His Spirit Gives Us Liberty and Independence

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3: 17)

Liberty, freedom, independence: everyone wants these three things.

Many people think that liberty means: "I can do what I want to."

At its core, though, liberty, is all about living the life within us, without a sense of coercion, force, of fear.

To live free means to be led by love, not doomed to fail, and not condemned when we fail.

Freedom means living in Christ, and having all things given to us through Him!

"1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1)

When we understand that we have been set free from all condemnation because of Jesus, then His Spirit can live in us and lead us:

"2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8: 2)

With His Spirit in us, we learn that we are sons before God the Father:

"14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:14-17)

We are therefore not slaves forced into dire straits, but kings and priests (1 Peter 2: 9) invited to reign in life with Jesus.

We cannot enjoy this Life, this liberty in ourselves.

We need His Spirit, for where His Spirit is, there is liberty, and there is wisdom and direction for all things:

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Liberty is all about the grace of God, freedom from the law and living by His grace:

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zechariah 12: 10)


Paul would then write

"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

and therefore today:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5: 1)

Apart from the Spirit of God there is no liberty. In Christ, we are set free!