Articles
Using Our Spiritual Freedom Courageously
Americans are proud in knowing that we live in a country that tries its best to prioritize an individual’s freedom. However, freedom that leads to the salvation of all mankind is only given by God. 2 Corinthians 3:17 reads, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” God’s Spirit resides in anyone who has committed themselves to prioritizing God’s teachings and has been baptized in His name. Romans 6:4-11 says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life…For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” People with God’s Spirit should know they are children of His kingdom before all else and to use their freedom righteously.
During Jesus’ day the pharisees were not using their freedom for God’s glorification but their own. Matthew 23:2-5 says, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.” The pharisees used their freedom for evil purposes by neglecting God and His teachings for their own perspective as well as worldly gains. As a converted pharisee, the apostle Paul encourages His fellow brethren in Christ by saying, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)
When God’s children make Him a priority in their heart, they gain the strength to beat temptations and act courageously. Luke 7:36-48 tells the story of a sinful woman who approached Jesus while He was dining in the house of a pharisee. She must have been scared to enter the house of a pharisee as sinful woman. Yet, she used her freedom in Christ to be courageous instead of scared. After approaching Jesus, she proceeded to use her valuable oil, precious hair, and tears to clean His feet. The pharisee became shocked that the Lord let this sinful woman touch Him. Thus He said, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” There are many distractions that can keep God’s children from glorifying Him with their gift of true Freedom. However, if His children rely on His power and love, they can use their freedom with righteous self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
