“For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” Paul’s letter to the Galatians is the great letter of Christian freedom. Paul declares that Christ has set us free, free from Sin. Paul sees Sin as a power that entices and enslaves us, so that we do not do the good that we want to do:
“So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Miserable one (wretch) that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:21-25).
Paul teaches that through our baptism we have died to our old self and have been reborn so that we are no longer enslaved to the power of Sin. Through baptism the holy Spirit empowers us to do the good that we want to do in our heart of hearts.
As Paul continues to reflect on our freedom in Christ, he explains that this freedom is not a license to do whatever we want. “For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.” (Galatians 5:13). We are truly free when we show love and mercy.
The Christian understanding of freedom is different from a modern or “common sense” understanding of freedom. Freedom, according to this “common sense” understanding, is the ability to do whatever I want, whenever I want. The Christians understanding of freedom is the ability to do whatever God wants, whenever God wants. Paul can ever say that we are only truly free when we are servant or slaves of God. We are only truly free when we live out the words of the Our Father, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done.” I am truly free when I put God’s Will even before my own will. Let us live in this Christian freedom!
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Image: “Freedom Alone” by Martin Burns is licensed under CC BY 2.0.