Freedom in Christ – How are we free in Christ? Galatians 5:1

Bible Question:

What is freedom in Christ in Galatians 5:1?

Bible Answer:

Most religions encourage their followers to work hard in order to go to heaven, nirvana, or something similar. However the Bible teaches that once a person is a Christian or a believer in Jesus Christ, he or she has obtained freedom in Christ. Or, we could say a believer has become free in Christ. But what does it mean to be free in Christ? In what sense do Christians have freedom in Christ? What does Galatians 5:1 mean when it says that Christ has set us free?

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NASB)

This article explains three ways in which a believer in Christ has been set free.

Illustration of Freedom – Wild Horses Running Free

Before explaining Galatians 5:1, we must start with a statement made by Jesus in John 8,

If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:31b-32 (NASB)

His message was that if a person wants to be free, that person must continue in Christ’s word. The Greek word for continue is meno. It means to remain. That is, a person will constantly remain in, continue studying, or be absorbed in His word. Those who do this will not only learn the truth but will also obey Christ’s commands. They will discover the truth that Jesus is our God and Savior. They will discover the divine truth that only Jesus can forgive our sins. Why? He said in verse 24,

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. John 8:24 (NASB)

He taught that every person commits sins; and unless we believe in Him, we will die. That is, we will not only die physically but also spiritually.

The truth to which Jesus referred includes the fact that we are sinners. We must admit that we sin, believe in Christ, and ask God to forgive us. Then and only then is a person’s sins forgiven and granted eternal life.

When a person finally believes in Jesus, that person is set free. Jesus adds these very important statements,

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NASB)

The message is that a person who believes in Jesus Christ is given freedom. They are free in Christ. Now would you like to be free in Christ? But in what sense is a believer in Christ set free?

Free from Sin and Death

The first way in which Christians, believers in Christ, are set free is that they are set free from sin. If we read John 8:34, we discover that Jesus warned,

Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. John 8:34 (NASB)

Jesus’ message is that we sin. Our sins prove we are slaves to sin. We are not really free to make rational and objective decisions about committing sins. Sin seeks to control us (Romans 6:12). But when a person believes in Christ, that believer’s sins are forgiven because Jesus sets the believer free from slavery to sin. However, Romans 6:13-18 teaches that sin will try to regain control, and Romans 7:14-24 teaches us that winning the battle can be difficult. Nevertheless, a believer is not in slavery to sin.

Romans 8:1-2 repeats the truth that a believer is free in Christ, but says it in a different way.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2 (NASB)

First, we are told that believers in Christ will never be judged guilty. Then the second sentence of the verse says the person is set free from sin and death. That is, even though a believer may sin, he or she will remain forgiven and be accepted or seen as guiltless.

Believers have freedom in Christ from sin. A believer is free from slavery to sin. That is the message of Romans 6:5-23. Read Romans 6:17, 18, 20 and notice what it says about a believer’s relationship to sin before believing in Christ. Then notice that Romans 6:6 says believers are no longer slaves of sin. Believers are set free from bondage to sin. The wonderful news is that believers have been freed from slavery to sin, and verse 18 says believers are now slaves of righteousness. So what changed? Believers have changed their master. Believers are now slaves to righteousness, and God will be working in every true believer to make them holy (Philippians 2:12-13). For the first time in the new believer’s life, he or she can do what is right. Being filled with the Holy Spirit will help believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).

Second, notice that a believer is also free from spiritual death. Jesus told us in John 3:16 that when a person believes in Christ, the individual will not perish. They will escape hell. Romans 6:23 warns us the wages of our sins is death. Wages speak of payment for work performed. That is, the payment an unbeliever will receive for their sins is spiritual death. But when a person believes in Christ, they will not experience spiritual death. They are simply given the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). Believers will not be paid for believing in Christ for salvation can never be earned (Roman 4:4-8).

Free from the Mosaic Law

A third way in which a believer in Christ is set free is given in 2 Corinthians 3:17. It reveals that believers in Christ are also free from the Mosaic Law. That is also the primary message of Galatians 5:1-2.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. Galatians 5:1-3 (NASB)

Notice that verse 1 tells us that Christ has set us free. Believers in Christ have freedom in Christ. But the message of this passage is not that we have freedom from sin and death. The message of this passage is that a believer no longer must keep the Mosaic Law. For Galatians 3:13 says that Christ redeemed us from the cursed Law. Galatians 4:9-10 teaches that believers in Christ do not need to keep the sacrifices or the feasts. There is no efficacy in those things. So verse 1 says that keeping the Mosaic Law was a yoke of slavery. A yoke was a harness placed on a team of animals so that they could pull a wagon or a tool together. There was no freedom. The animal was tied to the load. So, the Mosaic Law was like a yoke around our necks. Christ has set us free from the requirements of having to keep the Mosaic Law.

Then notice verse 2. We are told that believers do not have to keep the ritual of circumcision. Paul is not saying that a male cannot be circumcised. His message is that circumcision is not required for salvation. So, believers do not need to keep any of the Mosaic laws or rules in order to have eternal life. Circumcision does not save anyone from their sins (Galatians 5:12-13; 6:12-13, 15).

That makes perfect sense for Ephesians 2:8-9 says that a person is saved by grace and not by works. No one is saved by keeping any rules.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

So, a believer is also freed from keeping the Mosaic Law. Believers no longer have to keep the Mosaic food laws (Mark 7:19; Colossians 2:20-23). But the New Testament does teach that believers will desire to keep the moral law within the Mosaic Law sacrifices because they desire to please God (2 Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:10).

Conclusion

A review of every occurrence of Scripture in the New Testament about a believer’s freedom in Christ reveals that believers are set free only from sin, death, and the Mosaic Law. Yet, believers obtain new privileges because they have a new life (Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). Believers will enjoy every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Believers will enjoy being members of Christ’s body and part of His family (Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:5). We can realize victory over sin by being filled with the Holy Spirit, which will result in being empowered in the inner person (Ephesians 3:16). The Holy Spirit will help believers pray (Romans 8:26) and understand Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). Believers are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8), are now living in grace (Romans 5:2), and will ultimately enter eternal grace or heaven (Romans 8:30; 1 Peter 1:13).

Those are just some of the wonderful benefits of being saved by faith in Christ!