The Universal Longing for Freedom
Just hearing the word "freedom" elicits an emotional reaction. It is
the cry of every student on the first day of summer break. It is in the sigh of
a person who retires after a long career of steady and faithful labor. It is
the sentiment of everyone who has been freed from oppression, and my eyes still
mist over when I sing "Let freedom ring!" in our national anthem.
Freedom is beautiful. Freedom from oppression, freedom from slavery (Galatians
5:1).
The Problem of Legalism
There is, however, a great percentage of Christianity that despises the freedom
which the Lord has given us in His Son (Galatians 5:1). They continue to cling
to their legalism...we really do like our rules, don't we? Perhaps out of the
love of control, particularly the control of others. It is also driven by that
same attitude that lived in the Pharisees in the time of Christ - the need to
be better than others (Luke 18:9-14). In the way of all legalists throughout
all time they hide from their obvious failure and need for the Savior by
carefully selecting their own rules set (Romans 10:3).
The Hypocrisy of Self-Righteousness
Certainly, they would never commit adultery in public view or steal anything
when people could see. Their reputation is very important (Matthew 23:5-7).
This is why it is not at all surprising when people of the legalistic/Lordship
camp are caught in their infidelity - their legalism is simply a cloak for
their license (Matthew 23:27-28). They are not free from sin, nor free from
bondage to the principle of law (Romans 6:14). They are twice a prisoner,
doubly a slave to two hateful masters (John 8:34).
The Failure of Works-Based Righteousness
The book of Galatians provides the antidote to both errors. To those who are
seeking to be sanctified by their own works, they are reminded by Galatians
2:20-21 that there is no way that man's work will produce God's righteousness -
unless they would dare to say that Christ's sacrifice was in vain (Galatians
2:21). The foolishness of this legalism is not just to be applied to first
century Judaizers, but all legalists and those preoccupied with performance
wind up in the same situation (Galatians 3:3). Ultimately unable to keep up
appearances, they find themselves in a world shaped and bent to their own
self-absorption that is completely free. Free from love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Their
carefully crafted facade of "better-than-you" showmanship is like an
ancient Roman ruin. Impressive from afar, but quite a mess when inspected up
close.
The Bondage of Sinful Living
The one who is slave to sin is in no better position (Romans 6:16).
Surrendering to every whim and desire of their Sin Nature there is nothing but
slavery (John 8:34). The lust of the flesh brings terrible results in personal
relationships, health, and leaving the believer a shell of shame and grief
(Galatians 5:19-21). Seeking after our own desires brings us to a bond that
allows no visitors (James 1:14-15). Those near the licentious believer are only
things to be used until they are used up and moved along. This can reveal
itself in the obvious actions of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
or the pride of life (1 John 2:16). It felt like freedom at first but ended up
in total bondage (2 Peter 2:19).
True Freedom in Christ
Freedom...freedom...freedom.
We hear the word, we need it, we cry out for it. Then we
find it - we hear it from the very Word of God - "It is for freedom that
the Lord has set you free!" (Galatians 5:1) Life in the Spirit is free
from the terrible bondage of sin just as it is freedom from the bond of law
(Romans 8:2). To be free from the things that only brought guilt, failure, and
shame and be free to serve God and glorify Him (Romans 6:22). Free to be what
were designed to be, and what our heart truly longs to be - in constant fellowship
with the God of the Universe and to exist to His glory (1 John 1:3). We are
free to operate in this way. Put another way, we are free at last from our
self-focus, self-absorption, and the tyranny of constantly having to look out
for ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:15).
The Shared Misery of Legalism and License
This life is available. It is this exact life into which ever believer was
invited when they accepted Salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
He did not just give a second chance - He gave everything we needed for life
and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It comes as a shock. The legalist and licentious
people are identical. The legalist sees his own self-effort and self-reliance
and resolves to be better than the licentious person (and all of the other
less-qualified legalists) (Romans 10:3). The licentious sinner wallows in the
failures that the legalist is desperately trying to hide (Romans 7:19). Neither
one has any true victory over sin, and each one secretly envies the other
(Ecclesiastes 4:4). The legalist envies the licentious person because he is
miserable and he thinks that the lush is at least having some fun. The
licentious person envies the legalist because he is miserable and thinks that
if he were just stronger, or more religious, then he wouldn't be living his
hollow hedonistic life.
A Call to Walk in Freedom
Oh believer, find freedom in Christ (John 8:36). Learn what it means to have a
new identity in Him - to be truly His in all things (2 Corinthians 5:17). Learn
the freedom of relying upon His resources to be the person He created you to
be, the purpose for which you were redeemed (Galatians 2:20). Find the freedom
and victory in the only Person who can give it - Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37).
