A common question I get as a pastor is, “If I’m free from sin, why do I still battle selfishness, jealousy, envy? Why do I still grumble, curse, and act… unchristian?”
Because “free from sin” (Romans 6:22) doesn’t mean sin disappears. It means sin doesn’t run the place anymore. Freedom isn’t “I don’t sin.” Freedom is “sin isn’t my master – doesn’t own me, define me, or get the last word.”
Sin’s presence stays with us until resurrection. So the better question isn’t, “Why do I still sin?” It’s, “Why does sin feel more unsettling now?” That discomfort is actually the sound of freedom waking up.
Learning to live free takes time. Israel left Egypt in a night, but Egypt took years to leave them. Newly freed slaves had to learn what freedom even felt like. People coming out of prison need time to adjust. In the same way, when the old taskmaster Sin barks orders, it takes a minute to realize, “That voice doesn’t own me anymore.”
As we grow in Christ, our inner stance shifts from “I don’t have to listen” to “I don’t want to.” Not because we suddenly got strong, but because we finally see clearly: the voice of Sin isn’t freedom – it’s oppression. And when you see mold on the bread, you don’t need willpower to put it down.
Jesus has already made us free. The Spirit opens our eyes to what it means to live free. One is instant; one is lifelong. You’re not becoming free from sin – you are free – and you’re becoming the kind of person who lives like it.
In this life, freedom isn’t a destination; it’s a direction. And every step – longing for Him, wanting to love, grieving when you don’t, rejoicing when you do, staying humble in both – is freedom in motion.
Something to take just a moment to consider today.
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