Setting Your Marriage Free: Discover Freedom in Christ Together
Everyone seeks freedom. But the Bible tells us that, spiritually speaking, no one is free.
So what do we need freedom from? How can we gain freedom? How can that freedom change our lives and relationships?
What Do We Need Freedom From?
The short answer is SIN.
Adam and Eve believed a lie from hell and as a result, they were the original sinners. As their descendants, we have inherited their sinful nature, and are separated from God. He cannot and will not be in fellowship with sinners.
Only through Jesus can we restore our relationship with God and be in right standing with Him and acceptable to Him in heaven. Until we understand this we are blown around by the winds of the world while we are alive, and doomed to hell when we die.
We need freedom from the attack of the devil on our lives which causes us to sin and be separated from God.
Revelation 12:7-11 “the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray…and his angels with him…–accuser of our brothers, hurled down from heaven”
How Can We Gain Freedom From Sin?
Good news is found in Acts 13:22-41.
“the good news…Jesus is the Christ the prophets spoke of–the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him, everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
We can gain freedom from sin! When we have faith to believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life and there is no other way, we are made free.
God knew and knows we cannot overcome the attack of the enemy on our own. So, He came to earth as a man, Jesus. If we will accept that Jesus’ death was the one-time, sufficient sacrifice for our sins we can be made right with God.
2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Freedom in Christ is Eternal
When we accept Jesus, we are made right with God, and we are accepted and welcomed into heaven for eternity.
According to Romans 6, we are to identify with Christ’s resurrection as we do with His death and see our flesh – our natural self – as crucified with Christ.
Our sinful selves are crucified with Christ, and we are a new creation in Christ. Therefore, sin has no claim on us. We are made new; we are children of God even while we are still alive on earth.
Luke 9:23 says, “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Christ makes two points:
- “deny yourself, take up your cross daily.” We need to see ourselves as crucified with Christ. It is not up to us to do good, do our best, and shoulder our burdens alone.
- “follow me.” We are called to get behind Jesus; to put Him between us and whatever the sin is. When temptation comes, don’t fight it in the flesh. You will lose–flesh cannot overcome sin. Fight it in your faith, knowing that you are crucified with Christ and you no longer live, but Christ lives in you!!
The Christ we trust as Savior for eternity can be our Lord today and deliver us from the attacks of Satan –if we trust Him and have faith breath by breath!
This is FREEDOM!
Accepting Eternal Freedom
Some of the early Jews of Acts 13 could not accept Jesus as Savior and certainly not as Lord. Paul said to them “Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life …”
Do you consider yourself worthy of eternal life? Jesus thought you were worthy enough to die for.
If you are trusting Jesus for eternity then trust Him for today! When attacks come and get you down, make a conscious decision to fight back. Gain freedom from the attack by using your faith in Christ to trust Him to prevail on your behalf. Put Him between you and whatever form the attack comes and know that He can deal with it. When WE try to deal with it we lose. It’s a spiritual attack and we just can’t go there without Jesus!
Set Your Marriage Free
Once you and your spouse have become free in Christ, you can work together to set your marriage free, as well.
Start by breaking family cycles of abuse that have been passed on to you from previous generations. Ask God to reveal any self-centered thoughts or behaviors that have kept you from assuming your responsibilities to love and accept one another. Then repent.
Release old hurts through forgiveness. Unmask Satan’s deceptions in your relationship and seek the truth that will set you free. Renew your marriage covenant with God and each other.
After you set your marriage free, maintain that freedom with activities like attending church and marriage retreats, reading and studying your Bible daily, and praying together. When trials and hard seasons come, remind yourselves of your identities in Christ, take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and share your struggles openly with each other so you don’t drift away.
If you want additional support and encouragement in your relationship, working with marriage mentors or attending a marriage retreat can help you reconnect with each other and to Christ.