Freedom — we have it. However in today’s society, and particularly in secular America, or anywhere subject to modernity, it is overused and has become indistinguishable from covetousness, debauchery and wantonness — basically doing whatever you want without legal or moral restraints. Freedom does not mean the absence of guilt, the forsaking of self-control, or a lack of a moral standard. Without constraints, we become our own worst enemies, and this makes the devil’s job all too simple. So, we need some constraints and just because we are free it doesn’t mean we can continue to sin.
Paul points this out in Romans 6:1-2 —
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Freedom does mean being conscientious. That is, being motivated to do what is right according to God’s commands — we become slaves to what we obey.
Paul says again in Romans 6:15-16 —
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Freedom in Christ means three things:
- Freedom from sin. When we were slaves to sin, the result is death.
- We are now slaves of God and His righteousness — which leads to holiness and eternal life. This is an honest and heartfelt response to serve and gratify God. This is not an attempt to attain salvation.
- His yoke is easy and burden is light (Matthew 11:30). This means that Christ’s commands might seem restrictive to worldly people, especially those concerned only with short-term results. To the Christian however, they are light and freeing in the long-term and will result in eternal life. Basically — you can do stuff your own way but it will be much harder than God’s way and the consequences will catch up to you. His spiritual laws are for our own well-being.
Ultimately — freedom comes from harmony with God’s commandments. They cannot be separated.
Christ give us a choice — to show our love for Him by obeying his commands and studying the Word, thus allowing us to keep our freedom from sin’s snares, which can appear as many things. The root I think is idolatry — especially of ourselves. Keep God first. Obey His commands. Use your spiritual gifts to serve Him and further his kingdom.
Christ sacrificed Himself so that we would have this choice. We only need to obey His commands, starting with Baptism as stated in Acts 2:38 and partaking in the Lord’s Supper continuously as stated in Luke 22:19.