Freedom

[Note: The list of scriptures below describing what our freedom requires did not originate with me, but with another writer much wiser than me. All I did was connect it with the exodus of Moses and our own Second Exodus under Jesus.]

When God miraculously freed Israel from slavery in Egypt he brought them into a land of their own and promised that each family would have an inheritance of productive land. He also gave them a remarkable set of laws when they reached Mount Sinai.

He begins to tell them his law in his own voice, but that frightens them so much that they ask Moses to take notes and get back to them with the rest. Exodus 21 continues with Moses hearing the remainder of God’s law (everything after the Ten Commandments). Chapters 21-23 cover these regulations, which were included in the tablets Moses later brings down from the mountain.

The first six verses of Chapter 21, the beginning of the laws Moses brings, covers a strange subject for a newly-freed people.

Exodus 21:1-6 Why start the laws with regulations about slavery? And why would somebody agree to lifetime servitude?

Smarter people than me suggest that this is intended to be an analogy for how we might desire to obey and worship God himself. The benefits of serving God are so far-reaching that continuing is a no-brainer.

One lesson from Israel is that true freedom is very different from the Western notion of being allowed to do anything we want whenever we want.

The God who made us has specific plans for humanity – plans that require certain kinds of action and certain kinds of self-control.

For instance, he tells Israel in Exodus 24:7-8 that he brings them out of Egypt so they may worship and obey him alone. This implies that freedom also has responsibilities.

We Christians are in the midst of a Second Exodus (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

What freedom do we have now? The following is a list of passages that tell us about our freedoms in Christ.

1) Freedom to serve one another in love.
Gal. 5:13For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.

2) Freedom to live to bring God glory
Eph. 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.

3) Freedom to reflect God’s glory
2 Cor. 3:17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.

4) Freedom to start fresh
Col. 2:9 For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, 10 and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. 11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure – the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. 15 In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.

5) Freedom to live a higher life in Christ
Col 3.1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3 For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your  real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. 6 God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. 7 You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,  circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,  slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

6) Freedom to pursue peace and forgiveness
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

7) Freedom to minister to one another
16 Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

8) Freedom to participate in freeing the world
Col. 4:3 Don’t forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan – that Christ is also for you Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.

2 Cor.5:16 – 6:12 In this passage the Apostle Paul calls us “Christ’s ambassadors,” which certainly suggests we have citizenship of an other-worldly superpower and are called to invite people to a sort of defection to Jesus’ Kingdom.

1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. 2 Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time. 7 And I have been chosen – this is the absolute truth – as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth.

9) Freedom to suffer unjustly in the world for the sake of Christ
1 Pet 2:12 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.

13 For the Lord’s sake, accept all authority – the king as head of state, 14 and the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you. 16 You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil. You are free to live as God’s slaves. 17 Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king. 18 You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you – not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh. 19 For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you. 21 This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! 25 Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

As you can see, there is a great deal of responsibility within our freedom. Let us live freely in Jesus Christ as we follow him to our “Promised Land,” the Kingdom of God.