Standing in the Freedom of Christ
Part 1
Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
Galatians 5:1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
It is appropriate that we reflect on the source of freedom and acknowledge that without spiritual freedom, we can have neither moral nor political freedom. Freedom is autonomy, independence and the power and authority to make wise choices that will lead us into an abundant life in Jesus Christ. To loosen the shackles and stand in His freedom, we must have an ever increasing knowledge of who God is and who we are in Him. To run the race that is set before us, we must release ourselves from the hindrances of our past and move forward into our destiny.
God is unchanging, but He continually increases His revelation of Himself. In Exodus 3, when Moses asked God “Who shall I say sent me?”, he was asking, “Lord, who are you?” Moses had been on the backside of the desert for 40 years. He was so distant from his godly heritage that he had forgotten the attributes, the nature, the essence of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Exodus 3:14 “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM (Yahweh).” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Yahweh is the source of all being and has being inherent in Himself. Everything else derives existence from Him.
His Name also suggests that God is beyond the ordinary understanding of man. In Himself, God is beyond all definite descriptions. Because the language and speech of God is beyond the language and speech of His creation, our language is inadequate to describe Him. Because God is limitless and unlimitable, we will spent eternity delving His depths. Though we cannot fully understand or express the magnitude of our Creator, we can move in the freedom of trusting Him because of His revelation of Himself in His Son and the indwelling presence of His Spriit in our being. Freedom in Christ flows out of our trust in Him. As we grow in our trust, we will no longer feel compelled to make decisions based on fear and/or perceived need.
God is everywhere all of the time. He is boundless in His goodness, love and compassion. When we are obedient to His love and His grace, we have freedom: freedom from fear because we are shielded in His power and authority; freedom from want because He is our Shepherd and our provision; freedom from despair because He is our hope; freedom from doubt because He is our surety; freedom from depression and anxiety because He is our joy and our peace; freedom from death because He is life eternal.
When we walk in His freedom, we will be free indeed. We will have moral freedom and political freedom because our choices will be centered in His wisdom. As individuals and as a nation, we will make decisions that insure our protection, provision, hope, assurance and joy. We will be free to be who we were created to be.
Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe is pastor of Rhema Fellowship Church, 206 6th Ave, Torrington.
