Discovering What Freedom Really Means

I’m grateful to live in a country where I’m free…

But freedom is much more than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It goes far deeper (and is much more revolutionary) than the inalienable rights outlined in the constitution of the United States.

For true freedom comes from within. It’s a freedom only Christ can give.

Celebrating Liberty

When Jesus came to earth, died for our sins and rose again, He set us free in more ways than we often realize. As a result, we live with less liberty than God intended.

This 4th of July, I’d like to declare our spiritual independence by returning to the “Emancipation Proclamation” wrote with His precious blood. We are no longer slaves to sin, we’ve been set free by Christ!

More Soul-Freeing Truths

In case you’ve forgotten (or perhaps, never knew) what Jesus did for you by His death and resurrection, it’s spelled out in scripture. In black and white, as well as red.

(The first portion is kind of long, but please read it through completely – even out loud! It is the foundational truth for all the other freedoms we’ve been given in Jesus.)

Freedom from Sin

So, since we’re out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we’re free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it’s your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!  (Romans 6:15-18 MSG)

Freedom to Be Truly Free

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Freedom to Stand Firm

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)

Freedom from Accusation

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.  (Colossians 1:21-22)

Freedom by the Word

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.   (James 1:25)

Freedom to Approach God

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)

Freedom to Cry Out to God

In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.  (Psalm 118:5)

Freedom to Live Abundantly

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  (John 10:10)

Freedom from Evil

…Who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. (Galatians 1:4)

Freedom from Guilty Conscience

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!  (Hebrews 9:14)

Freedom from Condemnation

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:1-2)

Freedom from Religious Slavery

[This matter arose] because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.  (Galatians 2:4)

Freedom to Serve One Another in Love

For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. (Galatians 5:13 TLB)

Freedom to be Authentically Holy

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (1 Peter 2:16)

Freedom from Fear

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  (Romans 8:15)

Freedom from Trouble

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”  (Psalm 91:14-16)

{ Download FREE printable of these “Soul-Freeing Truths” }

I’d love to hear from you…What “freedom in Christ” verses would you add to this list?