Freedom in Christ

Those that accept Christ as Savior and Lord, believing and having faith in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection as the payment for our sinful nature, we are given freedom. What is in Freedom in Christ? Before Jesus came the Jews were to live by rules and regulations called the Law. The law limited freedom, because at that time there was no sacrifice for sins that was good enough, they used the blood of animals to cover the sins. People were to live under strict rules, but Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, He only had to die once, and when He died we were given open access to God through Christ.(Hebrews 10) In Galatians Paul tells us that through Christs death the law lost its bondage to people, the law was no longer the way to God, but Jesus was. Jesus died on the cross to free us from the law of sin and death, He died to free us from religion. He died so that we could live for the glory of God and have forgiveness. He died so that we could be children of the Creator of the Universe. We are able to live for Jesus by faith, not works of our own. Having freedom through faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).

I have noticed at many of times that I have not lived in this freedom in Christ, instead I go back to my religious way of living life, instead of seeking full steam ahead towards Christ. In these times my prayers become redundant, my quiet times become about what I think I should read and not being filled by the word. In these times I feel frustrated and feel like I'm a failure, in these times I feel like if I'm not having an emotional experience then I'm not right with God, or that I'm not worshiping God if I don't have the feelings. In this ignoring the fact that I can have the relationship with God and to be filled by Him. Jesus died so that we can have FREEDOM, He didnt die so that I could fall back in religion, back in frustration, into self-seeking desires. Jesus is telling us to stand firm in the freedom He has given us. He liberates us from the bondage of sin, and desires to be with us daily.

Recently, I have been hearing God speak to me about how I have not realized that there is freedom, and I'm beginning to see that now after seeing how much I beat myself up. Knowing that in Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." The Lord has been telling me not to condemn myself, because Christ took on that condemnation at the cross. Condemning ourselves shows lack of faith in God that is working in our lives, and that is not where we should be, but realizing that we can enjoy our relationship with Christ.

Do you recognize the freedom you have in Christ? Are you living frustrated, and not knowing what God is doing in your life? Wondering what your purpose is? If you know Christ, you have freedom to will and act for God's good purpose, and to not feel condemned of your sin. You can have assurance that you are following Christ and not living under the law, or religion, by asking God to show you, to teach you, to help you to realize that He does love us and wants us to live free from the bondage of sin.