What does it look like to be free in Christ? There are many answers to this question, so I will start with these.

Freedom to Sin no more. In our culture today, many churches and “followers” of Christ have twisted this truth. Some claim this means freedom to sin because of God’s grace. However, when one turns to Christ, they must leave behind their sinful selves. They must repent. Christ to sin, nor can he be around sin, so why would it be okay for us to continue to sin? The belief that one can continue to live in sin and be with Christ nullifies the need for a redemptive savior and Christ’s sacrifice for our souls. That being said, it is important to remember that repentance is a daily thing; temptations come daily, and sometimes, we stumble. That is what God’s grace is sufficient for, our daily mistakes. There is, however, a difference between struggling with temptation and actively choosing to live in sin.

Freedom from death. This one is interesting. Why? We still experience physical death, and we still experience the loss of those who physically die. Our freedom comes in knowing that we no longer need to fear death. Upon passing, we are Christ’s and in eternal rest. This is the freedom that gives people the courage to face the lions, to face those who threaten to kill followers of Christ, and to face those who would break into our homes. As I continue to mature in my faith, my favorite story from my Papa is the time he was held at gun point in his home. Instead of trying to be a hero or begging for his life, he shared the gospel with his captor until the guys left.

Freedom from stuff. All of our belongings, our things, our possessions, whatever you want to call them, they are just stuff. They sit and collect dust, they get eaten by rust, they get stolen by thieves, and they eventually break and get tossed aside. These things, to some people, are their everything. Their identity becomes entangled within the very fibers of the items they treasure. As followers of Christ, we are free to accept all of these treasures as stuff. If anything happens to them, we are given the strength to move on without them. This, like everything, is easier said than done, but it is true regardless. I find myself struggling with sentimental things the most. Things that belonged to my dad, or things that remind me of him, or things he gave me. The truth is, these things will continue to exist when I die. They will pass on to family or to strangers, but I will no longer care where they exist. As Christians, we should strive to be remembered for our love of Christ, our love for others, and our love for sharing the Gospel. This is what it looks like to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth.