If you are a Christian, you are likely very familiar with the phrase “freedom in Christ.” We hear it in the hymns and we acknowledge it in the church. We even claim it is a piece of our identity.
But what does it really mean?
The Misinterpretation
I have heard many people interpret “freedom in Christ” to mean that we are forgiven from sins. Personally, I disagree with this idea.
To say we are forgiven from our sin is not a wrong or inaccurate statement. 1 John 1:9 says, “For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Therefore, we are offered forgiveness and mercy, but that is not the meaning behind this phrase.
Imagine…
Picture yourself as a prisoner; bound in chains behind iron bars that form a damp and lonely cell. A cage. Trapped.
There is no escape. You are stuck here with the inescapable reality that you cannot free yourself.
The night passes and day dawns…you wake up. A guard comes and unlocks your prison cell; he guides you down the dark and dreary halls. Your feet make a dreadful echo in the empty silence.
Then you stop. The person that you committed a crime against stands before you, they look at you and smile. “I forgive you.” They whisper. Then the guard takes your arm again and drags you back to your cell.
Forgiveness…is not freedom.
What God Says About Freedom
Christ is literally the essence of our freedom. In Him we have peace. However, as I have mentioned in previous blogposts, Jesus did not come to take away the trials we face in life, but rather to offer us a hope amid them.
Sin is suffocating. It is our prison and our cage. Oftentimes, we find ourselves trapped in its depths; drawn in by temptation and the weakness of our human nature. Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
In addition, once we give into sin, it is very hard to escape it. But there is no way for us to avoid sin entirely; we are human—we will fall.
James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The definition of “submit” is literally as follows: accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.
If we are going to truly submit to Yahweh, our God and Father, we are choosing to be slaves to Christ. Romans 7:22 says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Our God is a loving Father. In His perfect, selfless love He offers us the choice of whether we will follow Him. He does not force us to bow before Him; there is no real meaning or power in an act that is not done by will.
To be free from sin…we must first become slaves to Christ.
What Does it Mean to Be a Slave to Christ?
A lot of people begin to grow concerned upon hearing the hard truth that in submitting to God we are choosing to bondage our lives to Him. It is a confusing topic for our modern ears to hear and understand.
We dislike the idea of being “slaves.” The idea of God being our Master makes us squeamish because we do not like to picture Him in a light that appears so negative and disreputable.
However, when we look at it from that perspective, we are completely disregarding the entire truth behind biblical salvation. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and we must be the ones to call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13). It is not forced; nor is it pressed upon us. It is our own choice.
We choose slavery to Christ because we find joy in our Master. He is a good and loving Creator. We are His children, His beloved, and we should long and desire to serve Him with our every breath.
Slavery to Christ is like nothing we have seen on earth. It is not the same as the seizing of West Africans in our country’s early history, or the imprisonment of Jews during the holocaust. No. It is a choice, a joy, and a passion. We are His, and He is ours. That is our hope and our peace.
Putting Together the Puzzle Pieces
Go back to the picture we imagined a few moments ago. Let’s redo the scene. You’re sitting in jail; the guard comes and grabs you by the arm. He takes you to the person you committed the crime against. They look at you and smile, “You are forgiven.”
But this time…they hand you the key.
You are no longer in jail by force but by your own choice.
Not only does the person you wronged avoid from forcing you to stay in jail, but they avoid from forcing you to choose freedom all the same. They do not even request it of you. It is your choice alone.
That is what makes freedom in Christ so powerful.
He does not shove it upon us; He waits patiently and lovingly. And yes…it aches Him to see us turn our backs; to watch as His precious little ones run away and forget His love for them.
But no matter how He aches for us, He leaves the decision in our hands.
Conclusion
We are a small, hopeless people. A fated world and a dying race. Humanity is nothing compared to the glory of our King. We will always be under a bondage. But we have a choice: sin…or a Savior?
Neither are easy. Both will cause hurt and pain. Both require sacrifice.
But only one offers hope.
So, I ask you…which do you choose?
We are all given the undeserved opportunity of freedom in Christ. It is your decision; no one can make the choice for you. We are all given the same opportunity and the same grace. Some will accept it and others will ignore it. We are all broken people with the potential of a beautiful story in His love.
One day we will all stand before the throne of God. And I ask you to consider…will you regret your choice? Or will you stand before Him with joy and praise, singing “oh God, how great is your name in all the earth.”
Choose your fate, wisely, my friends.
Wow, excellent post, Rue. I really love what you pointed out about being free from sin, we first need to become slaves of Christ. Wonderful point there. Thank you for sharing! ❤︎
Thank you Rue! I loved the illustration you gave! ❤
That’s really good insight. I’ve been learning a lot about that in the past few months, and I’d like to add a little if I may.
In the illustration you gave, the person you wronged hands you the key and watches you. You decide to use it and walk out of the jail. The person walks up behind you and says, “If you want, you can come with me to my house and I’ll help you start your new life. You don’t have to, but you can if you want.” You follow them to their house and they give you a bath, a meal, and new clothes. They continue to treat you better than you’ve ever been treated. Eventually, you realize that you want to live in this person’s house forever. You realize that as their slave you would be treated far better than everyone else, even though you WOULD have to do what your Master asked. He willingly accepts you and welcomes you.