Evening Devotional - Complete Freedom in Christ

Welcome to another evening devotional on the Living Word Cast. I'm Pastor Michael Chilcott, and tonight, we’re going to reflect on the incredible gift of complete freedom in Christ.

As we close the day and prepare our hearts for rest, let's pause and think about what it truly means to be free in Jesus. We live in a world that offers many forms of freedom, but none compare to the freedom we have in Christ. This evening, I want us to consider how the Bible speaks to this freedom and how we can live in it fully.

Let’s start by reading from John 8:36 (ESV): "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Jesus makes a profound statement here. He’s not talking about a freedom that is conditional or temporary, like the freedoms the world offers. No, He’s speaking about a freedom that is eternal and complete. When Jesus sets us free, we are free in the truest sense of the word.

In the context of this verse, Jesus is addressing the people who were bound by sin and the law. The freedom He offers is freedom from the condemnation of sin, from the power of guilt, from striving to earn God's favor. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, set us free from the burden of trying to be good enough. He became the ultimate sacrifice, and through Him, we are forgiven and declared righteous before God. This freedom is not just freedom from something—it’s freedom to live for something far greater.

Let’s also look at Romans 8:1-2 (ESV): "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

Here, Paul is reminding us that in Christ, there is no condemnation. We are free from the accusations of the enemy, free from the weight of our past mistakes, free from the fear that we’ll never measure up. The law of sin and death has no hold on us anymore. In Christ, we’ve been given new life—a life that is free from the power of sin, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in righteousness.

Now, freedom doesn’t just mean that we are free to do whatever we want. True freedom in Christ is not a license to live in sin. Instead, it’s the freedom to live in alignment with God’s will. It’s the freedom to love, serve, and glorify Him in all we do. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Our freedom in Christ is a freedom that calls us to love and serve others. It’s not a freedom to indulge in selfish desires or to live for ourselves. It’s a freedom that leads us to serve God and our neighbors, reflecting the love Christ has shown us.

Now, I know that many of us may still feel the weight of our struggles—perhaps there’s something in your life that you feel is keeping you bound, something that makes it hard to live in the fullness of the freedom Christ offers. It could be guilt, shame, addiction, fear, or anything else. But here’s the good news: Christ’s freedom is greater than any of these chains.

In 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV), we read: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

The Holy Spirit, who dwells in us as believers, is the One who brings us into the fullness of the freedom Christ purchased for us. He empowers us to walk in freedom, to say no to sin, and to walk in the newness of life. Even when we struggle, even when we fall, we have the assurance that the Spirit is with us, helping us overcome, leading us toward victory.

As we reflect on these truths tonight, I want to encourage you to embrace the freedom you have in Christ. Remember, you are free from condemnation. You are free from the power of sin. You are free to live a life that honors God and serves others. And most importantly, you are free to rest in the completed work of Jesus Christ, knowing that in Him, you are truly free indeed.

Let’s close our time together with a prayer:

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the complete freedom we have in Christ. We confess that sometimes we struggle to walk in that freedom, but we believe that through Your Holy Spirit, we can live the life You’ve called us to live. Thank You for freeing us from sin, guilt, and condemnation. Help us to embrace this freedom and live it out, serving others and glorifying You in all that we do. We rest in the assurance that in Christ, we are truly free. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank you for joining me tonight on the Living Word Cast. I pray that you experience the fullness of Christ’s freedom as you sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow ready to live for His glory.

Good night, and God bless.