As we celebrate the freedom we have in this country, it is a good time to look at the freedom we have in Christ. What kinds of freedoms do we have in Christ? What does it mean to be free in Christ? As we are celebrating our independence day, let’s remember the most important independence day that happened all those years ago, the death and resurrection of Christ. 

One of the most important aspects of having freedom in Christ is understanding what we are free from. In Christ, we are free from sin and its consequence, death. At the core of it all, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are free from eternal death and sin. Romans 8:2, “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Through the Spirit, we are set free from sin and death. We no longer have to worry about eternal death and look forward to eternal life through Jesus. Being set free from sin and it’s grip is one of the most crucial points of having freedom in Christ. 

Having freedom from the consequences of sin, however, does not mean we are off the hook completely. Just because we are free from the consequence of sin, does not mean we can sin and be scotch free. Romans 6 tackles this issue. Paul writes in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”. We should not continue to willfully sin after we have come to the knowledge of truth. By doing that, we basically say that we are not changed and still deserve punishment. We are always going to sin, but it is the willfully, continually sinning that does not allow the freedom in Christ to express itself and we are caught in the consequence of sin. By living the new life in Christ, we experience the freedom in Christ by not allowing sin to have a hold on us and to overcome sin with the power of the Spirit. 

The freedom we have in Christ allows us to have hope. It allows those who believe to have hope in the resurrection of Jesus. That one day everything will be made new and the freedom from sin will be complete in the receiving of eternal life. For those who believe, freedom in Christ gives us a peace now and future hope. One day, all who believe will receive eternal life for having the freedom in Christ we enjoy now.