In America, we experience great freedom, and we believe that freedom is worth fighting for because there is nothing like being free. It is too precious a gift not to fight for. Paul says: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm” (Galatians 5:1).
The Meaning of Freedom
What is the meaning of freedom? Everybody wants freedom, but not everyone defines it the same way. Freedom involves two things: being liberated from something, and being liberated to something. It is liberation from an illegitimate bondage that enables us to enjoy the rights and privileges of a new relationship. Freedom is being liberated so that you can live out the will of God in your life.
Now don’t misunderstand this definition; freedom is not the absence of rules. Without legitimate restrictions, no one can enjoy freedom. A fish is not free to roam the forest. It is limited to the water. Otherwise, it will die. A fish was made to swim, and when it leaves the rules of the water it dies. Rules allow us to be what we were meant to be. If you are truly free you will say, “I want the will of God for my life.” But if you’re not enjoying and experiencing the will of God, you are not truly free.
When a man or woman is freed from prison, they are free to go enjoy life as it is meant to be lived. They are not free to go out and commit the same crime that took them there in the first place. In order to be free, you have to be tired of being a slave. Some of us aren’t free yet because we’re not tired of our slavery, of being held hostage by those illegitimate things that are stopping us from experiencing God’s will for us. If you are living as a hostage you are not enjoying the freedom that Christ died to give you; you are not enjoying the salvation you’ve been given.
The Means to Freedom
How do you get that precious freedom? Paul already told us: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Christ set us free. That verse sounds kind of strange—why didn’t he simply say, “Christ set us free”? Because that’s not all He did. It’s one thing to open up the prison door—the prisoner can just remain in his cell. It’s another thing to open up the prison door and bring you out to live in freedom. Jesus Christ did not die to liberate you that you might remain a slave. He set you free to live as a free child of God. I don’t care what bad experiences you’ve had, or what problems you are facing, it is still for freedom that Christ set you free. Sin locks us up behind bars of guilt and shame and deception. Jesus paid the bail and served the time so that you and I could walk out of that cell. You can’t get yourself out of jail; you can’t break the bars or escape. Someone has to set you free. Jesus died to set us free.
The Maintenance of Freedom
So now we know the meaning and means of freedom. But once we are set free, how do we maintain our freedom? Verse 1 says: “Keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Slavery comes in a lot of forms, including slavery to other people. For example, in Galatians 2:4, Paul says some were enslaved by false brethren “who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus in order to bring us into bondage.” If anyone tries to use Scripture to put you in bondage, they are not teaching it correctly because the Bible sets us free.
You know, there is a fundamental difference between a seagull and a pigeon that illustrates the true meaning of freedom. One day you might find a seagull on the shores of Florida, and the next day that seagull might be down in Mexico. Then maybe he’ll travel to South America. Not so with a pigeon. Pigeons don’t travel far and they always come back to where they started. There are a lot of pigeon Christians in the church today; they fly free for a little while but just end up right back where they started.
God has set you free to roam in His will with new experiences and new joy and new victories. That’s not to say you won’t face problems, but your freedom will allow you to enjoy the will of God regardless of the problems. And when you are free, it is your duty to help set other folks free. I don’t mean freedom to sin because we ought to correct one another where there is sin, but I mean freedom to grow.
The Mechanics of Freedom
“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). The mechanics of freedom--the way God gets in your life and sets you free--is grace. Grace is the ongoing supply of the goodness of God, which He has gifted to us and is working through us. Grace means God saves you and frees you; you can’t do it for yourself.
I love what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10: “I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Paul did some terrible things to the church before God worked in his life, but then he was saved by grace. He doesn’t take any credit for the incredible change that took place in him. It was grace. And grace will work in us too. When you discover grace, you won’t have to be begged to serve or give because grace will free you up to do those things.
What do you do to live in freedom? You don’t work to be free. You do get up every morning and thank God for your freedom. You say with Jude: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in His presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever” (vv. 24-25). That is a marvelous benediction that says we can trust God to keep us from stumbling, to keep us from whatever we are struggling with.
I heard a fable that illustrates the real way to freedom. There was once a father with five sons. He strictly warned his five sons never to play in the river near their home because the current was so strong. The eldest son obeyed, but one day the four younger sons went swimming in the river. Sure enough, they were swept away by the strong current. They were carried along for miles before they were all washed up on the shore. They were all alive but far away from home. After resting awhile, the boys debated what to do. The first brother said, “Well, we’re stuck here. I may as well make the best of it. I’m going to go build a hut farther inland.” And he walked off.
The second brother said, “Ha! He can’t build a hut. I’m going to go sit up on the ridge and watch him fail. Then I’ll tell Dad all about it the next time I see him.” And he walked off.
The third brother said, “I know! I’ll walk along the edge of the bank all the way back home. I’ll find the way myself.” And he walked off.
The fourth brother sat on the shore all by himself. In the distance he saw a figure approaching. It was the oldest brother! “Father sent me to find you and bring you home,” the oldest brother said. “Where are the others?”
They went to the first brother’s hut, but he didn’t want to leave his new home. He was so comfortable where he lived; he wasn’t willing to leave what he knew for the uncertainties of the trip home. They went to the second brother’s spot on the ridge, but he said he had to stay and keep an eye on the first brother because he was sure to fail. The second brother was so focused on looking for the first brother’s mistakes, he couldn’t see his own. They went to the bank of the river where the third brother was struggling to make his own path, but he said he would find his own way home and didn’t need any help. He thought if he tried hard enough he could make it on his own and please his father.
Only the fourth brother traveled safely home with his oldest brother, his guide. He was the only one willing to go home in the way the father provided.
So which son are you? You see, God the Father sent Jesus the Son to bring His children home. Some are too satisfied in their own huts; some are too focused on other people; and some are determined to do it on their own. But they will never find their way home. The only way is to trust Jesus to take you to the Father.
God sent Jesus Christ to deliver His people, to set us free. We cannot free ourselves, and we are not meant to remain in bondage to the things that hold us hostage. As He breaks down the prison doors, let us cling to His hand and run out of our prison cells to live the life He has intended in the fullness of His freedom.
-Tony Evans | 
