April 25th
“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 NIV
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 NIV
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” Galatians 4:7 NKJV
If Jesus Christ has already set us free, why do we continue to struggle in bondage? In the first verse above, Paul noted that we can allow ourselves to be burdened again by what Christ freed us from. The Galatians were trying to get free from the idea of having to earn their salvation through observing the law.
We, too, can fall back into bondage to whatever sin has held us in the past. In getting free of sex addiction, for example, we have the opportunity through Christ to stop exercising our lust and to start using our bodies and minds for righteousness. Returning to our former habits will only bring us back into the “sin slavery” that we formerly were under.
Romans 8:1-2 confirms that we are set free from “law of sin and death” by the “law of the Spirit of life.” To claim our freedom, we can start by committing to live for God in honor of the sacrifice that he made for us through Jesus. By doing so, we will reap life and our identity as true sons of God will be confirmed. Paul wrote about this in Romans 8:12-14 NIV: “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
God helps us live for righteousness through the Holy Spirit, who lives in us through our faith in Jesus. We can take courage in knowing that we’re not standing alone against our former evil tendencies. By the Holy Spirit, we can “put to death the misdeeds of the body” and live the new life that God has called us to. In this new life, we’ll be living as sons of God instead of slaves to sin.
Questions for further thought:
How was the power of the Holy Spirit shown in Jesus’ body? (Romans 8:11)
What two key actions are we empowered to do through faith in Jesus Christ? (1 Peter 2:24)
Ironically, who empowers sin to be a master over us? (Romans 6:16)
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, thank you for counting me as a son of God through my faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for paying the penalty for my sin and freeing me from the law of sin and death. Please forgive me for placing myself in slavery to sin in the past. I choose to live for righteousness now through the Holy Spirit. Please strengthen me to bring every area of my life into obedience to you. I receive new life from you now through the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Father! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”