Galatians 4:31 says, “So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” I encourage you to read Gal 4:21-31 for the context of this verse. Paul uses the story of Ishmael and Isaac to reveal the New Testament truth that the physical children of God are in bondage under the law and are of the physical Jerusalem; while the spiritual children of God, through the new birth, are free, and are of the heavenly Jerusalem. Let’s get into God’s Word.
Jesus came to this earth to make men free. We see in Luke 4:18-19, that the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of freedom. He came to preach deliverance and set at liberty. Look at what Jesus said of Himself in Jn 8:31-36: “…..If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free….. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
In Psalm 51:12, David prayed, “Uphold me with Thy free Spirit”. The Hebrew word for free used here means “noble”. A definition of noble is “free, generous, liberal” (Web. 1828 Dict.). Where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is liberty (2Cor3:17). The Spirit of The Lord is a free Spirit; a generous, noble, and liberating Spirit. A man with the Spirit of the Lord loves freedom. A man with a spirit of antichrist loves to enslave.
This week we celebrate liberty and independence on the 4th of July. Our Founding Fathers were not a rag-tag group of rebels spoiling for a fight. They were men who tried every means to rectify issues in a peaceful, diplomatic way. However, they had a spirit of freedom, and were willing to die for it. When you have the Spirit of the Lord, you want peace - but you want freedom. Where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is freedom.
True freedom begins with Jesus. It is first and foremost a spiritual thing. A free man without Christ often lives as a slave; and a slave with Christ is often the freest man of all (1Cor 7:22). Children of God have a glorious liberty (Rom 8:21). It is a liberty only Christ can give. When you have this spiritual liberty, it causes you to want to be free - and to want others to be free, as well.
What are we free from as Believers? We are free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2). We are free from sin (Rom6:18-23). We are free from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). We are no longer in bondage to the forces of darkness. Whom The Son of God makes free, is free indeed!
Does this mean we are free to do as we please? Well, it depends on which “you” you are talking about. Are you walking in The Spirit of God? Then do as you please. Are you walking in the flesh? Then no - don’t do as you please. It is really that simple.
Read carefully Rom 6:18, 22, 1Cor 7:22, 9:19, Gal 5:13, 1Pt 2:15-16. What you will find in these verses, is that they all talk about freedom …. TO BE A SERVANT! It may seem like a contradiction, but it’s not. A man, truly free in Christ, serves God and serves others. It is not by force, but willingly. It is not a heavy burden, but joy and peace. God is not a harsh task master Who you have to serve; but rather a loving Father Who you want to serve. To be the servant of Christ is to be truly free. He gives you His Spirit, which is a Spirit of freedom and liberty.
Freedom in Christ is not freedom to live in the flesh (Gal 5:19-21). It is freedom to live for God, and yield the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). It is freedom to live pleasing to God. It is freedom to fulfill your God given destiny. It is freedom to live in victory!
How then should we respond? Jam 1:25 “But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed“. Jam 2:12 “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty“. Gal 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” There you have it.
Continue reading God’s Word; don’t forget it - but do it; You will be blessed. Speak and act in accordance with God’s Word - knowing you will be judged out of it. Finally, stand firmly in the liberty of Christ, and don’t be entangled with the bondage the world, the flesh, the devil, and “religion” tries to put on you. Live with a pure heart and conscience before God, obeying His Word - and you will live in freedom! Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!
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