Freedom in the Presence of God in Christian Theology
Christian freedom in the presence of God centers on liberation from spiritual bondage through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Paul declares, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" [3]. This freedom is not merely external permission but an inward transformation that redefines the believer's relationship with God, law, and sin.
The Nature of Christian Liberty
Scripture describes this freedom as multifaceted. It includes liberation from the law as a means of justification [1], from the curse of the law [1], from the fear of death [1], and from the dominion of sin [1]. Paul emphasizes in Galatians that "in the freedom, then, with which Christ did make you free—stand ye, and be not held fast again by a yoke of servitude" [2]. The freedom conferred is not autonomy from God but freedom for God—a transition from legal bondage into what one commentary calls "Christian freedom" that happens "at once, and without any gradual transition" [5].
This liberty manifests particularly in the believer's access to God. In Christ, believers "have boldness and access" to the throne of grace, characterized by "liberty of coming" and "an holy courage and intrepidity of soul, being free from servile fear, or a spirit of bondage" [6]. The freedom is relational: it enables direct communion with God without the mediating structures of the old covenant.
Freedom and Service
Christian freedom paradoxically expresses itself in service. Though "a slave externally, spiritually made free by the Lord: from sin... from the law... from 'circumcision,'" the believer remains "Christ's servant," where "love makes Christ's service perfect freedom" [7]. This is not using "liberty for a veil (cloak) of badness, but as the servants of God" [9]. The freedom is not license but the capacity to obey from love rather than compulsion.
The transformation occurs through union with Christ, where believers possess "a righteousness... which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" [4], replacing any "righteousness of my own, that which is of the law" [4]. In God's presence, the believer experiences not the terror of judgment but the joy and peace that flow from faith [10], reflecting the glory of the Lord and becoming "more and more like Christ" [8].
Sources
- 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”
- Galatians “Galatians 5:1 (YLT) — In the freedom, then, with which Christ did make you free--stand ye, and be not held fast again by a yoke of servitude;”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 3:17 (BSB) — Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
- Philippians “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; -- Philippians 3:9”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:9: be found in him--"be found" at His coming again, living spiritually "in Him" as the element of my life. Once lost, I have been "found," and I hope to be perfectly "found" by Him (Luk 15:8). own righteousness . . . of the law-- (Phi 3:6; Rom 10:3, Rom 10:5). "Of," that is, from. righteousness . . . of God by faith--Greek, "which is from God (resting) upon faith." Paul was transported from legal bondage into Christian freedom at once, and without any gradual transition. Hence, the bands of Pharisaism were loosed instantaneously; and opposition to”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:12: In whom we have boldness and access,.... Into the holy of holies, to the throne of grace there, and to God the Father, as seated on it: Christ is the way of access; union to him gives right of access; through his mediation his people have audience of God, and acceptance with him, both of person and service: and this access is with boldness; which denotes liberty of coming, granted by God, and a liberty in their own souls to speak out their minds plainly and freely; and an holy courage and intrepidity of soul, being free from servile fear, or a spirit of bondage; wh”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:22: the Lord's freeman-- (Plm 1:16) --rather, "freedman." Though a slave externally, spiritually made free by the Lord: from sin, Joh 8:36; from the law, Rom 8:2; from "circumcision," Co1 7:19; Gal 5:1. Christ's servant-- (Co1 9:21). Love makes Christ's service perfect freedom (Mat 11:29-30; Gal 5:13; Pe1 2:16).”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 3:16: 3:16-18 The believer who turns to the Lord has freedom in the Spirit. We receive something Moses never knew as we become more and more like Christ (4:4; John 1:1-14; Col 1:15; Heb 1:1-4) and reflect the glory of the Lord. Divine glory in this present life leads to our being like Christ in the next life (Rom 8:29; Gal 4:19; Phil 3:21; 1 Jn 3:2).”
- 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”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 15:13: Now, &c.--This seems a concluding prayer, suggested by the whole preceding subject matter of the epistle. the God of hope--(See on Rom 15:5). fill you with all joy and peace in believing--the native truth of that faith which is the great theme of this epistle (compare Gal 5:22). that ye may abound in hope--"of the glory of God." (See on Rom 5:1). through the power of the Holy Ghost--to whom, in the economy of redemption, it belongs to inspire believers with all gracious affections. On the foregoing portion, Note, (1) No Christian is at libert”