For freedom Christ frees us! Stand firm, then, and be not again enthralled with the yoke of slavery
Paul to the Galatians 5: 1, Concordant New Testament
For the past week I have been watching the preparations that are being undertaken for the celebration of this nations 250th anniversary. Across the country, people will be celebrating not only the birth of our nation, but the freedom that comes with living here. Now, there will be those on the left side of the aisle who will try their best to demean and disparage this great experiment in self governance, but anyone who knows our history knows that this nation born out of battle remains that shining example of democracy known all over the world. We're told that to live in America is to live free. Indeed, there is a lot to be said for that. We have the freedom to travel. The freedom to speak our mind AND the freedom to worship in whatever way we choose without fear of government oppression. Yet many Americans do not know what it truly means to live free. The apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians that it is Christ Jesus Who has truly set us free {Paul to the Galatians 5:1}. The apostle John has proclaimed that if "The Son should be making you free, you will be really free" {Johns Account 8:36}. We're not talking about constitutional freedom here, but true, life changing freedom. This is the freedom which man will never take from us. This is the freedom which Christ Jesus has provided for us. So what is it to live free in Jesus? Growing up I would hear this phrase tossed about many times, but I never realized what it meant to live free in Christ until later in life. It wasn't until I realized who I was in Christ that I came to know the freedom which comes from living within the Fathers love. THAT is true freedom. I would say that to know Jesus is to know that you are free in Him. Free of the condemnation preached by those within the church. Free of the guilt and shame of the sin debt which was crucified on that cross so long ago. To live free in Jesus is to know that we ourselves died with Christ that our old man would be put to death for good {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. As Paul proclaims, what remains is Christ.
As I said, I never knew the meaning of truly living free in Jesus while in the mainstream church. They talk of living free in Jesus, but rarely put it into practice. Many Christians have never known what it really means to be free of all of the religious and traditional trappings which the church places upon us. They know that there are requirements which must be met in order to enjoy eternity in the Lords presence. That comes with a price, so we're told. Well, if there were a price to be paid for that freedom, it has already been paid in full by Jesus Himself. What remains is for Gods children to realize the freedom which we now have in Jesus. For me, this realization was more of a revelation given unto me by the Father. The revelation that I was no longer a sinner, which runs contrary to the false teachings of the church. For those within the church, sin continues to be a major issue for believers. For those who have known the truth of a life lived within the love of the Father, sin is something we no longer need to fear. As Paul has spoken, "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it" {Paul to the Romans 6:2}? Knowing the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus means knowing that not only did Jesus die to sin, but that we have died with Him. Sin no longer holds us captive {Paul to the Romans 6:6}. Just like those on the Democrat side of the aisle will do their best to demean this great nation, so will those within the church take each and every opportunity to proclaim that we are not free, but still in sins bondage. But to know the truth of our freedom lived within the Father is to see beyond the lies of the church separation theology. For to know our live in Jesus is to know the freedom which we have in Him.
Nothing, consequently, is now condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Not according to the flesh are they walking, but according to spirit, for the spirits law of life in Christ Jesus frees you from the law of sin and death
Paul to the Romans 8: 1-2, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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