FREEDOM FROM SIN
You have seen who you are in Christ. You have seen that you are made new, brought into God’s family, and given a secure position with Him.
Now you need to understand what that means when it comes to sin.
A CHANGE IN POWER.
NOT JUST BEHAVIOR.
Freedom from sin does not mean sin no longer exists around you.
It means sin no longer has authority over you.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’”
This freedom is not partial. It is real.
Scripture teaches that you are no longer a slave to sin. You were once under its control, but that has been broken.
You are not trying to become free. You have been set free.
DEAD TO SIN
Because of this, your relationship to sin has changed. Before, you followed it without resistance. Now there is a separation. You are no longer under its rule, even though you may still feel its pull.
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Freedom also means you are no longer controlled by your past. What once defined you no longer has authority over you. You are not bound to repeat what you used to do.
THE END OF DOMINION
At the same time, freedom is not ignoring sin. It is not pretending it does not matter. It is understanding that you now have the ability to respond differently.
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
Dominion means rule. Sin no longer rules you.
[ X ] This is where many people misunderstand freedom.
[ X ] Some think freedom means doing whatever they want.
[ X ] That is not freedom. That is returning to what once controlled them.
TRUE FREEDOM IS THE ABILITY TO LIVE IN WHAT IS RIGHT.
SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
This means your direction has changed. You are no longer moving toward sin. You are learning to walk in what is right.
Freedom also means you are not alone in this. You are not trying to overcome sin by your own strength. God is working in you, and you are learning to walk in that.
This does not mean you will never struggle. It means the struggle does not define you, and it does not control you.
YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE.
Let that be clear.
Do not go back to living as if you are still under what God has already broken.
STAND IN WHAT IS TRUE. WALK IN IT.