Freedom; Our Salvation!

July 10, 2025

Freedom; Our Salvation!

Freedom is evidence of soul-deep peace, joy, and love.  Freedom requires a certain measure of surrender, sacrifice, and submission.  Freedom demands an unwavering focus on what is right and good and holy.

Many might disagree.  They would argue that proof of freedom is being happy all the time.  They would maintain that freedom is the opportunity to do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it.  They would argue that freedom is defining my own version of what is right, my own opinion of what is good, and my own version of what or who is god.

My observation is that most of those who chase after their own version of freedom often lack any significant depth of peace, joy, and love.  There is not much hope except in being happy, there is not much grace except in hoping someone cares, and there is not much assurance of real reconciliation with other people or with God.

My parents raised me to be independent and self-sufficient; i.e., to experience freedom!  They did everything they could to provide me with what I needed to chase God’s dream for my life…even if they did not understand that dream!  Along the way, I learned that freedom is more about grace and love, sacrifice and surrender, and peace and joy. 

In I Peter 2:16 we hear; “As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.”  We know real freedom when we are servants/children of God.

For me, this kind of freedom only comes when I am living in a healthy and growing relationship with Jesus.  That relationship begins not with my goodness or worthiness; it begins with the Lord God!

In Romans 5:7 the Apostle Paul writes; “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”  While I was still unable to help myself, while I was still held down and held back by my weakness, Jesus took the initiative to draw me into an abundant and eternal relationship with Him. 

+My weakness can be manifest as greed or pride.

+My weakness can be manifest as an addiction or continually living in the past.

+My weakness can be manifest in self-doubt or low self worth.

+My weakness can be manifest in an unforgiving heart or a lack of motivation.

+My weakness can be manifest as constant discouragement or disillusionment.

+My weakness can be manifest as cynicism or lack of hope.

My weakness can be manifest as anything that stands in the way of a healthy relationship with Jesus, other people, and with myself.

Paul writes; “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”  While I was still weighed down with burdens too heavy, when I was still primarily focused on my self, when I was still broken or wounded or overwhelmed by the power of sin, Jesus took the initiative to live and die and live again so I can know true freedom.

Paul says this initiative is grace.  In Romans 5:2 Paul writes; “…we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand…”  In verse 8 Paul continues his thought; “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” 

Grace is God’s free and undeserved gift of love for you and me.  While we were still sinners (i.e., separated from God!), Jesus showed us grace by giving His life so we can know His love and live in a healthy and holy relationship with Jesus.   

Entering into a new relationship with Jesus is often called salvation.  We are saved from the power of sin.  We are saved from the separations caused by our weakness.  We are saved for abundant life on earth.  We are saved for eternal life in heaven.  We are saved to love the Lord God, we are saved to love other people, and we are saved to love our self.  The result is true freedom!

Salvation is offered to us as a gift of grace.  Our response to God’s free gift of love in Jesus is to trust and love Jesus with all of our heart, soul, and mind.  When we trust and love Jesus in this way, we are set free from all the powers and people that we allow to separate us from the Lord God. 

We are free in a way that we are no longer dependent upon other people, other things, or our circumstances.  We are free in Jesus!  We know a kind of freedom that fills us with peace and love and joy.

Freedom comes through our salvation through faith in Jesus.  Freedom requires a certain measure of surrender, sacrifice, and submission.  I give my heart to Jesus and I surrender my life to Jesus’ dream for me and I sacrificially serve other people in generous ways in Jesus’ name.

Freedom demands an unwavering focus on what is right and good and holy. 

+My focus is upon Jesus as the Lord of my life.  I surrender to Jesus by putting Jesus first. 

+My focus is upon the goodness and grace and generosity of Jesus. 

+My focus is upon how to love and serve Jesus even more than I am today. 

That’s the kind of freedom the Holy Spirit uses to produce peace and love and joy in you.

When you are truly free in the way that our Creator intended, your heart will be filled over and over and over gain with delight in who the Lord is and what the Lord has done and is about to do in your life.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug