Freedom in Christ and Its Practical Implications

The concept of freedom in Christ is rooted in the biblical text, particularly in Galatians 5:1, which states, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery" ^[1]. This freedom is not merely a theoretical or spiritual concept but has practical implications for the lives of believers.

The biblical basis for freedom in Christ is multifaceted. It involves freedom from the law, sin, and corruption. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, this freedom is conferred by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and is confirmed and proclaimed by Christ ^[2]. The service of Christ is characterized as a form of freedom, as believers are "the Lord's freemen" ^[7].

In the view of Protestant academics, Galatians 5:1 summarizes Paul's message to the Galatians, emphasizing their freedom in Christ and warning them against being burdened again by the yoke of the law ^[5]. This freedom is not a license for licentiousness but is to be exercised in love and the holy instincts of Christian liberty. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note on 1 Peter 2:16, believers are to use their liberty "not as a cloak of badness, but as the servants of God" ^[7].

The practical implications of freedom in Christ are far-reaching. Believers are called to live becomingly, as free individuals, and to avoid bringing discredit to their Christian profession ^[8]. This involves working honestly and not being a burden to others. In the words of Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 4:12, believers are to live "honestly" and "not have to beg from others for the supply of your wants" ^[8].

Moreover, freedom in Christ is closely tied to the concept of self-denial. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, self-denial is a necessary aspect of following Christ and involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling one's appetite, and abstaining from fleshly lusts ^[4]. This self-denial is not a means of earning salvation but is a natural consequence of being in Christ.

The practical outworking of freedom in Christ also involves liberality and generosity. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights the importance of exercising liberality in the service of God, toward saints, servants, the poor, strangers, and even enemies ^[3]. This liberality is pleasing to God and is a characteristic of saints.

In the Reformed tradition, John Gill interprets 2 Corinthians 9:13 as emphasizing the importance of generosity and liberality among believers. The experience of the Gentile churches' ministration to the poor saints at Jerusalem led to glorification of God and acknowledgment of His grace ^[9]. Similarly, in 1 Peter 2:15, Gill notes that believers are to "do good" and "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" by their conduct ^[10].

The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, emphasizes the connection between standing fast in liberty and holding fast to the Christian profession. Clarke notes that Judaism brings spiritual bondage, whereas the Christian profession brings spiritual liberty ^[6].

Sources

Galatians “Galatians 5:1 (BSB) — It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberty, Christian — Foretold -- Isa 42:7; 61:1. Conferred By God. -- Col 1:13. By Christ. -- Ga 4:3-5; 5:1. By the Holy Spirit. -- Ro 8:15; 2Co 3:17. Through the gospel. -- Joh 8:32. Confirmed by Christ -- Joh 8:36. Proclaimed by Christ -- Isa 61:1; Lu 4:18. The service of Christ is -- 1Co 7:22. Is freedom from The law. -- Ro 7:6; 8:2. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The fear of death. -- Heb 2:15. Sin. -- Ro 6:7,18. Corruption. -- Ro 8:21. Bondage of man. -- 1Co 9:19. Jewish ordinances. -- Ga 4:3; Col 2:20. Called the glorious liberty of the children of God -- Ro”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:1: 5:1 Paul succinctly summarizes his message to the Galatians, decrying their foolish behavior and offering a positive alternative—freedom. • So Christ has truly set us free: Christians are free to walk by faith in Christ alone (cp. Rom 8). • don’t get tied up (literally don’t take on a yoke): In Judaism, it was a duty and an honor to “take the yoke of the law.” God’s children in Christ are not called to bear this heavy burden (see Luke 11:46; Acts 15:10); instead, they enjoy Christ’s yoke of freedom (Matt 11:28-30).”
Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty - This is intimately connected with the preceding chapter: the apostle having said, just before, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free, immediately adds, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Hold fast your Christian profession; it brings spiritual liberty: on the contrary, Judaism brings spiritual bondage. Among the Jews, the Messiah's reign was to be a reign of liberty, and hence the Targum, on Lam 2:22, says: "Liberty shall be publicly proclaimed to thy peo”
1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:16: As free--as "the Lord's freemen," connected with Pe1 2:15, doing well as being free. "Well-doing" (Pe1 2:15) is the natural fruit of being freemen of Christ, made free by "the truth" from the bondage of sin. Duty is enforced on us to guard against licentiousness, but the way in which it is to be fulfilled, is by love and the holy instincts of Christian liberty. We are given principles, not details. not using--Greek, "not as having your liberty for a veil (cloak) of badness, but as the servants of God," and therefore bound to submit to every ordinanc”
1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 4:12: honestly--in the Old English sense, "becomingly," as becomes your Christian profession; not bringing discredit on it in the eyes of the outer world, as if Christianity led to sloth and poverty (Rom 13:13; Pe1 2:12). them . . . without--outside the Christian Church (Mar 4:11). have lack of nothing--not have to beg from others for the supply of your wants (compare Eph 4:28). So far from needing to beg from others, we ought to work and get the means of supplying the need of others. Freedom from pecuniary embarrassment is to be desired by the ”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 2:15: As free,.... These converted Jews might value themselves on their freedom, partly as the descendants of Abraham, and so freeborn, and not to be brought into bondage to other people; and chiefly because of their liberty which they had in and by Christ Jews. The apostle allows that they were freemen, that they were Christ's freemen, were free from sin, its damning and domineering power, and from the curses and condemnation of the law, and had freedom of access to God, and a right to all the privileges and immunities of the house of God; but then they were not free to s”

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