Freedom

We have been studying the book of Galatians in our Sunday Bereans class. Chapter 5 opens, as a introduction to the Fruit of Spirit, with a call to freedom - "It was for freedom that Christ set us free." In my preparation for teaching the class, I have been pondering what the word "freedom" really means. And, why is the freedom in Christ better than the freedom without Him?

Freedom does not mean license. It does not mean a life with no obligations, no restrictions. That would be relativism taken to its extreme - the "freedom" one person would take could in fact create harm for another - the exact opposite of freedom.

The freedom that the world offers so often leads to addiction. And addiction is bondage. Drugs, sex, beauty, fame. God has given the world a tremendous gift - the gift of choice. But choice comes with consequences. If I choose worldly fame, without godly humility it will lead to an addiction to fame - and to its bondage.

The freedom that God offers does not lead to addiction - it leads to more freedom. Why? Because it is life as God originally designed. In the Garden of Eden, God offered Adam and Eve tremendous freedom, and one restriction. But then the Fall - and man and woman were sent out of the garden into a world not aligned with God's original design. East of Eden then became a world of increased restriction and bondage, and ultimately man would "do what is right in their own eyes."

You can understand why those who do not believe in Christ think that coming to Christ will result in less freedom - more rules to live by. But, again, a paradox - yes, when we come to Christ, we are called to live a life that is right before God, and is defined in Scripture. But, wonder of all wonders, this life leads to a freedom unlike we have experienced before.

Here is another view on true freedom from Tim Challies: www.challies.com/christian-living/a-further-word-on-freedom