Some people abuse the word “grace.” So, what is freedom in Christ? Some people say they heard from God things that allow sin. A believer needs to know how to hear the voice of God. You might meet people who say something like this:
• “I think Jesus would smoke weed, too—after all, God created all things for us to enjoy.”
• “I can watch pornography if I want to—God understands me and knows I would not hurt anyone.”
• “I prayed about it and feel the Lord wants me to get a divorce.”
Sorry, to break the bad news, but there are people who claim to follow Jesus who believe some very wrong stuff. A lot of this stems from a misunderstanding of what freedom is. They hear that Jesus wants to set them free, but their definition of freedom comes from the world, not the Word of God. The worldly definition of freedom looks more like the word “autonomy”: I will do what I want. Before seeing what is freedom in Christ, let’s look at what it isn’t.
Autonomy is not true freedom. If I self-rule: I will do things that please me yet make others feel less free. For example, freedom allows me to interact in society without anyone forcing me to do anything. Autonomy says that my desires and values are so important other people have to give up their freedom for my self-serving interests. That is not the work of Jesus.
Autonomy states that if I choose to use a restroom of the opposite gender, they have to let me—even if it violates the freedoms of others who do not want to visit a mixed-gender restroom. Autonomy states that if I want to play loud music at midnight, I should be free to do so no matter what my neighbors think. Autonomy states that if I want to take someone’s spouse even though I am already married, then I should be able to do as I please. Or, if it is my body, it is my choice—I should be able to shoot it up with drugs until my health fails and then government funds should pay to keep me alive.

What is Freedom in Christ

Americans are proud of their freedom. However, many do not understand what true freedom is. While as a country the USA threw off the harsh demands of the mother country, freedom is not something gained from only outside forces. One’s own self can be the harshest slave master.
What is freedom in Christ? Freedom from self is what Jesus brought us. You can be a slave owned by a master and still be free. You can live under a dictatorship and still be free. Truth is what sets us free.
People who use the grace of God and their faith in Jesus as an excuse to sin do not understand freedom. Our freedom is not from tyranny and oppression. Jesus brought freedom to Israel while the people were under the iron fist of Rome—later that superpower smashed the city of Jerusalem in a gruesome siege lasting for a few years.
Truth sets us free. Scripture will cause us to throw things out of our lives that we once loved. Our love for Jesus is greater than our love of pleasing ourselves. We change what we care about because His Spirit in us has different desires than we once had. Being led of the Spirit means we become less of ourselves and more of Him. If we are not led of the Spirit, we are not His children (Romans 8:9-14).

How to hear the Voice of God

You hear of wacky things sometimes when it comes to hearing God’s voice. One woman claimed God told her to kill her children. Another says God told him commit suicide. I know those are extreme cases and obviously wrong, but there is a way of being sure you are really hearing God’s voice.
A disciple must know how to hear the voice of God. The Lord will not make you a bigger version of yourself—He will make you more like Him. The voice of the Lord will lead you to humble yourself by putting others first. Instead of self-rule, you will submit to His rule as you give to others, take time for them, and build up their identity and purpose in Jesus Christ.
When you hear the voice of God, you will care for others more—love for them will drive you. You will find yourself giving up things that are not even wrong—like occasional meals, hobbies, and personal time—so you can do more for others. On the one hand, the Lord frees us from bondage to sin, but on the other, He liberates us so we can do more good.
The voice of Jesus called His followers to leave behind everything of self. He may call you to forsake your job, your home, your friends, your family, your personal goals, and your very life itself. These are the kinds of things the Lord puts on your heart when you are hearing His voice.
Has your freedom become all about you? Or when the Lord set you free, have you found yourself doing positive things for others? Jesus set His disciples free to heal, cast out devils, raise the dead, and bring the good message of hope in Jesus. How are you letting His freedom do those things and more in your life?
When you know how to hear the voice of God, you will find it sounds very much unlike your own!