A "blessed contradiction"...thoughts on true freedom...

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.    Galatians 5:1

We must be ever grateful for, and vigilant over, the blood bought freedom we are blessed to enjoy as citizens of this country.  It is even more important, however, that we are even more mindful of being grateful for, and vigilant with regard to, the freedom provided in Christ, for the blood bought citizens of His Kingdom.

Admittedly, to make that statement on the fourth of July is to run the risk of being seen as unappreciative of all that is being celebrated today.  If that is your initial response as you read this, then, to borrow someone else’s phrase, “you infer what I do not imply.”

My acknowledgement of and appreciation for the once-for-all Sacrifice made on my behalf by the Son of God, need not, and does not, imply a lack of appreciation for the multiple sacrifices of the sons of men from which I now benefit.  My acknowledgement of and appreciation for His deliverance from the yoke of slavery to the tyrant sin, need not, and does not, imply a lack of appreciation for the freedom I have from any earthly tyrant.

That said, my thoughts this morning are simple, and quite simply focused on the awesome nature of the blessed freedom we have in Jesus Christ, inspired by the words of the Apostle Paul in that brief verse from Galatians 5:1.

Because, and only because, of my Heavenly Father’s indescribable gift of His Son, I can experience and enjoy, eternally, true freedom.  It is, at one and the same time, a freedom from…and a freedom to…

In Christ, I have freedom from...

• the fear of death...
• the fears of life...
• the fear of man...
• the bondage of futile human effort and attempts to somehow make my sinful self right with, or acceptable to, a Holy God...of futile attempts to be good...to be good enough...to keep His Holy Law, that reveals His character and nature and Holy standard for His children...
• the penalty I rightly deserve for my sinful rebellion against my Creator...
• the power of sin over my soul...
• the presence of sin, ultimately and eternally...

In Christ, I have freedom to... 

• see, and experience, and enjoy, and be ever growing in the wonder of His love and mercy and grace...
• see, and experience, and enjoy, and be ever growing in the knowledge of Him, in all the beauty of His holiness...
• see, and experience, and enjoy, the wonder of relationship with Him...
• see, and experience, and enjoy, the wonder of relationships with others who, by His grace, share His life...
• experience the confidence and hope that come from His promised presence...knowing He will never leave me, or forsake me...
• look forward to an eternity in His presence...
• present myself to Him, unreservedly, to serve Him faithfully in unchallenged and unrivaled obedience, by His grace, and for His glory...

Paul’s words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, are at once both encouraging and challenging.  I am reminded of the wonder of the freedom I have in Christ, alone.  But I am also reminded of the very present danger of being drawn back into a yoke of slavery.

When God sets me free in Christ, it is not simply so that I might be free from the bad stuff that results from my slavery to the evil, tyrannical master, sin.  Rather, He sets me free that I might now willingly present myself to Him, to serve Him, my loving Master…my Lord…my Savior…my King.

The “blessed contradiction” of this life is that I experience true freedom only as I willingly submit myself as a slave to my Heavenly Master…my God…in and through my Lord Jesus Christ.