A Life of Grace-Based Freedom

In our imperfect environment, we sometimes hear the word “freedom” tossed around indiscriminately. It’s great to be free and freedom is indeed a blessing, but Christians need a deeper level of understanding in this area. Freedom is defined as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. This applies to us not just externally, but also to our spiritual lives.

Under the old covenant, life was all about rules: do good, get good; do bad, get cursed. Because of the constraints of sin, man was never free; he constantly faced the threat of punishment or death if he deviated from the prescribed behavior or broke one of the many commandments he was required to obey. Then grace changed everything when Jesus came and ended that cycle by becoming the curse for us. Jesus was full of grace and truth; that grace is now the truth that has set us free.

This was no small thing. The Mosaic Law gave sin its strength, but grace broke that power and made sin lose its grip. Sin no longer has dominion over us because we’re not under the law, but under grace. Faith in Christ, not in our ability to keep commandments, brings liberty and peace.

This freedom isn’t just about escaping punishment, but about transformation. Jesus told the people that if they believed in Him, they would know the truth, and it would make them free; when the woman caught in adultery was brought before Him, He didn’t condemn her but instead forgave her and told her to move forward. This same forgiveness is ours today. Our relationship with God is no longer based on performance but on Jesus’ finished works.

Believing what God did is critical. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus told the rich young ruler that salvation hinged on behavior. Afterward, Paul and Silas emphasized to the jailer the importance of belief. Faith in this lets us be who God created us to be without fear or shame.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for setting us free from endlessly performing to earn your favor. Help us to trust in the works Your Son finished and to live boldly in the liberty You’ve given us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Galatians 3:13

John 1:14

1 Corinthians 15:56

Romans 6:14

John 8:3-11, 31, 32

Matthew 19:16-21

Mark 10:17-21

Luke 18:18-22

Acts 16:30-31