Freedom in Christ: What exactly does that mean?

Originally published July 2, 2017

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

Freedom is Abstract

The first verse of Galatians chapter five describes our reality and sets the stage for the second half of the book, theologically speaking. The first half (chapters 1 through 4) is a systematic reminder of the biblical gospel, that faith in Jesus Christ is what justifies or reconciles us to God. The second half (chapters 5 and 6) give us a guide to living in this new found freedom in Christ. But freedom is a hard concept for most Americans to grab a firm grasp. For most of us, freedom is an entitled right that we live in and under. We have never not had freedom. Most of us have never had to fight to keep it. It is just around. Freedom is abstract and immaterial. We can see it play out in our everyday lives, when we see protesters at the local courthouse or when we gather on Sundays for worship without the fear of persecution. We’re even reminded about it on holidays such as Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and 4th of July. But if we are honest, we are not constantly aware of the freedoms that we enjoy all day and everyday.

Degrees of Freedom

The other thing that makes freedom a difficult concept is that there are degrees of freedom. What do I mean? Just look at this example.

Someone says that they just got freed from prison. There are three main degrees that are possible in this scenario: Prison Break, Parole, or Pardon. How would we know which one they meant? There are four key questions that help identify which degree this person is in:

Who freed you? What were the means by which you were freed? What are the conditions to remain free? How are you living accordingly?

1. Prison Break

In a prison break, a person is freed by their own rebellious efforts. They think they are free, and in one sense they are. In order to keep this new found freedom they must continue to rebel. They have to continue to break the law to survive and not get caught. Even to take on a new identity to then lead a quiet moral life, still causes them to break several laws. Even then they never can completely rest. They thought their rebellion would bring them true freedom. The reality is that they are transferred from one prison to the prison of constant fear of being caught. Prison break is an illusion of freedom.

2. Parole

In a parole situation, the person is freed by others who hold particular authority to grant someone parole. The person is freed because these certain people have taken a look at the prisoner’s good behavior and determined that he can be released. It is ultimately the prisoner’s works that has set him/her free. Their freedom has conditions. It is their works that got them out and it is their works that will keep them out. They have to maintain that good behavior or they go back to prison. They are obsessed with their performance. They have to be! One slip up and they are back behind bars. Their motivation to do good is one of fear of being imprisoned again or pride that says, “Check me out! I’m doing really good things. You can’t send me back.” Again, what they thought would bring them true freedom has only brought them into another prison. It is the prison of good works. The prison of attempting to be good enough. Parole is an illusion of freedom.

3. Pardon

In the Pardon situation, a person is freed by the ONLY ONE who has the authority to absolve the punishment of their crime. They can never again be punished for that crime that they were imprisoned. This freedom is never in danger because it comes from the highest authority. It can never be taken away or reversed. The ONE who frees the prisoner does so out of mercy and grace. No truly guilty person deserves a full pardon. The punishment they deserve is absolved. A clean record is given.

The one freed by this pardon has true freedom and a new life. They realize they were given this new life not based on their performance. So they know their performance will never affect the decision moving forward. They can truly do whatever they want to do! They could choose to do bad or good. Though one thing has changed from the previous examples, the motivation. In prison break, they have to do bad out of fear. In parole, they have to do good out of fear or pride. In pardon, these motivations are destroyed. Fear is taken away because you can never be punished again for that crime. Pride is crushed because you realize your freedom is not contingent on your performance but on the actions of the ONE who freed you. Whatever good they do, it is because of gratitude of this new life that they didn’t deserve and love for the ONE who freed them. THIS IS TRUE FREEDOM!

Which degree are you?

Our spiritual degree of freedom has an eternal weight to it. It matters that we dig deep and identify which degree we are living.

Again the 4 key questions will help you identify your degree:

Who has freed you? You, Others with particular authority (church leaders), or God — THE ONE with Ultimate Authority.

What was the means of your freedom? Your Rebellion, Your Good works, or God’s Grace and Mercy

What are the conditions to remain free? Keep rebelling, Keep doing good works, or Live by faith in the grace and mercy of God

How do you live accordingly? In a prison of rebellion with a fear of being caught, In a prison of good works motivated by fear of losing God’s favor and pride because of being obsessed with your own religious performance, or In true freedom living a life of gratitude and love for a new life you don’t deserve. Focused on the performance of the ONE who freed you and not your own performance for Him.

How the Gospel answers those questions? (A good daily reminder as well)

God has pardoned us through the blood of Jesus that we might, by faith alone, be set free from the law of sin and death to live lives that are filled with the Spirit moving toward holiness! Hallelujah!

Galatians 1: 3–5 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 3: 23–25 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?