Troubling Questions, Liberating Truth.

Question: Why is/does our life being bought by Christ, make us live in some sort of restrictions?

            Liberating Truth

In the beginning, there existed a relationship between God and man which put man in a level where he lived in His presence and did His will.

As a result of disobedience, man fell thereby alienating himself from God. However, God who has created us in His own image desires that initial relationship which existed to be restored. That is the main reason why He reconciled man to Himself through Christ.

2 Cor 5:18-19(KJV)
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

It is also worth noting that anyone who is born-again, one who accepts and believes in the finished work of Christ and confesses Him as personal lord and saviour ceases to have a life of his or her own.

Gal 2:20(KJV)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Thus, the born-again cannot say things like: it is my own life; I do whatever I want to do with it, I do whatever that feels good to me. The born-again rather sings songs such as: This life is not my own; to you I belong, Take my life and let it be and a whole lot of songs that shows our surrender to the giver of life.

Well, we are not living in any form of restriction. It is just that the Born-again is now learning to live the life of the kingdom of God. It is worth noting that the rebirth being discussed here is spiritual.

Man is really a spiritual being with a soul and dwells in a body. Living a life that befits the kingdom of God is already in the nature of the born-again but this lifestyle which can be identified in (Gal 5:22-23) must be worked out into the physical. Maybe it is the outworking of the divine nature in us that is considered restriction.

This can be likened unto the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly by going through the pupal stage. The caterpillar is like an unbeliever living ‘freely’ but once it begins to go through the pupal stage to become a butterfly, its movement is restricted in order for its true beauty to be seen when it becomes a butterfly. One will realize that there are some attitudes and values the ‘world’ appreciates but the born-again is not allowed and cannot do or appreciate.

Remember all things are lawful but not all things edify (1Cor 10:23). This should not be a headache because bible actually calls the law of Christ, the perfect law of liberty.

James 1:25(KJV)
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Gal 5:13(KJV)
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 

Matt 11:28-30(KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

If anyone thinks accepting Christ has gotten him or her into some sort of restriction, then that one has probably been unequally yoked. Apparently, you are being yoked with unbelief. This life in the kingdom is a life of faith in Christ Jesus.

Written by: Afadzinu Maxwell