How To Find Freedom In Christ

How To Find Freedom In Christ

What does it mean to be free?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably get a plethora of answers, and most probably have an air of truth. Freedom can be considered the opposite of being enslaved (thank you, Merriam Webster); the ability to act, speak, or think as one chooses, and/or an overall display of personal independence. “I do what I want!”

But freedom in a Biblical sense is much different.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” – Luke 4:18 

Jesus came to earth to preach, heal, recover, and set liberty. He came to set us free.
But free from what?

There are many things in this world that can hold us captive, and often, we don’t even realize it’s happening. We just accept it as part of our everyday life. These are things that ultimately hold us back from finding joy. Unsatisfying careers, regrets, temptations, sin, depression, bad relationships or friendships, greed, money.
Comparison. Jealousy. Envy.

The list can be overwhelming, and the cycle can feel even more difficult to escape from when we continue to focus on those worldly idols and distractions instead of casting our eyes, and our hearts, to what the Bible says will set us free.

Jesus granting us freedom didn’t have anything to do with allowing us to do whatever we want, whenever we want, with whomever we want. Instead, He was liberating us to boldly walk in faith; to have a relationship with God and pick up our cross and follow Jesus daily. 

What Does it Mean to Have Freedom in Christ?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.” 1 Galatians 5:1

Jesus gives us the true meaning of freedom and what it means to be free. Jesus died to set us free from sin. He offers us eternal freedom through Christ, and all we have to do is accept it. So what does it actually mean to find freedom in Christ, and how does one go about getting there?

Finding freedom in Christ means being set free from sin, and from the burdens of this world. Does it ensure that you’ll live a life without pain or sadness? No – it’s impossible to avoid real life situations, both big and small. But it does mean that your path is much greater. That even on the dark days, you have a place and a home you can turn to, and your eternity has already been paved with gold.

God is the way, the truth, and the life. Anything that is in opposition to that comes from the enemy. 

How often in life have you felt confused, conflicted, shameful, or guilty for something? Those feelings do not come from God (2 Timothy 1:7); only clarity and peace do. When we are stuck in the merry-go-round of a shameful or regretful past, we are robbed of our peace and joy. 

There is comfort in knowing (and accepting) that we were made for so much more; that we are not defined by our history, our past sin, or our circumstances. True freedom in Christ labels us as Children of God, and by grace upon grace we have been given another chance because of a love much greater than we could ever comprehend.

Ways to Find Freedom in Christ

Repent + Forgive

The first step in finding true freedom in Christ and removing yourself from the bondage of sin is to repent. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and asking forgiveness for the sins in your past. As Christians, will we never sin again? Nope. That’s not realistic. We are still human, we still get caught up in things we shouldn’t, we backslide, and we make mistakes. But true freedom lies in having a relationship with God, knowing what you should be doing, and striving to live your life in the way He desires.

It also means offering forgiveness for those who have wronged you. And this isn’t always easy
to do, but it’s necessary. Not only because it’s right, but it helps in your healing, and in finding peace.

Read the Bible

Spending time each day learning God’s word will help you on your spiritual journey. Taking the time to understand what the Bible is teaching us, and how we can apply those lessons to our everyday life is such a crucial part in establishing a closer relationship to Jesus.

Pray

Just like reading the Bible, making time each day to talk to God, and being open to really listening to what He’s trying to tell and teach you. Prayer is sacred, but it also doesn’t have to be this big event each day. Look for little ways you can incorporate prayer into your daily life. Maybe it’s in starting your day with a conversation with God, and ending on the same note. Or offering up a prayer of thanks when you make it on time to the school drop off line, or a quick prayer for someone in need when you see an ambulance go by. Establishing a prayerful routine just means you’re making time each day to talk to God. And believe me, He wants to hear from you.

Put God First

Get into the habit of putting God first, in everything you do. This comes down to making time for reading your Bible and establishing prayer routines throughout your day, but it also boils down to how we carry ourselves, and how we choose to treat others and act on a daily basis. When we put God first, we are allowing His works to shine through us in every possible situation (1 John 1:7; Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:8; Matthew 5:14).

Final Thoughts on Finding Freedom In Christ

You can also look for other ways to strengthen your relationship with God. Join a local church or Bible Study, surround yourselves with Christian friends, get involved in local organizations that give back, and yes, set aside time each day to study the Word and to pray. Finding freedom in Christ is a beautiful gift.

What are ways that you will commit to strengthening your relationship with God and helping others do the same?

Written by Natasha Funderburk.

Natasha Funderburk is a wife, #boymom, NASM-CPT + Nutritionist, freelance writer, and founder of Salt + Sparrow, a Christian blog for women. Her articles have been featured on sites such as Her View From Home, The Huffington Post, and The Today Show Parenting Team. When not watching her son play baseball, she can be found on various writing platforms, coaching her clients to live their best lives, drinking all the coffee, and conducting living-room dance parties. 
Learn more about Natasha here.