Anchored in Freedom: Celebrating Liberty in Christ

Independence Day has recently passed, and it’s a wonderful time to reflect on Christ’s freedom. How does Jesus anchor us in spiritual liberty, and what does it mean to live a life of freedom in Christ?

What is Freedom in Christ?

While we often think of freedom to mean that we can do whatever we want, Martin Manser’s Dictionary of Bible Themes defines freedom as “The state of liberty that results from not being oppressed or in bondage. Scripture stresses that human beings lack freedom on account of sin but that faith in Jesus Christ brings freedom from the power of sin and the law.”

Biblically, we are free from sin and the law through Christ. Let’s dig into that by looking at six verses on freedom in Christ.

Freedom to Serve Others

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13, NLT).

In Galatians, we see we are called to live in freedom. We have a choice to choose how we live our life of freedom and what that looks like.

Paul writes to the Galatians that it is possible to continue to live as a slave to sin, even when free, but the better choice is to love and serve others through your freedom.

This means that my freedom isn’t so much about me as about being free for the sake of others.

Freedom of God’s Grace

“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Romans 6:14, NLT).

In the Old Testament, God gives Israel the gift of the law to help them. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills that law, and we are given an even better gift.

The law served a purpose and a people, but it was never meant to be forever. Jesus and His atoning work on the cross are forever and final. We are free from living under the impossible requirements of the law.

God doesn’t need us to walk on eggshells, constantly worried about breaking His law.

God’s grace is our freedom. We can’t read this verse in isolation, though, and then choose to continue sinning. We need to respond to God’s grace with praise, service, and love.

Staying Free

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (Galatians 5:1, NLT).

This verse is similar to the one above, but there’s a slight and important difference.

The ancient Jewish people had a habit of adding to God’s laws to prevent someone from breaking them. I see it as building a fence around the law.

For instance, if God had said not to do something 10 times, they would have made the limit even lower so the people wouldn’t get close enough to break the law accidentally. They might have said to stop at eight, just to be safe.

What a blessing it is that we don’t need to live in fear or subservience to the old laws! Instead, we can enjoy the freedom that Christ provides.

Freedom and Stumbling

“But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:9, NLT).

Here again, we are asked to think of others first rather than holding tight to our freedom.

As an example, in Acts 10 (NIV), Peter had a vision that God had called previously unclean animals clean to eat.

Paul knew this, and in 1 Corinthians 8:13 (NIV), he models the correct behavior by setting aside his freedom to eat meat to help prevent others from stumbling. Paul writes, “So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.”

He was willing to give up his freedom (eating meat) to prevent others from making the wrong decision.

Our freedom does not trump our care, service, and love for others, especially if it will cause them to stumble or prick their conscience.

Freedom and Evil

“For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil” (1 Peter 2:16, NLT).

It’s possible to find a measure of tension in Christ’s freedom. While we are no longer bound to sin or the law, we are still bound to God, bought with the life of His own Son.

Yet, being servants of God is the most rewarding, safe, and blessed station. It also gives us responsibilities. We have looked at those through the other verses, but this verse, in particular, calls us to keep away from evil and not use our freedom as an excuse.

Our freedom is a privilege, and how we use it reflects our appreciation and honoring of God.

Purchased Freedom

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7, NLT).

Our freedom is a gift, but it was bought at a high price—the blood of Jesus. We cannot take that freedom lightly.

It is a precious gift. One to be used frequently and shared with others but not taken for granted.

We can honor the price paid by understanding and living into our freedom in the ways we are called to live in Scripture. We honor God by laying our freedom down for the sake of others and by holding tight to his love in the face of sin and evil.

How Will You Celebrate Your Independence?

Knowing that our freedom was bought not for our own selfish and sinful ways but that we may love and serve others while glorifying the Lord, how will you celebrate future Independence Days?

Perhaps you can find a way to serve one another in love and not cause others to stumble.

Or perhaps you will boldly praise Jesus for His sacrifice. You are free to choose.