“Freedom Found in Christ” by Guest Writer: Rochelle Bauer

We are all born into this world as sinners. As a baby, we obviously don’t understand what that means and during that timeframe, we aren’t purposely sinning. But nevertheless, we are born as slaves to sin.

As I examine my own sinful desires, an image pops into my head. I imagine myself in shackles sitting in a prison cell. Three dreary painted walls with a locked gate on the fourth side. I often feel there’s no escape from this slavery and bondage, especially by my own strength. I need Jesus to rescue me (sometimes over and over and over again for the same sin) and you may need Him to rescue you, as well.

Sin can be sneaky. It can also be done involuntarily. While we’re trying to live freely without sin, it can still creep up on us when we least expect it. Hidden sins can be hard to recognize and deal with because they’re exactly that: hidden. Even hidden from ourselves, but never hidden from God … which is a key point. He sees them all, but He will always lead us back to Him and His grace and mercy.

It can be easy to point out another person’s faults, but we are asked to pull the plank from our own eye before even thinking of pointing out another person’s sin. To God, a sin is a sin. There aren’t any “levels” of sinning and all of them are equal in God’s eyes. Which is why we need Christ in our lives at all times. He will show us where we are sinning, especially if we ask Him to and are in a daily relationship with Him.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV

When we are yoked to slavery for an assortment of reasons, we can’t be yoked with Christ.

ROCHELLE BAUER

It’s almost as if there’s no room for Him in our lives. We’re instructed to stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened by slavery. Instead, Christ invites us to become yoked with Him, which in turn, tethers us to Him. When we do that, we’re no longer slaves to sin or death. We are now yoked to Him, Who will carry the burden of sin for us.

God didn’t send His only Son to live and be crucified so we can continue living in our comfortable sinful ways. He sent Him to free us from sin and death and live according to God’s purpose and His glory.

Is it always easy to give up our comfortable ways of life? No. But it’s necessary in order for us to find the freedom Christ wants to give us.

If we find ourselves sinning, we need to submit it to God. We need His forgiveness and for His power to release us from this yoke of sin. The freedom we will find in Christ can’t be matched to anything of this world. We become one with Christ, which is a beautiful way to live.

Are there any sins you have a difficult time with? Is there something you need to surrender to God so your shackles fall off and you can come out of the prison cell? I encourage you, as well as myself, to examine our hearts and give it all to Jesus. He wants to free us from our burdens and actually live.

Go to Him.

Surrender and receive His forgiveness.

He’s always there, ready to hear your repentance and mine. Freedom through Christ is the goal and He is eager to give it to us, so we may live freely with Him.

Rochelle Bauer lives in northwestern Minnesota with her husband and two sons. Her love for writing was sparked when one of her sons was fighting cancer. She desires to encourage and walk alongside other women who face loneliness, anxiety, depression, and grief, all the while pointing them to Jesus. Rochelle wants others to know there’s life in Christ, even through the hardest times we face. You can read more of her writing on her Instagram account: @rochelle_bauer_writer and her blog: www.rochellebauer.com. 

We thank you, Rochelle, for your contribution to this month’s publication of Titus-two.com, talking about Freedom in Christ.

You are loved to Heaven and Back ~~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary