Obedience and Discipline · Exhortation and Repentance

Set Free! But… to Sin?

3 min read, approximately

“For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

We receive this freedom because he is great in mercy, and:

“[It is of] Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God is good—he certainly is! It is true that we have been forgiven, reconciled, healed, sealed, and set free. But:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;” (Romans 6:1-6)

We cannot use freedom as an excuse to do wrong or fall short:

“For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.” (1 Peter 2:15-16)

When we accept the freedom God gives us, we accept that:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

So today, how will we thank our Father for this freedom we did not deserve but received through his Son Jesus Christ?

“But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

What do you think? Freedom or license?

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook