Experiencing True Freedom and Salvation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing Freedom in This Life

Salvation is not just about avoiding hell and gaining heaven; it's about experiencing freedom in this life. Jesus' sacrifice frees us from the trappings of this world, allowing us to live a life of true freedom and purpose. Many people initially come to faith with a simplistic understanding of salvation, thinking it is merely a ticket to eternal life. However, as we grow in our faith, we realize that salvation is also about experiencing freedom here and now. This freedom is not about our own goodness but about God's transformative power working within us.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that God paid a high price for us through Jesus' sacrifice, urging us not to be enslaved by the world. This freedom is a gift from God, not a result of our efforts. When we accept Christ, we become new creations, and this newness is immediate, even if our behavior takes time to align with our new identity. Understanding this allows us to live a life of true freedom and purpose, unburdened by the world's expectations. [29:47]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you feel enslaved by the world's expectations? How can you invite Jesus into these areas to experience true freedom today?

Day 2: Transformation Over Behavior

When we accept Christ, we become new creations. This transformation is a gift from God and not a result of our efforts. Our behavior may not change immediately, but our identity in Christ is instantly transformed, setting the stage for a life of growth and renewal. Many people struggle with the misconception that being a Christian is about trying hard to be good. However, true transformation comes from God, not from our own efforts.

Paul explains that our new identity in Christ is a gift from God. This means that even if our behavior doesn't change overnight, our core identity is already transformed. This new identity sets the foundation for a life of continuous growth and renewal. Understanding this helps us to rely on God's power rather than our own strength, allowing us to experience true transformation. [33:01]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: In what ways have you been trying to change your behavior through your own efforts? How can you shift your focus to rely on God's transformative power instead?

Day 3: Walking by the Spirit

True Christian living is not about trying hard to be good but about walking by the Spirit. This involves surrendering our own strength and relying on God's power. Freedom is found in acknowledging our weakness and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. This concept is counterintuitive to our natural inclinations, which often lead us to rely on our own strength and efforts.

Paul teaches that walking by the Spirit means surrendering our own strength and relying on God's power. This is the path to genuine freedom, as it allows us to live in alignment with God's will rather than our own. By acknowledging our weakness and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us, we can experience true freedom and live a life that reflects God's love and grace. [41:17]

Galatians 5:16 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself relying on your own strength? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this area today?

Day 4: Freedom in Worship and Trust

The story of Paul and Silas in prison teaches us that true freedom is not about escaping our situations but about who is with us—God. Their worship and trust in God, even in dire circumstances, led to their physical and spiritual freedom. This story illustrates that true freedom comes from our relationship with God, not from our external circumstances.

Paul and Silas were able to find freedom in worship and trust in God, even while they were physically imprisoned. Their chains fell off, but they chose to stay, demonstrating that true freedom is about who is with us—God—rather than our external situations. This teaches us that we can experience true freedom by focusing on our relationship with God and trusting Him in all circumstances. [50:40]

Acts 16:25-26 (ESV): "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened."

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you shift your focus to worship and trust in God, rather than trying to escape the situation?

Day 5: Surrender Leads to Freedom

Freedom in Christ begins with surrender. Acknowledging that we can't do it on our own and inviting Jesus into our lives leads to a life of freedom, guided by the Holy Spirit, and marked by peace and joy. This surrender is the key to experiencing true freedom, as it allows us to rely on God's power rather than our own.

Surrendering to Christ means acknowledging our limitations and inviting Him into our lives. This act of surrender leads to a life of freedom, guided by the Holy Spirit, and marked by peace and joy. By letting go of our own efforts and relying on God's power, we can experience true freedom and live a life that reflects His love and grace. [56:26]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound theme of salvation and freedom in Christ. We began by reflecting on personal stories of needing to be saved, from physical rescues to spiritual salvation. These stories serve as metaphors for the ultimate rescue mission: Jesus saving us from sin and death. Initially, many of us may have come to faith with a simplistic understanding—repent to avoid hell and gain heaven. However, as we grow in our faith, we realize that salvation is not just about eternal life but also about experiencing freedom in this life.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that God paid a high price for us through Jesus' sacrifice, urging us not to be enslaved by the world. This freedom is not about our goodness but about God's transformative power. When we accept Christ, we become new creations, and this newness is a gift from God, not a result of our efforts. Our behavior may not change overnight, but our identity in Christ is immediately transformed.

Paul further explains that living a Christian life is not about trying hard to be good but about walking by the Spirit. This means surrendering our own strength and relying on God's power. True freedom is found in acknowledging our weakness and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. This is counterintuitive to our natural inclinations but is the path to genuine freedom.

We also looked at the story of Paul and Silas in prison, who, despite their dire circumstances, found freedom in worship and trust in God. Their physical chains fell off, but they chose to stay, demonstrating that true freedom is not about escaping our situations but about who is with us—God.

