The Freedom in Christ Jesus!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:1 NIV

Because of this world and that we are sinners (Romans 5:12), the Spirit of God gives us freedom. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This means that we never would be free unless we abide in the Holy Spirit—since the word of God declares:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

In other words, Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross as an atonement of our sins; to set us free from the law of sin that leads us to death, and showing us how to be truly free in Him. For this reason, He says,

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Overall, since there is the grace of God available to us, we are called to be the slaves to righteousness. This is also why Christ Jesus was crucified; to make us the righteousness of God (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21) Thus, the word of God states:

… count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:11-14)

Because of this, God has poured His Spirit into us to advocate us to do the will of God (John 14:15-17,26-27; Ezekiel 36:26-27) in every aspect of our lives until the end of the age. Thus, we can enter the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age. (Matthew 7:21)  

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

For me, I find freedom especially when I write devotionals for others, even though sometimes I get tired. This is not only because it is my passion, but this is also the will of God; we suppose to serve and encourage one another, for we are members of one body which is the Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5) For these reasons, I need to work on my weariness.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Another reason for this might be that the most time when I write devotionals, I do not get hungry physically, even though I wake up and few hours has been passed by without having any food. This is because I get spiritual hunger to finish my devotionals and send them to others by e-mails and social networks. This is reminds me of John 4:31-34, where Jesus proclaims, ‘“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him [God] who sent me and to finish his work.”’