What Is Freedom in Christ?
We have freedom in Christ. Jesus is inviting us to step out of sin’s slavery and into the fullness of grace found in Him.
We gathered with extended family over Christmas break in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina. We rented a lovely house down the street from my sister’s home so we could all be together in one of our favorite places— the bluff.
I woke before the rest of my family on our first morning there, which is pretty unusual for me on vacation. I love my sleep! But on this particular morning, the Lord had a funny encounter waiting for me.
The Squirrel
I prepared my coffee and was walking toward the peace I thought was awaiting me on the screened- in porch when I noticed a squirrel running about frantically, chewing on the wooden frame, scratching at the screen, and even attempting to claw his way up the chimney, all to no avail.
I wasn’t much in the mood for an encounter with a freaked-out squirrel. But I decided to take the risk because his only way out was for me to open the door for him. More important, I really, really wanted to sit on the porch in peace.
The squirrel sat perfectly still, perched on the edge of a chair, as I stepped into the porch and moved slowly toward the screen door to prop it open for him. His eyes met mine as I walked back inside the house, leaving him alone to run to freedom. But instead of making a run for it, he stayed perched on the chair. I couldn’t help but wonder why he wasn’t leaving. Did it seem too good to be true? Did he doubt that it was really that easy to be free after everything he’d done on his own?
A Reluctant Step Toward Liberation
A few times he moved toward the door, but he never got far before he returned to the chair. He still seemed be to questioning my motives. Finally, after I spent entirely too much time assessing his motives, he mustered up the courage to make a run for it. Everything he wanted, he now had.
I think this is what a lot of us do with the freedom Jesus offers us. We’re skeptical. “What are your intentions with me?” we ask.
Maybe today some of us are enslaved to a way of life that isn’t serving us well. Or we’re stuck in a pattern of sin that leads us deeper and deeper into shame.
What does Jesus Say about Freedom?
Let’s look at what Jesus had to say about freedom in John 8:31–36.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Slavery vs. freedom. We are either slaves to sin, meaning it rules us or entraps us, or we are free from its power and destruction. It’s never both. And the only way we move from slave to son is through Jesus, the Son of God, who was sent by the Father to take away the sin of the world.
How, then, does Christ set us free?
He set us free by serving our sentence. We miss the mark; He pays the price. We betray God with our sin; Jesus buys our forgiveness with His blood.
Jesus is the only One who can open the door to freedom because He paid our debt in full. There is no balance left for us to pay. Jesus was crucified, was buried, and rose again to set us completely free.
Jesus opened the door to our freedom. This is amazing grace. And the deeper into intimacy we will go with the Trinity, the more we will desire to use our freedom to live for God’s glory. From intimacy flows obedience, growth in holiness, and life and peace.
In His Word
Read Romans 6:5–11. How does Paul say we are set free?
In Your Life
How can you choose to live in the freedom of Christ today? Take a moment to pray and thank God for the freedom He grants us from sin and for the intimacy He allows us to have with Him.
We Recommend
We recommend Closer to God by Jeannie Cunnion. Jeannie helps us discover the profound difference God’s empowering presence makes, and how we can enjoy more of it.
Let’s Connect
Jeannie Cunnion is a bestselling author and speaker whose most recent books and Bible studies include Mom Set Free, Don’t Miss Out, and Never Alone. Her work has been featured on outlets such as the TODAY show, Fox News, CBN, and a host of popular podcasts. Jeannie holds a master’s degree in social work, and she is the co-founder of The 509 Foundation. She and her husband, Mike, live in Greenwich, Connecticut, with their five boys. You can also connect with Jeannie on Instagram.