7 Dec 2023
As we survey the happenings in our world today, with wars, fighting, killing, destruction, hate, calamities, natural disasters in the news and headlines, the thought of freedom and peace may seem so obscure and surreal. Yet as believers observe the event of the birth of Christ, there is the reaffirmation of the fact that Christ truly brings freedom and peace for all those who would believe by faith, and with repentance.
Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Paul tells believers, “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore” (Galatians 5:1).
Jesus explains that the freedom he gives his followers as they engage with his Word is freedom from sin’s dominion for life as a child of God, at home with one’s Father (John 8:34-36).The gift of freedom the Lord gives is one that covers both our forgiveness and acceptance (justification, adoption, and freedom from final condemnation) and also the anchoring of us in the life of enjoying, serving and pleasing our heavenly Father; the gift hence changes our status and our state in relation to God.
Constant batterings from circumstances outwardly and fears and temptations inwardly make the life of freedom a constant struggle for believers – as boats tossed to and fro in stormy seas – but our anchor holds, and our freedom remains, in the knowledge of being limitlessly loved by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit continues within us as we labour to hold steady.
Peace with God means sin forgiven, guilt gone, and person accepted – notice the similarity with the gift of freedom in Christ. It also means peace with ourselves. If God has forgiven us the gross sins we have done, we must learn to be at peace with ourselves now that we are at peace with Him. It also means peace with our circumstances too; if the Lord of circumstances is at peace with us, we can henceforth be sure He orders and controls circumstances for our good.
The freedom and peace in Christ would hold us steady in the ‘storms of life’; and they reign even in the midst of uncertainties. Notice that both freedom and peace dwell in the Lord; conversion unites us with Christ such that Christ lives in us and we in Him.