FREED FOR FREEDOM

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, NASB)

Apart from Christ Jesus, only moral and spiritual slavery exist. Moral slavery is bondage to the choice of wrong. Spiritual slavery is bondage to sin. Until liberated by Jesus, no person is capable of distinguishing good and evil, or living righteously. Instead of being overcomers, unregenerate people are overcome. As it is written, "for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage" (2 Pet 2:19, NKJV). There is even a "spirit of bondage" that produces fear, driving the individual from the presence of God and producing hopelessness (Rom 8:15). But this is not the purpose for which man was created.

With the induction of sin came restraint. Man was, so to speak, manacled to the decaying corpse of nature. The primary part of man, his spirit, became "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). He could no longer hear the Voice he was created to hear, see the things he was made to see, or do the things he was framed to do. His capacities were dulled, his heart became hard, and his total nature corrupted. In every true sense of the word, sin produced bondage.

The Lord Jesus came to correct that situation. He came to make people free: i.e., not just to offer freedom, but to MAKE it, or cause it to come to pass. As He said, "Therefore if the Son MAKES you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36, NKJV). That freedom, or liberty, is a reversal of all bondage created by sin. It is real, effective, and satisfying.

The particular aspect of freedom mentioned in our text involves liberation from mere external religious service–empty ceremony. Under the Law, the approach and service to God were external, embodied in rituals, formalities, and observances. Even though the ceremonies were kept with precision and consistency, the individual remained shackled to sin. The conscience was defiled, and there was no persuasion of Divine acceptance. The entire arrangement, ordained of God, was not intended to bring satisfaction to either God or the participants. Instead, it developed an acute awareness of alienation from God. It did not make men free, and did not bring rejoicing to the Lord or the hosts of heaven.

The "freedom" for which Christ has freed us involves moving about freely in the "courts of the Lord," appropriating "spiritual blessings," and enjoying the "communion of the Holy Spirit." It also includes being able to say "NO to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" (Tit 2:12, NIV). This liberty removes the obligation to sin and the prohibition of drawing near to God. It brings with it power for living, effectiveness in laboring, and a prospect of good things to come.

One would think it impossible to be drawn away from such marvelous liberty–but such a notion is only a delusion. Working through lifeless religion, the devil had actually drawn the Galatians back into bondage–a bondage that forbade them to draw near to God or obtain the benefits procured for them by Jesus. They were going back to ritualistic religion–one of empty and powerless form. The Spirit affirmed that in so doing they had been "bewitched," "fallen from grace," come into a place where Christ "profits nothing," and become "debtors to the whole law" (Gal 3:1; 5:2-3,4). This was a far cry from "the freedom" for which Christ "has set us free."

Standing fast in this freedom is refusing to be moved away "from the hope of the Gospel" (Col 1:23). It is declining to come down from heavenly places, like Nehemiah and his workers refused to come down from the wall they were building (Neh 6:3; Eph 2:6). We have been yoked up with Jesus (Matt 11:29-30). All other yokes, religious or otherwise, are "unequal yokes." They neutralize our fellowship with the Son, diminish the glow of the promises, and overstate fleshly advantages. All other yokes are "yokes of bondage," and are to be firmly rejected.

The freedom for which Christ has made us free is better experienced than explained. It is a freedom which brings joy and confidence in the very presence of the Lord. It liberates the soul to DO, as well as know, "the good and acceptable, and perfect will of God." It releases the soul to navigate in heavenly realms, obtaining "all spiritual blessings," and enjoying "all things pertaining to life and godliness" (Eph 1:3; 2 Pet 1:3). The liberated person knows the joy of sins forgiven, access to God and His grace, and his name being written in heaven.

Whatever dulls a sense of these benefits tends to bondage, and is to be resisted. Whatever contributes to these things tends to liberty, and is to be embraced. It will take determination to "stand fast" in this liberty, but you can do it through the grace of God!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise and thank You through Jesus for freeing me from the guilt and power of sin. I also thank You for freeing me to enjoy freedom in the Son.

-- Monday: EVERYTHING WAS MADE BY HIM--HE IS THE BEGINNING --