Finally, we were reminded that freedom in Christ is available to all. It begins with surrender, acknowledging that we can't do it on our own, and inviting Jesus into our lives. This surrender leads to a life of freedom, guided by the Holy Spirit, and marked by peace and joy.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Salvation is More Than Eternal Life: Salvation is not just about avoiding hell and gaining heaven; it's about experiencing freedom in this life. Jesus' sacrifice frees us from the trappings of this world, allowing us to live a life of true freedom and purpose. [29:47]
2. Transformation Over Behavior: When we accept Christ, we become new creations. This transformation is a gift from God and not a result of our efforts. Our behavior may not change immediately, but our identity in Christ is instantly transformed, setting the stage for a life of growth and renewal. [33:01]
3. Walking by the Spirit: True Christian living is not about trying hard to be good but about walking by the Spirit. This involves surrendering our own strength and relying on God's power. Freedom is found in acknowledging our weakness and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. [41:17]
4. Freedom in Worship and Trust: The story of Paul and Silas in prison teaches us that true freedom is not about escaping our situations but about who is with us—God. Their worship and trust in God, even in dire circumstances, led to their physical and spiritual freedom. [50:40]
5. Surrender Leads to Freedom: Freedom in Christ begins with surrender. Acknowledging that we can't do it on our own and inviting Jesus into our lives leads to a life of freedom, guided by the Holy Spirit, and marked by peace and joy. This surrender is the key to experiencing true freedom. [56:26]
### [56:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:57] - Introduction to the Series
[24:47] - Personal Stories of Needing to Be Saved
[25:52] - Evangelizing in a Ukrainian Prison
[28:23] - The Concept of Salvation
[29:47] - Freedom in This Life
[30:23] - Misconceptions About Being Good
[31:40] - Realizing Our Brokenness
[33:01] - Transformation Over Behavior
[34:14] - God's Role in Our New Identity
[36:09] - The Tug of War Between Flesh and Spirit
[39:14] - The Vicious Cycle of Trying to Be Good
[41:17] - Walking by the Spirit
[50:40] - Paul and Silas in Prison
[56:26] - Surrender Leads to Freedom
[57:37] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[58:52] - Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does 1 Corinthians 6:20 say about the price paid for our freedom? How does this relate to the concept of not being enslaved by the world? [29:47]
According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what happens to a person when they are in Christ? How does this transformation occur? [33:01]
In Galatians 5:1, what does Paul mean by "a yoke of slavery"? How does this relate to the freedom we have in Christ? [39:46]
How did Paul and Silas demonstrate their freedom in Christ while they were in prison? What was their reaction to their circumstances? [50:40]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding that we were "bought at a price" change the way we view our daily lives and decisions? [29:47]
What does it mean to be a "new creation" in Christ, and how should this new identity influence our behavior and mindset? [33:01]
Why is it important to "stand firm" in the freedom Christ has given us, and what are some practical ways to avoid being burdened by a yoke of slavery? [39:46]
How can the story of Paul and Silas in prison teach us about finding freedom in worship and trust, even in difficult circumstances? [50:40]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt enslaved by the world's expectations or pressures. How can the knowledge that you were "bought at a price" help you find freedom in those situations? [29:47]
In what areas of your life do you struggle to see yourself as a "new creation"? What steps can you take to embrace this new identity in Christ more fully? [33:01]
Identify a specific "yoke of slavery" that you are currently struggling with. What practical steps can you take this week to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given you? [39:46]
Think about a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you incorporate worship and trust in God, like Paul and Silas did, to find freedom in that situation? [50:40]
What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God? How can you practically do this, and what changes do you expect to see as a result? [56:26]
How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? Identify one specific way you can practice listening to and following the Spirit this week. [41:17]
Consider someone in your life who needs to hear about the freedom found in Christ. How can you share this message with them in a loving and impactful way? [57:37]

