How Are We Free in Christ?

How are We Free in Christ?
by Sherri Bergmann

Many believe that in following Christ they’ll be bogged down with a bunch of rules that take away the fun in living life. Let’s look at the facts.

Ten Commandments – The first laws God gave us weren’t to restrict us, but to keep us out of trouble. The first four focus on loving him, our Creator. That results in a relationship that abounds with blessings as we grow closer to Him. The fifth to the 10th focus on loving others. Because He loves us, He doesn’t want us to hurt each other. The fifth starts with us loving our parents that he first gave us, and the rest to others in our lives. If we did the opposite of each commandment, we’ll see the evidence of how disobeying each will trap and enslave us. Some for life.

• Thou shall not kill. Murder leads from living free to living in a 6 x 8 feet cell for life, and perhaps to death row.  
• Thou shall not commit adultery. Having an affair entraps us in a web of lies which the cost could be divorce, and losing our relationship with our children, and even custody of them. The unforeseen consequences can last a lifetime on us and others.
• Thou shall not steal. Stealing from others not only hurts others, it hurts us as well. Satan’s lure to enticing us with an act of thrill and greed turns into a crime. We can lose our job, and depending on the severity of the crime, land in prison.
• Thou shall not bear false witness against others. Also known as “Do not lie.” Lying can cause us to dig a deeper hole for ourselves, and each time we lie to cover up the last, the hole of trouble we dig grows deeper. We lose others’ trust in us, our reputation, and are constantly looking over our shoulder. We’re enslaved in fear. However, those who are in Christ are as bold as a lion.  “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1.
• Thou shall not covet. Desiring to have something is normal – simply put, we buy what we want. But when it exceeds what we can afford, or belongs to someone else, or our desiring something or someone becomes an obsession, then that can take us down dark roads. God doesn’t want us to torment ourselves, and for us to get into situations that will harm us and others.

God’s laws are based on love. Love does no harm. “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.” 1 John 4:18.

When we break God’s commandments and don’t follow Jesus, we end up tormenting ourselves and others.

Satan is an illusionist, Christ came as the truth. God went further than telling us to play nice in the sandbox to help free us. He sent Christ.

After the Devil tried every temptation he could against Jesus in the wilderness, he finally left him. Jesus knew full well what people were up against. He wanted them to know that he was for them, and not against them. He went into a synagogue and unrolled the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and read aloud:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:13-21

Christ came to free us from worry, depression, fear, anxiety, imprisonment, and death mentally, spiritually and even physically. Because He rose from the dead, we can also, into everlasting life with Him. In Him, He frees us now, and for eternity.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Romans 18:20-21

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32