What does it mean to be free in Christ?

What does a person who is truly

free in Christ look like?

Are you free In Christ?

John 8:36 “36 So if the Son (Jesus) sets you free, you will indeed be free.” (NLT)

John 8:31-32 “31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NLT)

Most of us would probably have different answers for all the questions above. That is because we are all at different levels of understanding of the truth of God’s Word and how it relates to us as individuals. God’s Word is absolute truth and will never change nor has it ever changed, although our understanding of it has.

Isaiah 40:8 “8 The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (NLT)

To be free in Christ does not mean that you are free to set you own agenda or do it your way!

Before I go on to say what freedom in Christ is, I will say what it is not! It is not a licence to sin! To some freedom in Christ means they are free to say or act however they want, even if that means being rude and that they are spiritual authority over the local church - because of their revelation. The truth is, it is justifying their desire to sin, it is not what Jesus teaches and subsequently they will be judged according to the Word and their actions in their perceived (or should I say deceived) freedom.

I also have known people who call themselves Christian, but who don’t want to prosper or they want to hang onto their sickness. They don’t want to know the truth. They may desire to be a disciple of Jesus, but will never walk in the freedom available to them.

In John 8:31 we see Jesus was talking to some people. Notice the Word said “to those that believed in Him”? True freedom is only available to those who believe in Him! Reading on, Jesus gives us a very important key to freedom in Christ as He goes on to say “you are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings.”

Here is where so many Christians miss it! They hear the truth, believe it and maybe even walk in the victory and freedom of it for a period of time. But when persecution comes... Or the pastor doesn’t give them a big hug every Sunday - boom they revert back to the ways of the world, take offence and leave the church. They miss the freedom available to them.

I have heard some say “I’m free in Jesus” and He is who I am submitted to... really? Why don’t you walk in the truth of His word then? As Christians, when we act like the world - those who don’t know the truth of God’s Word see the church as lifeless and nothing to offer them, that they don’t already have.

Reading on Jesus continues with a very important message to all of us. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” May I remind you this is the Word of God talking - this is Jesus talking. Notice just wanting to be a disciple of Jesus won’t set you free. Just going to church won’t set you free. Being nice won’t set you free.

Jesus gives us the key to freedom here - if we believe Him - believe His Word!

When we are a true disciple of Jesus we will keep obeying the Word we know, AND the result of this obedience will be that we will know the truth, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE”!

So now we know that it is the truth - that we know, that sets us free. I want to point out the Bible is absolute truth and is available to everyone equally, but it will only set those who are bold enough to get out of their comfort zone and believe what is wrote inside of it.

To someone who is dieing of cancer their freedom is total healing, which is available to them if they will believe and keep on believing until they are free from cancer. The same is true for people who are in dept, financial freedom is available - if they will only believe and keep on believing until the truth sets them free. Freedom to receive every promise God made to mankind is available to us - if we believe and keep on believing.

We read in the bible that sometimes Jesus rebuked or scolded His disciples. He did this in love for them and so that they would come to know the truth. He knew the freedom that was available to them, if they would receive His teachings and keep obeying His teachings.

In Galatians 5:1-26 Jesus (who is the Word) is speaking to us through Paul. Here we can gain more insight on true freedom in Christ. “1 So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favour with God by being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

Keep in mind Paul was addressing the local church, Christians - not the religious folks. What this scripture is telling us is that the law or what we call religion will not save us or give us the freedom we are seeking. In fact it will cut us off from Christ!

“5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

That sounds like true freedom to me!

“7 You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 BBut it takes only one wrong person among you to infect all the othersto bring you back to believing as I do about these things. God will judge that person, whoever it is, who has been troubling and confusing you.”

Continuing in vs13

“For you have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.” 16 So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. 18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

WOW! Again this is to “the church” - to Christians, a warning to you and me, if we are a true disciple of Jesus.! We can see all this being possible in the world... but in the church? These people will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Very strong words - a truth so many read over as they justify their actions by their twisted sense of freedom.

Reading on in vs. “22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.”

A fruit of love, of joy, of peace, of patience, of kindness, of goodness, of faithfulness! These are the people you like to be around. The people that are submitted to Jesus, to the local church, to authority and walk in total freedom to receive ALL the blessings available to them in the Word of God.

Continuing in vs. “24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.”

And in Galatians 6:1-18 “1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody. 4 Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. 6 Those who are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them.

I like that part...

“vs. 7 Don’t be misled. (DECEIVED) Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

Reading on in vs. “15 It doesn’t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised (tradition or religion) or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people) May God’s mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.”

Are you free In Christ?