin. And He took that longing or urge to sin away from us. Sin is no longer the problem or the temptation that it once was in our lives. It isn’t our master anymore.

Christian freedom, brethren, is all about the power and willingness we have to rise above sin and not sin. THE LIBERTY WE HAVE IN CHRIST IS THE LIBERTY NOT TO SIN.

Brethren, Christ didn’t set us free to sin: He set us free from sin. While we still have the free will to sin because we’re still morally free creatures, we nonetheless don’t have the freedom to sin. The freedom we have as Christians is the freedom not to sin.

3. CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS FREEDOM FROM USING THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW OR MAN’S RELIGIOUS LAWS AS A MEANS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR SALVATION.  Many people try to earn their way into Heaven by keeping some set of laws. For the Jews of Jesus’ day, salvation was by the keeping of the Old Testament Law, as well as the rabbinical law of Judaism’s rabbis. For heathens past and present, diligent observance of a moral, religious, or cultural code of conduct  supposedly ensures one of eternal bliss after death.

But Christ is the end of all of men’s attempts to try and earn salvation or righteousness. Men no longer have to work for salvation because they can never work for it or attain it. Salvation is a matter of God’s grace and it’s received by faith–not works.

• Romans 10:1-4, Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. {2} For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. {3} For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. {4} For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
•  Galatians 5:1-4  Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don’t ever become slaves of the Law again.  (2)  I, Paul, promise you that Christ won’t do you any good if you get circumcised.  (3)  If you do, you must obey the whole Law.  (4)  And if you try to please God by obeying the Law, you have cut yourself off from Christ and his wonderful kindness. See also 4:9-11,
•  Colossians 2:20-23  You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,  (21)  “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?  (22)  Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.  (23)  These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Christian freedom is freedom from using the Law or men’s laws as a means of salvation or righteousness; it’s the end of our working to be saved. Brethren, you don’t have to keep the law–any law, be it man’s law or God’s law–in order to be saved. You can’t work for, or earn, your salvation. If you believe in Jesus and have received Him as your personal Lord and Savior, then you’re already saved, Christ has set you free from trying to work for, or earn, your salvation.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 3. I’ll clear the air about some misconceptions that a lot of us have about freedom. What an eye-opener! Get ready to see some things you may never have seen before.