Romans | Part 11
Scripture
- Romans 8
Summary
Freedom in Christ is a different freedom than the freedom that is valued and celebrated in our Western society, and seen as essential for human flourishing.
Yet, this is an incomplete freedom. It is a freedom from external regimes, regulations or ideologies – external factors that might limit the freedom of the individual – but it has little little influence on experiencing internal freedom.
When we talk about freedom in Christ, we are talking about an internal sense of freedom. It is a freedom we can experience even in the most non-free circumstances. It is a freedom not dependent on external factors, a freedom no one or nothing can take away. It is a freedom that indeed leads to true flourishing.
1) From condemnation to acceptance
We are accepted by God. We are ‘in Christ’.
God doesn’t speak to us with condemnation in His voice, nor thinks about us with condemnation in His heart. We are wholly loved and accepted because of what Christ has done.
2) From corruption to sanctification
In Christ, we begin to experience a freedom from the corruption of the flesh and a new Spirit-empowered work of sanctification in our lives.
The flesh is our sinful self-corruption that binds us to this fallen world.
It is our mind set on things that are less than or even opposite to what God has for us. But when we are in the Spirit, we are being sanctified, and learn to set our mind on the things of God.
3) From fear to security
Because we are now ‘in Christ’ we are liberated from fear. God has set our feet on solid ground, He is giving us an inner freedom, and seals that with a new identity status ‘son of God’. True freedom is rooted in this sonship identity.
