No man is free who is a slave to the flesh.
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 b.c.–a.d. 65)
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
— Galatians 5:1
Enigma. Absolute freedom through complete submission to G_d. At least that is what it seems like from the world’s perspective. Like, how come I can’t do what I want when I become a Christian? Aren’t all things now legal?
Yes. But, our lives are not about us any more. They are about Him.
- For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3
Beloved, Christ did not just save us from our sins, He saves us from ourselves. Really, if we just slow down for a minute and think about it… This is ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! Unless we are total narcissists, i think we get the truth that we are pitiful beings without Christ. When left to our own devices, we whine, hate, fight, drug, lust, sleep, hurt, drink, entertain, eat and cheat our way through life.
In Christ, we have the opportunity to be some really incredible things:
- Slaves of Righteousness
- But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:17-18
- Soldiers of Christ
- Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:3
- Perfect
- And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4
- Dead Man Walking
- I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
- Weapons of Righteousness
- As the result, don’t allow sin to rule your mortal bodies and don’t obey its desires. Nor should you offer your body parts as unrighteous weapons of sin. Rather, offer yourselves to God as someone who has been raised from the dead, and [offer] your body parts to God as weapons of righteousness. So, sin must not be your master, because you aren’t under Law, but under [God’s] loving kindness. Romans 6:12-14 (ERV)
This is just some of it… The Bible tells us that we get are actually a whole bunch of other things (see New Thing). But the coolest part is that we get to be messengers of the Kingdom of G_d. And this Kingdom is the best place to live – ever. The Kingdom of G_d is simply this: Righteousness, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
Get this beloved. In Him, we have FREEDOM from our old nasty selves, and we get to live enduringly peaceful, joyous, happy lives filled with wholesome thoughts and good actions toward our fellow man that are reckoned as pleasing to our Savior.
And we wanted to just be able to do whatever? Well, some of us might have to do more research in this area… Let me know how that works out.
As for me, i’m gonna choose the happy, joyous and free route. Call me a fool. i’ll take that bet 🙂
The only lasting treasure is spiritual; the only perfect freedom is serving God.
— Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990)
— Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990)
