by Tieler Giles
There are a lot of fancy theological words for what Jesus accomplished on the cross: atonement, propitiation, redemption, reconciliation. Bible scholars spend a lifetime trying to grasp the full depth and meaning of His grace—and with good reason. At the same time, the gospel message is wonderfully simple: Jesus set us free (Galatians 5:1).
What does it mean to be free? In the United States, we talk about freedom in the sense of personal autonomy: having the ability to do as we please. It means being able to choose the kind of life we want to live. When you are free, you are not forced to live beneath your potential. You can reach as high and go as far as you want. There are no limits to what you can do or who you can become.
Biblical freedom means being able to become who God has created you to be and live life as He intends. Sin stands in the way of that. Our false beliefs about God, ourselves, and others mean that we are constantly making the wrong choices. But the good news is that if you’re trusting in Jesus, He’s broken the power of sin to hold you captive—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Your sinful thoughts and feelings no longer have to control your life. You can find inner peace, despite your outward circumstances. In Jesus, our souls find rest.
In fact, Jesus defeated the enemy of our soul, Satan, who caused humanity to fall in the first place with his deception and lies, and who has been lying to us ever since (John 8:44). Those who believe the gospel have help to recognize and defeat the lies of the enemy, which cause chaos and confusion. While false beliefs keep us in bondage, Jesus said the truth will set you free (v 32).
God’s grace sets you free to live a transformed life:
free from the need to do and be enough
free from the pressure to figure it all out
free from the opinions and expectations of others
free to let go of the past
free to live with hope for the future
God can change you from the inside out. He can touch your heart and awaken your spirit. Whereas you were once blind to the truth, His grace enables you to finally see it.
And while a profound change has happened, a new life in Christ may not feel entirely different, at least initially. You see, salvation is both an immediate reality and also a lifetime journey. As we seek to obey God, we’re called to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). God accepts us exactly as we are because of Jesus; but then He gradually works to change us, so we become like Jesus.
As a new Christian, I wish someone had told me that while my spiritual condition had changed—once and for all—my heart and mind had to be continually renewed. It’s as we continuously align ourselves with the truth of God that we live out the new life Jesus has secured for us. We are made new at once, but we are also becoming newer every day.
NO INSTANT RESULTS
When I turned to Jesus and received salvation, I was excited to kick off my brand new life. For the first few weeks into my Christian journey, I was “walking on sunshine,” as the song says. I found myself thinking about Jesus, how special I felt to be chosen by Him, wondering what He was telling all His friends about me . . . Okay, not that last part. But seriously, I was smitten. It felt like the clouds had parted and I finally understood what this whole life thing was about.
I bought a new study Bible, highlighters in assorted colors, sticky notes, and a journal. It was as though I was my 10-year-old self again, excited about the start of middle school: everything I would learn, the experiences I would treasure, and who I would grow to become.
But as the months went by, life felt more or less the same. Actually, life started to feel harder. I still had moments of being controlling, demanding, and impatient. Except now I felt worse about it because I knew that was no longer how I should be.
I was trying to do all the right things and stay away from all the wrong things, and it was exhausting. I thought that maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough or didn’t want Jesus in my life badly enough.
I see now that I was trying to self-help my way to God. I was approaching Christianity like I did other goals in my life—with focus, determination, and hard work—thinking I would find success. It would take me a long time to understand that I could not achieve the things of God through effort or willpower.
Living and looking like Jesus is not the product of a carefully crafted to-do list, excellent time-management skills, or having the commitment levels of a marathoner in training. We grow, change, and become who God has called us to be by His power, not our own. It’s God’s grace that changes us.
Tieler Giles is a personal development coach who inspires and equips others to grow in God's grace. Through writing, teaching, and coaching, she supports change-seekers on their journey to becoming who God has called them to be. Tieler believes the gospel of Jesus really is good news—and has the power to transform us, our everyday lives, and the world around us. She lives in Charlotte, NC. In her newest book, How to Ditch the How-To, Tieler shows how God’s grace provides what we need to learn, grow, and live life well.
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