LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

 

Liberty or freedom is a word we use far too often to do whatever we want. Too often it is used to challenge the established rules of society. All of us have witnessed the violence occurring in this country’s cities over the past year. People destroy the property of others and walk into stores and load bags with whatever they want and walk out the door in the name of freedom. Their definition of freedom is the ability to take whatever they want, when they want. This seems to be a growing part of everyday life.

 

This is not the liberty that the verse above is talking about. Perhaps a better verse regarding freedom is found in Galatians 5:1,” Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage”. The New Living Translation says it this way, ”So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”  Freedom provided by Christ is not freedom to do as we want; the freedom He provides is freedom from sin. That is freedom to do as we should! (Notes I have written in my Bible.).

 

The freedom that comes through the Lord Jesus Christ liberates us from the condemnation that comes from our sinful behavior. When we accepted His death on the cross for our sins, we began a wonderful journey on the narrow way to His kingdom and eternal life. We remain free from the bondage of sin through the Holy Spirit living in us and through our obedience to His direction. Our spiritual freedom must never be used to cover up evil or to try to justify bad behavior.  Our freedom in Christ frees us up to serve Him and to do good works for Him and others.

 

I need to clarify this verse a little further. The Apostle Paul was contrasting the followers of Jesus who live according to what He taught with those who lived under the law of Moses. He was writing to tell those who lived in fear of breaking the Mosaic Law that they could live free of this by following what the Lord Jesus had taught. He wanted them to stop living ignorant of truth because they were living under the heavy burden of the law. He was telling those living under the law that they could be free from their burdens -- the guilt and penalty of sin – through Jesus Christ.

 

Everyday Christians battle against the sinful nature, against the flesh and the challenges of living for Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is given to every Believer to transform them into the image of Christ. You and I are to allow Him to transform us to be light to others in this dark world that seems to be growing darker each day. We can do that by living in the freedom the Lord Jesus Christ has given to us.