John 8:36 NASB
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Galatians 5:1,13 NASB
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. [13] For you were called to freedom, brethren…
Because of the fall of Adam, every human being is born into the slavery of the fallen false independent self, but through the finished work of Christ, we were set free from the horrible bondage of living out of our own inadequacies. That fallen independent slave to sin (the old man) was crucified in union with Christ and was raised up in union with His resurrection life. This is the freedom that Jesus and Paul are talking about. The freedom of experiencing the supernatural life of Christ by the Holy Spirit being lived out through each of us. No longer in bondage to living by our own willpower, and wit; we now experience the freedom “indeed” that is ours who have been placed in to the very life that Jesus lives. Nothing is more frustrating than living restricted by our own weaknesses and moods, and nothing is more liberating than the life that Jesus supernaturally lives in and through us. Christians either live by doing their best for God or experience the glorious liberty of God’s best being manifested from through them.
I love this quote, even though I am not sure who it is from; “The Christian life in all its aspects has been taken up in His life lived in our name and on our behalf.” This is the unquestionable freedom that union with the very life of Christ brings us.
In the book of Galatians, Paul puts all of his eggs in the basket that is Jesus. Paul’s declaration of the “good news” of the gospel is that because of our union with Christ, we get to participate in His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the life victorious holiness that Jesus alone can live. God doesn’t call us to perform for Him by our sincere best effort. Instead, He calls us into union with Christ and His adequacy by the indwelling Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:5 says, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”
Imagine the wonders of living by the adequacy of God in every detail of life.
He who the Son sets free (by our union with His resurrection life) is truly and really, and totally FREE!