The gospel declares that it is for freedom that Christ has set you free (Galatians 5:1). But have you ever wondered if it's true, why is it so difficult to genuinely live in absolute freedom? Here's something you should know: not all of your difficulties are solved at conversion, but they are solved as you yield to the gospel. It just takes a second to be saved, but it takes a lifetime to mature as a believer.

Every time you feel defeated by life, reflect on the reality of the gospel. To experience true freedom in Christ, you must first grasp what Christ achieved for you through His finished work on the Cross. The freedom He won for you is both absolute and complete. The more you appropriate the truth of His life in you, the more you appreciate the freedom you have in His life.

According to the Apostle Paul, it is Christ who enables us to live the Christian life.

 

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Hebrews 3:14 (NKJV)

 

The Greek word for "partaker" is metochos which means "a participant, partner, and sharer." Your salvation is entirely the work of God, in which you have no part. However, by believing Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you become a partaker of what He has done and is doing for you right now through His finished work on the Cross.

The gospel reveals three aspects of salvation you can have in Christ: justification, sanctification and glorification.

Justification is about who you are in Christ. It’s about your right standing with God through salvation because you are saved from the penalty of sin. Justification refers to what happened to you in the past—when you were a slave of sin and were transformed into a son or daughter of faith (Galatians 3:26).

Sanctification is about you becoming like Christ. It’s about your right living before God because you are being saved from the power of sin. Sanctification refers to what is happening to you at present—you are being made a saint by grace through turning away from sin and turning to God for salvation (Acts 3:19).

Glorification is about you being with Christ. It’s about your right bonding with God because you will be saved from the presence of sin. Glorification refers to what will happen to you in the future—the glorious bride of Christ, standing spotless before God in exquisite joy (Jude 1:24).

The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews encourages us: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 New King James Version).

The Greek word for “looking” is aphoraō which means “to turn your eyes away from everything so to focus on one thing”. Don’t let unbelief distract you; divert your eyes to Jesus. See Jesus as your Source and Strength of faith. In Greek, "author" is archēgos which means "leader, pioneer, source" and "finisher" is teleiōtēs which means "developer, perfector, and supply".

Rejoice in the truth that He who began you well will also help you to finish well.

Consider these words of the Apostle Paul:

 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)

 

The Apostle Paul didn’t grasp everything at once, but he kept his focus on Christ right to the end. Within his spirit, he sensed that there was more in store for him. You rarely get lost when you dare to pursue what God has for you in Christ.