What is your life characterized by? Anxiety or peace? Frustration or joy? Bondage or freedom?
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After the Apostle Paul had been preaching the gospel for 14 years, and he heads up to Jerusalem to check with the primary church leaders about the purity and validity of the gospel he’s preaching.
Then, when he’s in Jerusalem, Paul says that “false believers [came] who had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.” Who were these spies? Judaizers. Our modern-day version would be called legalists. And what did these legalists come to spy out? FREEDOM.
The true gospel is characterized by freedom.
The true gospel is freeing. It is characterized by freedom. If our lives are not characterized by an increasing measure of freedom, then we are somehow being yoked into something other than the true gospel.
Adding to the gospel makes us slaves because we will always be enslaved to all the added requirements of the law or trying to be good enough. That is called legalism. That is NOT freedom. The gospel always brings FREEDOM. It is characterized by freedom. If our lives are not characterized by an increasing measure of freedom, then we are somehow being yoked into something other than the true gospel.
The question for us is, Am I walking in Freedom? Galatians 5:1 says, “For FREEDOM Christ has set you free.” The gospel FREES us from being slaves to sin and FREES us to live abundant lives of joy, freedom, and fruitfulness.
2 Corinthians 3:17 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
John 8:32: And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you FREE.
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
The TRUE gospel sets us free from sin. It gives us freedom. The true gospel is a FREE gift of grace, we haven’t earned it, and when we truly receive it and take it into ourselves, it sets us free.
{The question for us today: Is my life characterized by an increasing measure of FREEDOM? Let’s consider that today … Thanks for reading.}
4 thoughts on “The gospel: Freeing”
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Kari, it always amazes me the way God uses you to speak directly to my need. Just this morning I was thinking about freedom and planning to look up Gal 5:1 at work. I’m praying these verses for a family member of mine who is in bondage and needs to know the freedom he has in Christ. Thank you!
Wow, I love how God does that! SO cool; thanks for sharing Jennifer. Thanks again for letting me join your ladies over at your site. Bless your day!
What a great great writing and challenge. Sometimes I don’t feel as free as I should, not so much in the spiritual sense but just everyday things, that bog us down.
I appreciate your encouragement.