Sermon Clips

1. "Now, here's the great thing about our God. Our God is in the business of saving people. He's actually I wouldn't call it a business, but actually he loves to save us. And so that's what I think. As I think through my life, I go. I was thinking through I needed to be saved when it came to Jesus. And I remember the time when I first accepted Jesus into my life. Now, this was a long time ago. And it was back in the day. When the big thing was you repent and don't go to hell. That was the whole message like of Christianity. So it was like turn and burn. You know, don't you know, repent and don't go to hell. So I was like, hell sounds terrible. Heaven sounds pretty good. I'm going to become a Christian so I can go to heaven." [28:23] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So once again, when I became a Christian, I felt like there was this deal that I had with God. He dies for me and I am good for him. He died for me. So I just live a good life. For him. And what I did is I made the mistake of the Christian life of thinking about it's all about me being good. As a matter of fact, when I thought about this, like church when I grew up, I thought church was this is where all the good people go. Hey, you know, this is a room full of good people. That's what I thought church people were. And I'm not saying you're not good, but this is not about how good we are, please." [30:23] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The reality for all of us is we are, we're a bunch of broken people who need a savior. And that's what Jesus did for us. That's what the good news is for us. We are a room full of people who need Jesus. And it's not because we're good. So then the question is, if this isn't about being good, what's this about? Paul, once again, he writes this. He says, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, okay, meaning therefore, if you are a Christian or like essentially, here's what the Christian life is all about. He says this, the new creation has come. Meaning you have been saved and now you are made new. That's what he's saying." [32:23] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You see, God makes us do. Now with this newness, what happens is, it doesn't always manifest itself initially in this new behavior. But this is what it goes on to say. The new creation has come. And then it says this, the old is gone. The new is here. All this, this whole process of becoming new. He's saying all this, it says, is from God. So who's it from? Really? Okay, answer's God. So who's it from? God. Right. What's our part? We don't have it. We don't have a part. We're not here. There's only one way to overcome our old self. And it has nothing to do with us. It has everything to do with God. This is not about how good we are." [33:38] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You see, you are a new creation when you become a Christian. Now there's times in our lives when we don't feel free, right? Times when I don't feel free. And you know why that is? It's because I base it on what I do. I base it on what I do. But first and foremost, this is about who I am. This is about who you are. And what we do is a work in progress. So God is changing us and working us and the way we live gets better. We take steps back and it gets a little better. We are a work in progress. But first and foremost, this is about who we are. And so often I want to disqualify myself from everything because I base this on what I do. And what I do matters. But first and foremost, this thing, this Christian life, it starts off with this idea of who we are. We are free because of who we are, not what we do." [36:09] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Some of you are here this morning and you push God away. You push God away because you don't think you're good enough. Here's the great news. This is not about how good you are. This has nothing to do with your goodness, but everything to do with God's goodness. So don't ever let this idea that you're not good enough get in the way of your relationship with God. As a matter of fact, there is a prerequisite to your relationship with God. The prerequisite is not being good. Welcome to a room full of people who aren't good. And the reality of that is that's incredibly freeing." [37:41] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Jesus came to change this try really hard to be good model. That was called the law. Jesus came to usher in a different way. You know, the law was this idea that we try really hard to do right and do right and live for God. So we try really hard to do everything right and all of a sudden we realize what we always realize, that we fail. And so when we fail, we start to realize that I feel bad or I feel condemned. And then we start to wonder, is God going to condemn me and everything like that. And then we realize this idea of living this way has no power on my strength. And so what happens is we go to God and we ask for forgiveness and then we go out and we try really hard to live good and be good and we fail and then we feel like I'm so bad and that is a vicious cycle that doesn't work. So Jesus says I'm going to come and I'm going to give you a different way. Something that is so much more freeing. Jesus came to set us free." [39:14] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "What Paul is saying this is this is how we live. We walk by the Spirit. We are to listen to the Spirit. We are to move with the Holy Spirit. You might feel like in your life you just feel like prompting or something like that. That is God moving and guiding and directing us. He's saying walk with the Spirit. It is not about waking up every morning and saying I'm going to try real hard today. But it's about waking up every morning and saying this I can't. It's about saying I can't. And God I'm going to listen to you today. And will you guide me and direct me and lead me. You see when we walk with God that lives inside of us the Holy Spirit it is there where we find our freedom. It is not trying to work real hard and be good. But it is there where we find our freedom." [41:17] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Freedom is found when you focus on Jesus and they are led by the Spirit. We would be like run for your freedom and they are like why would we run? We are free right here. It is almost like they have this mentality about life that freedom isn't found where we are. Freedom is found with who is with us. They are free because God is with them. They And they are blessing others. They are like that is where freedom is found. Maybe you are here this morning and you think to yourself is no way I can be free. You don't know my marriage. You don't know the financial issues I have. You don't know the pain I got. You don't know how lonely I am. You don't know the relationship that I am in. And all those are hard. I get it. All those are hard. But there is this idea of focusing on where you are. What is going on? The Bible is saying this. Freedom is found when you come to realize who is with you. Who is with you. You are loved by the Savior of the Universe is walking alongside you and with you." [52:21] (104 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Freedom is not about what I do. It is not about where I am. I have come to realize freedom is about who is with me. That is what I am experiencing. That is available to you. It really is. And all we have to do is almost like one thing. Remember the story of the Ukraine jail? I left one part out. When the guards came in and they put the shotgun in our back they wanted us to go. And then they told us to put our hands up. And they walked us out of the jail. Like this. And I just thought about that. I thought that to be very ironic. But it is true. That was true back then and it is true today. It is true right now. The way out of jail is surrender. Because it is there where you will find freedom. So where is an area in your life where you need to surrender? What is something you are doing in your life and it is getting in the way and you are like I need to surrender that. What is a belief that you have about God and it is getting in the way of things and you are like I need to surrender that. Because when you do and you allow God to lead you it is there where you will find freedom." [55:53] (91 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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