So, I’ve been thinking about a beautiful paradox in the Christian faith: It’s only when we are bound to Christ that we experience true freedom.
Old Testament believers were bound to the law. In the new covenant, we’re not bound to the law of God, we’re bound to the person who perfectly fulfilled the law – Christ. Christians are people who live in Christ. We are faithful in Christ, blessed in Christ, chosen in Christ, have redemption in Christ, have the mystery of God’s will in Christ, united in Christ, have an inheritance in Christ, and are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit in Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14).
2 Timothy 1:9 says, “[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” According to this verse (and the gospel), is it our efforts that make us holy? What does this verse say about why God calls Christians to be holy?
Christians are bound to a life of holiness simply because we are in Christ, we are bound to him, and he is holy.
Leviticus 20:26 also sheds light on this topic. “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”
Where is God calling you to be holy? Are you hanging around people who encourage you to live holy?
Where is freedom in bondage? When a person follows Jesus, is bound to him, and is in him, that person has been set free. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
You will never regret a life of bondage to Christ because you will never be more free. You will never regret a life of holiness or anything else he calls you to like love, peace, patience, and kindness. You will never be holding your children or grandchildren one day wishing you had done more unholy living or had more acts of unkindness or hatred to tell them about.
You will never regret being bound to Christ. It is the only bondage where there is no slavery. It’s a bondage where you recognize that no matter what you’re going through, it cannot compare to the future glory in our promised homeland (Romans 8:18-21).
Go live free in bondage to Christ!