Don't Push, Pull

The concept of Christian freedom often gets misinterpreted through two extreme lenses: strict religious rule-following or complete rebellion against all constraints. The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar illustrates how human efforts to achieve freedom through our own works ultimately lead to bondage. True freedom transcends both these approaches, found instead in complete dependence on Christ. Authentic Christian freedom means accepting that we are completely forgiven, permanently united with Christ, and living under grace rather than law. It involves recognizing that we are 100% righteous through Christ, with no condemnation, and that God is always for us. This freedom isn't about earning God's acceptance through behavior or using liberty as an excuse for destructive choices - it's about resting in Christ's finished work and living from a place of complete acceptance.

The challenge lies in moving beyond our attempts to earn freedom through either strict rule-following or rebellion. Instead, we're called to examine areas where we might still be trying to earn God's acceptance and learn to rest in Christ's completed work. True freedom comes through dependence on Christ, not independence from Him.