How free is "free indeed"?

[YosefHayim]

The past few days I did devotions on the topic of freedom. The questions I've had were

What is freedom: to the world and to the spiritual?
How free is free indeed?
How can I operate freely in the freedom Christ has given us?
And what exactly is this freedom that Christ has given us.

Well I came to 2 Corinthians 3:17 which says:

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
​

After praying for opened eyes to this verse I really reflected upon the phrase "where the Spirit of the Lord is".

Where is this spirit of the Lord? Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:20 "where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them". So then cool. Whenever we get our congregating on, we're pretty free. I mean, scripture also says that the father was looking for those that worship in Spirit and truth, thus we should have freedom in worship.

But my thought doesn't end there. Ephesians 1:13-14 says

"in whom ye have also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."​

Upon our salvation, we have been sealed with the Comforter which is the Spirit of truth until the day of redemption. Which is that inheritance which can not be corrupted, nor fade (1 Peter 1:3-5). So we always have freedom indwelling in us. And reflecting upon Galatians 5:13 which says "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another," brings light to to scriptures such as acts 5:23 which says that God has given the Holy Spirit to them that obey him. We can not obey God unless the father draws us. We can't obey God unless we have the Spirit. And Jesus said the only work that we were given was to believe on him who the Father sent. So by the indwelling spirit within us, we have now the freedom to walk in obedience which fills us with the joy of God.

But still my thought doesn't end there. The more I try to put "where the Spirit of the Lord " into perspective, the more it rattles my brain. I'm sure we're all aware of the omnipresence of God. We can not escape or hide from him. He knows our hearts. Read psalm 8. It will put God's love for you in so much perspective. It reveals how much of an mote you are to the greatness of God. It says in essence "Yahweh, my Lord. You created the heavens and the earth by your finger. And you made man a little lower than the angels. Yet you still crowned us."

This video gives some perspective to Psalm 8.

We're a mote that God can destroy with a sneeze. Yet God displays love for us so immense that he calls us holy, saints, kings, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, heirs, and children when we believe in him (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6). Rapper Shai Linne says

"And nothing can escape Jesus' sovereign rule/
From the farthest galaxy to the smallest molecule/
So who deserves to gain fame?/
By the word of His power the universe is maintained/
In other words, put the cosmos back on the shelf/
Without Christ, reality would collapse on itself/
Jesus, the marvelous Author of all consciousness/
Beyond what the sharpest biologist acknowledges/
He needs no archeologists or smart apologists/
He sees all hearts: Omnipresent Cardiologist/
Master of Logic, Macrocosmic Novelist/
Following any other god is just preposterous!
​

Which really shows that the dwelling of God can not be fathomed.

So the Spirit.

He is dwelling in us.
He is round about is.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

He is everywhere, yet unbelievers hearts are hardened, and have no access to the fruit of his freedom.

But the cup of freedom literally overflows for the believer.

When we feast on God's freedom, we are as gluttons of God's liberty. I don't mean to say glutton as we are using his liberty wrong. But rather we have so much freedom in God that can not even be fathomed, and that we don't have enough words worthy enough to praise him for this. But we can only worship, praise and thank him.

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. Proverbs 28:25​

 

[Willie T]

Just in case some people are like me, and like to read in regular English......

But my thought doesn't end there. Ephesians 1:13-14 says
"in whom ye have also trusted, after that ye heard the word f truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

13 You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised. 14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this

 

[Willie T]

Interestingly, I also read Psalm 8 to be an expression of wonder that as amazing as all the universe is, God considers us as even MORE special than all that.

 

[YosefHayim]

Interestingly, I read Psalm 8 to be an expression of wonder that as amazing as all the universe is, God considers us as even MORE special than all that.

That's what I said. In essence I was saying that though we are so small in the universe, his love for us is greater than the universe.

It also shows the magnificence of God himself, as it reveals his sovereign role in creating everything that is.

 

[YosefHayim]

By the way, I meant to put in John 32-36 is the thread title.

Whom the son sets free shall be free indeed.

 

[Willie T]

That's what I said. In essence I was saying that though we are so small in the universe, his love for us is greater than the universe.

It also shows the magnificence of God himself, as it reveals his sovereign role in creating everything that is.

Sorry. I wasn't clear. I meant that to be in contrast to how I have always heard it preached all my life.... that we are nothing, just worms, and God really is kind of "lowering" Himself to even pay us any attention.