Freedom in Christ - What is it? How can I experience true freedom in Christ?

from the old testament

• Every seventh year (Jeremiah 34:14) and every fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:10) were to be years of freedom, forgiving those who owed debts and setting them free.
• Isaiah prophesied about Christ and the freedom we would have through Him: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn” (Isaiah 61:1-2; emphasis added).

from the new testament

• When Jesus spoke about how truth brings freedom, the Pharisees denied ever being “enslaved to anyone.” But Jesus made it clear He was referring to the enslavement to sin: “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’” (John 8:34-36)
• Paul wrote to the Roman believers of their freedom in Christ: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). They were now “set free from sin” (Romans 6:22).
• In writing to the Galatians about the freedom from the law believers have in Christ, Paul wrote, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

implications for today

The last day of school, a teen’s first car, the moment your shoes come off after work—even small doses of freedom feel great. But no freedom is as significant as what believers find in Christ. Before placing faith in Christ, people are in bondage of sin. Knowing Christ frees us from sin and allows us into God’s presence.proThis freedom does not mean sin is completely removed. Paul spoke of his ongoing struggle with sin (Romans 7:15-20), yet also noted that sin no longer controlled him (Romans 6:1-2). He sought to live a transformed life because of his new identity in Christ (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17). This included putting off old habits and developing new patterns that honored God (Ephesians 4:22-32).

The seeming paradox? We are set free from sin to serve Christ. But the freedom found in Christ gives the believer a desire to live for Christ as a servant. This was Jesus’ attitude during His time on Earth (John 13:1-20; Philippians 2:5-11). The apostle Paul exemplified this, too, introducing himself in many letters as a "servant of Christ Jesus."

Servants of Christ should live as free people. This means having a different outlook than the world. The world thinks freedom means limitless sin when it actually means enslavement to sin. The world looks down on those with a servant mentality, but as children of the King, we follow His example of servitude. The world often links personal value to achievement. Believers know that God loves us as we are because we are covered in Christ’s righteousness.

We experience true freedom in Christ by knowing Him, walking in His ways, and engaging with the changes He makes in and through our lives. This freedom transcends the human freedoms desired in this world, providing peace in this life and freedom with Christ forevermore.