Let’s talk freedom in Christ.
Here’s the problem: Freedom in Christ, first of all, does not give us license to sin. Nor does freedom in Christ mean we can get that nose piercing or that cross tattoo or listen to secular music or pass along that (very worldly) “funny” meme and still be OK within Christ. If that’s the mindset, the Christian is missing the point completely.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Freedom in Christ means that we are released from the Law – only meaning that “The law does not and cannot bring victory over sin and death since sin is defined and even [instigated] through the law. But those who have died with Christ (at baptism) are set free from sin and the law” (ESV Study Bible Notes). This is found in a study of Romans 7 (I encourage each of you to thoroughly study this passage, also looking at it in context by studying a few chapters before and after). Here we see the law itself is not wicked, but the sin it points out and sometimes even provokes is what’s at fault. “Paul explains that the law itself is good and that the fault lies with sin…Through the law, sin is revealed in all its hideousness, and the law is vindicated as good” (ESV Study Bible Notes).
“What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’
For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”
What we must take away from this passage is that—if we are born again Christians, true converts that have clothed ourselves with Christ believing, confessing, repenting, and receiving forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism—we are brought to life as a whole new being. Before dying to the flesh, to self, to sin, we are held accountable to, bound by, the Law. Since we are sinful creatures by nature, there is no way we can live perfectly by the Law. However, after we die to the flesh and are filled with the Spirit, renewed, regenerated, we become a new creation entirely. Our new life is not living in sin, but living for Christ. This can be seen in the definitions of being consecrated and sanctified.
I’ve said it many times. We are called to be set apart. Holy. Sanctified. Consecrated. I like the way it’s described by J.I. Packer in the devotion Great Grace. A friend of mine posted his quote; I do not have the book currently for proper reference. This was his post – “A quote from the book ‘GREAT GRACE’ reads: ‘What is consecration? It is the filp side of repentance. In repentance one turns away to God from what is wrong; in consecration one gives oneself to God for what is right’” (Packer). He goes on to write, “So often we hear believers say something like: ‘I don’t do such and such anymore,’ and that truly is a wonderful sign of repentance. What is often missing from such a dialogue is a statement such as: ‘I now live my life for the Lord in such a way that He is glorified by the lifestyle I lead.’ Consecration is a process, just like many areas of Christian growth. Let’s not be lulled into believing that just because we’ve accepted Christ as our savior that the Lord is through molding us…He has much to do with our ongoing growth… We see and hear a little bit about repentance in today’s church, but we hear far too little about consecration. I’m of the persuasion that much individual and corporate growth would be the result of our giving ourselves to God for what is right” (Mickey Witcher).
So let us, Christians, have the mindset that it isn’t just about not doing what is sinful, but it’s about living out what is righteous, pure, and holy.
“Holy means to be separate and distinct. Like God. We are different from the common, the profane. We are set apart, and are to be blameless before God – a pure people. How can we boldly proclaim Christ to the unsaved if we live just like them? We can’t. Holy doesn’t mean we are self-righteous or perfect. But it means we are filled with a love, grace, and wisdom that we cannot conceal. This is why we speak boldly.”
By Mickey Witcher and Jennifer Rivera from the Sermon
“The Church: The People of God.”
Reference
All Scripture (unless otherwise noted): English Standard Version Bible. 2021. BibleHub.com and
English Standard Version Bible. 2016. Crossway
Witcher, Mickey. 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2021 from, https://www.facebook.com/mpchristiancc/posts/345236205530208 and https://www.facebook.com/mpchristiancc/posts/309778379075991
Packer, J.I.. 1997. Great Grace: A 31-Day Devotional
Mount Pleasant Christian Church Mickey Witcher and Jennifer Rivera. 2019. “The Church: The People of God.” Retrieved February 28, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/notes/693038594974576/