Study 14 – The Truth Sets You Free

Pam and Bill are among many believers who have been set free by the truth concerning God's grace. Here are their true stories.

'It was a continual struggle to keep the law, and the inevitable failure produced guilt and condemnation. I felt doomed to a life of never quite making it. When I first heard about grace and freedom from law the news was almost too good to be true. I realised that God accepted me totally, just as I was; that He loved me through and through; and that He gave me His righteousness instead of me having to try hard to produce my own. Guilt and condemnation melted and I relaxed and accepted myself.

'When I sin, I can now cope and find forgiveness quickly. This has meant that I am a softer person, less critical and more tolerant of myself and others, and able to forgive easily. God's grace stops me writing myself off when I blunder. Life is busy, but I am no longer an uptight, self-righteous and miserable sort of person. God has benefited too! Whereas before I was bored in His company, I now enjoy Him so much! I worship Him with abandonment and revel in His presence.' – Pam

'I reasoned that to establish the kingdom, I would need to demonstrate my commitment by paying the price. Included in this price were authority, submission, obedience, discipline, correction and sacrifice.

'After several years living by these principles I began to feel burdened by them. They put me under pressure to perform and if I didn't consistently live up to the expectations of others I felt a failure. Slowly I lost my peace and joy and it began to occur to me that something was missing in my life. People seemed happier without God than with Him. Surely if they found more excitement in a sinful world, why should they join me in saving it?

'When I discovered that God loved me unconditionally, I realised that I no longer had to strive to earn His, or anyone else's approval. My acceptance wasn't based on my ability so I didn't have to complete a list of requirements in order to have fellowship with Him.

'The grace of God brought renewed peace and joy to my life. Whereas I once saw my family as a burden, I now view them as co-workers and enjoy spending time relaxing with them. I'm so excited that I have not been called to dead works but to serve a living God!' – Bill

To Meditate On

You are God's son, not His slave.

'Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father". So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir' (Gal. 4:6, 7).

Food For Thought

WHAT are some of the characteristics of God's sons/children?

LOOK UP the following verses and see: e.g. 1 John 5:12 – They have eternal life.

Rom. 8:14, 17; Eph. 1:5; 5:1, 2; Phil. 2:15; 1 Pet. 1:14, 15.

CAN YOU think of any other characteristics? Write them down together with their references.

Be Inspired

… the Christian under grace … knows himself to be God's child, adopted, beloved, secure, with his inheritance awaiting Him and eternal joy guaranteed. He knows that nothing can separate him from the love of God in Christ, nor dash him from his Saviour's hand, and that nothing can happen to him which is not for his long-term good, making him more like Jesus and bringing him ultimately closer to his God.
J.I. PACKER

To Apply

'Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son' (Gal. 4:30).

HOW do you think Christians can be tempted back into legalism and slavery?

WHAT will be your response if this temptation comes to you?

To Review

WRITE DOWN the main things that God has been saying to you through these notes so far.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me … He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners (Luke 4:18).

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17).

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free (Ps. 119:32).