Let Freedom Ring!

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”—1 Peter 2:16

Freedom. It’s one of the most amazing truths that can be lived. For those who are reading this from the United States of America, freedom is part and parcel to what it means to be an American. But no matter how free we are as a country, we can’t be free from sin, self, and Satan until we come to the cross of Christ. In the Old Testament, Israel is pictured as a type of the church. And the Israelites’ bondage in Egypt is representative of our bondage to sin. As Moses led Israel out of bondage, so too are we led out of slavery from sin through the cross of Christ. The Bible is clear that we are in slavery,

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”—Romans 6:16.

Paul understood that it is only by Christ’s dying on the cross that we can experience true and lasting freedom, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”—Galatians 5:1.

So, in an effort to keep us from submitting to a yoke of slavery, and making sure that we are using our freedom wisely, I have put together this acronym to remember to keep the cross before us and as well as to stay away from sin. In order to stay F.R.E.E. we must...

1. Fight the good fight. You are in a battle! Don’t forget that we are at war! Paul continually reminds his readers that we are in a battle. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses”—1 Timothy 6:12. Don’t become a POW or casualty of war! Don’t let down your defenses! Satan wants to bring you down and to terrorize your freedom! Don’t give in to his subtle attacks!

2. Remember the death of our Lord. If you feel tempted to sin and try rationalizing that it’s not a big deal, remember the cross. Jesus’ death is God’s wake up call concerning the serious nature of sin!

3. Eliminate the temptation. If you can, eliminate the temptation entirely. How can you do this? First of all, realize that God has provided a way of escape! You don’t have to sin! As Paul wrote,

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”—1 Corinthians 10:13.

He has provided a way of escape! You may need to just get up and run as Joseph did from Potiphar’s wife (cf. Genesis 39:12). Don’t look back! Get out of the situation! Go outside, leave, go somewhere else! There are a million things that you can do rather than sin! Don’t deceive yourself if you know that it’s a temptation! Get out NOW!

4. Enlist the help of other brother and sisters in Christ! If you know that you are going to be in a place of temptation, then ask other brothers and sisters to pray for you! We cannot win the battle against sin alone! We need other brothers and sisters in Christ encouraging, challenging, confronting, and continually reminding us of the true nature of our sin! When we enlist the help of other believers, they help remove the fog caused by sin by bringing the wind of the Word of God to blow it away.

Live as people who are free! Don’t forget whose you are! You were bought at a price! God has freed you through the crucified Son! Let freedom ring! Amen.