With minds that trust Jesus' Word completely, we view our Christian freedom properly, understanding that we are both "free from" and "free to."

"Lazarus, come out!"

Jesus' words were powerful. They brought life out of death. They not only compelled Lazarus but also gave him the capacity to obey Christ's command.

Wouldn't it be interesting to know what Lazarus said and did right after being raised from the dead? Scripture doesn't tell us. That's fine. The story of Lazarus is important because it helps us see Christ for whom he is, the Lord of life. We don't need to know what Lazarus did that afternoon.

However, we can assume what Lazarus didn't do that evening. He did not sleep in the tombs. Can you imagine? Can you imagine if he had been set free from the stench and rot of the grave, only to return to it at dusk . . . to willingly lie down once again in decay? Why would he do that? He would have to be a madman to do such a thing! It's inconceivable and would have been utterly inappropriate. Jesus had not just freed Lazarus from death. Jesus had freed him to live.

The twin facts of Christian freedom

So it is for us. In calling us from spiritual death to spiritual life—faith—Jesus has set us free from an awful lot of ugliness. Since Christ lived as our substitute and died as our sacrifice, we are free from sin. Because the One who will judge us is also the One who saved us, we are free from fear of condemnation. Jesus has freed us from the curse of the law . . . freed us from the controlling claws of Satan. When Jesus rose, he even set us free from the terrors of the grave. On Easter, Jesus once again proved death is nothing but sleep to him. He rose to "free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:15). Jesus has freed us from so very much!

Is that the extent of the benefits of our Christian freedom? Hardly! St. Paul writes, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" (Titus 2:11,12). Paul says grace does two related things. It brings salvation, freeing us from sin and death. But it also frees us "to live . . . godly lives."

A "godly life" is not only one in which godly things are done but also one where they are done gladly and willingly, not out of compulsion. Grace enables that.

Grace sets me free to go to church weekly and not because Mom will snipe at me if don't. I want to go because I know I need the regular strengthening of God's means of grace.