Righteousness equals Freedom

Consider this: righteousness equals freedom; freedom is the lack of a need to justify.


"Against such things there is no law" (Gal 5:23b).


If we are walking in righteousness, we have the complete freedom to do whatever we want. Freedom of action, freedom of thought and freedom of will. Not only that, but if we are walking in righteousness, we don't have to explain our actions to anyone, ie, justify ourselves.


Of course the question is whether we walk in righteousness, right? What if we turn the equation around. Think about justification. We can justify our own actions according to law: "It's illegal to steal; I paid for it; I'm eating it; leave me alone." Or we can be justified by someone else meeting the law: "It's illegal to steal; I stole it; my mom went back and paid for it; I'm eating it; leave me alone." In both scenarios the law is met and the act of eating is justified. To be justified is to be declared righteous. And freedom of action follows.


So we're supposed to act like someone who has already been justified and accept the freedom of action offered by that declaration. Problem: do we maintain this justification and freedom by beginning to obey the law for ourselves? Is there an operation outside of the law that allows us to be positionally justified and practically free...righteous? This operation would have to at once fulfill and destroy the need for the law. It would have to be supernatural.


"If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Gal 5:18).


The Holy Spirit is the operation, the agent in our lives that allows the position of our justification to meet the practical working out of our righteousness. Even though we continue to sin, we are no longer guilty because we no longer answer to the law. We can begin to love Christ, not out of guilt, but because "Christ's love compels us" 2 Cor 5:14. We can move and act in freedom as the Spirit gains control over our lives: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" 2 Cor 3:17.


Can you imagine God ever asking us, Why are you so sacrificially looking out for someone else? Or, Why is your trust in my providence so deep that you have joy and peace? Why is your own sense of contentment and well-being so strong that it becomes patience and gentleness when you interact with other people? We don't have to justify these things. Others will ask. We still don't justify - we say: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law....I am crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that live but Christ who lives in me."


(P.S> This touches on a lot of other topics. Maybe I should write about free will versus free agency sometime. Sorry if this post has been way abstract.)