True liberty is not the power to live as we please, but to live as we ought. – A. W. Pink

What is Christian freedom and how does it differentiate from our culture’s view of the the term? This is an extremely important question for those who are seeking the freedom that only Christ can bring to a person’s life. There is a stark contrast between how the world, and our culture, describes freedom and how God defines it in scripture as it relates to following Him, and living a truly free life.

Jesus set every born again believer (John 3:3) free from the slavery of death and the law (Romans 6:6) so that we may walk (live) freely in alignment with His Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25), His Will (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7) and His desires (Ezekiel 36:27). This life is a life which we walk out by faith (Galatians 5:5) and it is a life that is not burdensome to us, but a life that aligns God’s desires and our desires for a truly free life in Christ.

“Christian freedom is the result of an obedience to God’s Will and calling in our lives, not the absence of it.“

As theologian, A. W. Pink quoted, “True liberty is not the power to live as we please, but to live as we ought.” Pink is stating that the Christian definition of liberty, or freedom, is far different from the world’s definition. The world defines freedom as somewhat of a blank check, to do as one pleases without any conformity or restriction to God’s authority, and in many instances, without conformty to any authority. Cambridge Dictionary defines freedom this way, “the power or right to act, speak, or think without hindrance or restraint, and the state of not being under imprisonment, enslavement, or external control” (Freedom). This idea of unrestrained liberty is not God’s definition of liberty in Christ according to scripture, and it should never be any Christians definition either. Jesus said in John 14,

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him..If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.”

– John 14:21, 23-24, NASB

We see that Jesus calls us to a life of obedience to His commands if we truly love Him. “Christian freedom is the result of an obedience to God’s Will and calling in our lives, not the absence of it.” For if we love Him, then the Father shows His love for us as He comes and makes a home (Tabernacle) in us, empowering us by His Spirit to love what He loves and hate what He hates, and these desires are not burdensome to us (1 John 5:3) but bring us into a union with our Creator.  He tells us that this new life will be much easier to live than our previous life. In Matthew 11:30, Jesus teaches us that in comparison to living under a yoke of slavery to the law of sin and death, this new life we are called to in obedience to Him, as followers of Christ, is a life which is easy to bear and light to carry in comparison. This is because He has taken the immense weight of our sin off of us, and He has freed us from sin’s horrible condemnation and sentence of death. The sentence that results in sinners who die in their sins left completely separated from God’s love, mercy and grace only to be left with His righteous wrath in eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 20:12-15).

Christian freedom is illustrated most accurately, I believe, in the image of a soverign King who rules over His Kingdom with authority grounded in equity, justice, righteousness and grace. Under the reign of such a King, His people (servants of the King) can live in a freedom found no where else in the land. It is a peaceful life of being able to enjoy everything that life has to offer as far as it aligns with the Kings edicts. It is not a bondage, but a freedom that ushers in security, peace and love for His people. When we read who God is in scripture, this is the King we find in Jesus Christ and His Kingdom will be one of abundant peace, where there is no suffering or death, and it is a freedom like no other!

If you are a Christian, take some time to read about your King in the verses below and understand the true meaning of Christian freedom that He has prepared for all who would believe in Him. Do not be yoked by the slavery of following man-made traditions and rules but discover what the commands of the King are in His Word and hold fast to them.

For those who do not know Christ, but are searching for such a freedom as described can be found only in Jesus Christ, seek after Him with all your heart and He will meet you right where you are! To understand the “Good News” of this freedom, visit our page “What is the True Gospel?” here on Herald the Truth Ministry and find resources to help you as you begin your walk of true freedom with the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!

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Who is this King and What is His Kingdom Like?

Prophecy & Lineage

• The Davidic Covenant: The Old Testament establishes that the Messiah will be a descendant of King David whose throne will last forever (e.g., 2 Samuel 7:12-13).
• Birth Announcements: The prophet Isaiah announces the coming Messiah and gives Him titles that are only attributed to God and align with later prophesy by the prophet Ezekiel that show how God will unite all believers and establish His Kingdom as we see in the coming of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7; Ezekiel 37:21-28). In the Gospels, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that Jesus will be given “the throne of his father David” and that his kingdom will never end (Luke 1:32-33).
• The Genealogy: Matthew 1 maps Jesus’ genealogy specifically to establish his legal and royal right to the throne of Israel.

The Nature of His Kingdom

• Not of this World: When questioned by Pontius Pilate about being “the King of the Jews” prior to his execution, Jesus stated: “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting… but my Kingdom is not from this world” (John 18:36).
• A Different Power Dynamic: Instead of wielding political armies and collecting tribute, Jesus’ rule is characterized by sacrificial love, humility, and the advancement of the “Kingdom of God,” which is defined by righteousness and peace (Matthew 6:33; Romans 14:17; Isaiah 32:1).

The Crown of Thorns & The Cross

• The irony of Jesus’ earthly trial and execution is deeply rooted in his kingship. Roman soldiers mocked him as a king by dressing him in a purple robe and pressing a crown of thorns onto his head (e.g., Mark 15:17-18).
• Pilate famously had a sign nailed above Jesus on the cross that read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19), publicly declaring his true title in three languages, despite intending it as a mockery (1 Corinthians 3:19).

The Reign of the King

• King of Kings: The New Testament ultimately exalts Jesus as the supreme sovereign above all earthly rulers, declaring him to be “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).
• Universal Authority: The epistles teach that God has exalted Jesus (Matthew 28:18), and that eventually, “every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11) for He is truly the “Lord of lords and the King of kings” (Revelation 17:4; Revelation 19:16).

His Kingdom that has No End

• This titled phrase, famously echoes the Annunciation, as described above, where the angel Gabriel tells Mary, “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33). This builds upon Old Testament promises in the Book of Daniel, which states God will set up an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44).
• Unlike secular kingdoms that rise and fall with shifting powers and time, Christ’s kingdom is characterized as boundless, unshakeable, and eternal (Hebrews 12:18-29). Scripture describes it as a present reality in the hearts of those who follow Him and a future fulfillment in eternity. Below is a overview of that fulfillment:
  • The Second Coming: Jesus will return visibly and triumphantly as the universal King, defeating evil and taking up His rightful, openly acknowledged rule over the earth (Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16).
  • The Millennial Reign: Many Christians believe this encompasses a literal 1,000-year period of peace, justice, and the lifting of the curse on nature, where Christ rules directly from Jerusalem (Revelation 20:1-3).
  • The New Heavens and New Earth: The absolute final state of the kingdom is the creation of a new world described in Revelation 21. This new creation features the descent of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
• Attributes of this New Kingdom:
  • The Dwelling Place of God: God will dwell physically among humanity, breaking the barrier between the spiritual and physical realms (Revelation 21:3, 22-23).
  • No More Sorrow: A complete end to death, mourning, crying, and pain (Revelation 21:4-5).
  • Restored Creation: A redeemed world where nature experiences perfect harmony (e.g., peace between wild animals and humans) and humanity thrives eternally (Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 65:17-25; Romans 8:19-22; 2 Peter 3:13.

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“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

– Revelation 22:16-21, NASB