I’m Free… Now What?

I think it’s safe to say we all want freedom. I don’t want people telling me what to do or rules that I have to follow. But when I actually have freedom, I struggle to live it out. Freedom is unknown. Freedom has question marks. Freedom is open ended. Instead of confidently walking into an unknown (even positive unknown), I often want to go back to what is familiar even if that is not good for me. It’s easier to have rules or fences which you can then rebel against.

The explainer heading at the beginning of the passage John 8:31-38 says, The Truth Will Set You Free. Jesus is explaining to a group of new Jewish followers what it means to be free.

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

There is also the passage, Galatians 5:1.

For freedom, Christ set us free.

Free From What

What does for freedom Christ set us free, or to be free indeed mean?

It means that those who put their faith in Him are no longer subject to or enslaved by sin and the penalty of it. If you are forgiven, you are forgiven completely. We are no longer bound to sin because we have a new power (the Holy Spirit) to not sin. He takes away guilt and He takes away shame (Rom 8:1-2)

Free To What

As I mentioned in this post, we are new creations and so our old ways don’t fit with our new identity. So, what are you freed to? You are freed to a new life where you can now choose to not sin. Many will go back to their old ways because the new scares them. But, He came to give you life abundant. I think you and I can trust Him. He may lead you to something new and unknown. It may be open ended and uncertain. He may ask you to trust Him in that unknown. But it is guaranteed. He has a better “Yes” for you.