Freedom From God For Everyone
God wants every person to experience His freedom. And everyone can because Jesus paid the price that God required.
He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:6
God gave us freedom at just the right time. How do we know that? Because God’s timing always occurs at the right time. The question we must first entertain concerns the definition of freedom.
In America, we live in the home of the brave and the land of the free. That freedom, however, didn’t come without a price.
We celebrate days throughout the year to remember those killed and honor those who fought for our freedom. As much as we enjoy our freedom, that’s not what this verse is talking about.
Let’s read the biblical definition of the freedom afforded us by God. Freedom in Christ is not the right to do what we want. But it gives us freedom to live in obedience to the will of God.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:34,36
Early on, the disciples thought that Jesus would free Israel from the bondage of the Roman Empire. But He came to free from sin those who call upon Him and give them eternal life.
The Freedom to Pray
Paul wrote to Timothy, encouraging him in light of the freedom we have from God to pray.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1
He needed, however, to also pray the same way for those in authority. In the Psalms, David often prayed that God would strike his enemies down. Now, we pray for and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:2
The apostle went on to say that it pleases God when we pray that way. He wants everyone to come to know Christ and to understand the truth. Because there’s only one path they can take.
For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
After you read the next verse, think about the tremendous spiritual impact that would happen across our nation. Especially if men from every church in America did what this verse says.
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. 1 Timothy 2:8
Instructions for the Women
Paul also gave some instructions to the women as well. Keep in mind, though, that some of what he said addressed the culture of that day. But he also spoke to women of all cultures as well.
And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 1 Timothy 2:9
Ok, ladies, before this becomes a turn-off to you, let’s look at what the apostle meant. He did not say you can’t dress stylishly, but he did begin the paragraph by emphasizing modesty.
Neither did he say that you can’t fix your hair in a way that would add to your beauty. He didn’t say wearing nice jewelry in any form was off-limits. Paul didn’t emphasize any of those things.
He said, don’t use them to draw attention to yourself. I want to share an example of an experience my wife and I had once. One day, a young lady came into the office for counseling.
She was attractive, and she knew it. She told us she dressed and created an appearance so heads would turn her way. In fact, she was disappointed if men didn’t look at her.
Reading a little further in this chapter, the apostle encouraged women to become attractive. But to do it by their devotion to God, not the way women of the world do.
For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. 1 Timothy 2:10
Take Your God Given Freedom
In other words, God wants you to take your freedom in Him. Then, you can let your beauty shine through as you continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
When Paul wrote to the Galatian church, he spoke to them about our freedom in God. This time, he addressed the men and women together.
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13
We can easily lose our freedom if we decide to turn our backs on God. The following two verses tell us how we can keep our freedom and how we can lose it.
- For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:14-15
I like the way Galatians 5:1 began that chapter. And we will use that same verse to close our discussion here.
- So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1
Dear God, the enemy wants to rob us of the freedom we have in you. We pray that you will help us to make sure that we stay free.
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