In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Paul speaks of living in the freedom of the Holy Spirit, wherever the Spirit is allowed to reign there is freedom. That freedom releases the liberty and the progressive glory of God into and through our lives. “for we are being changed from one degree of glory to an ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” It’s a transformational power that changes us into the glorious image of Jesus.

In Galatians 5:1 Paul encourages the church to live in that same freedom, to never allow powerless forms of religion and human wisdom to rob us of the freedom Jesus died to bring us into. However, that freedom is not simply to be free from religious laws, regulations and dead traditions. This freedom also speaks of what we have been set free into. We have been given the very life of Jesus himself. Paul says in Ephesians 1:18-20 that this new life is generated by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave, that power is now available to and can be resident in us by faith. We are not meant to live powerless lives, we are meant to live in resurrection power, ruling and reigning in life. That life is possible because of the grace of God and his gift of righteousness to us. When we received the Holy Spirit something supernatural happened within us. Our spirit was regenerated and we became new creation beings, we received a New Nature, the very nature of God himself. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “the old has gone, the new has come … we are new creations in Christ Jesus”

Paul goes on in Galatians 5:13-14 to say do not use this new found freedom to indulge the old sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. That freedom and that service is then described as “The Fruit of the Spirit” The freedom of the life of Jesus being displayed in and through us. Galatians 5:22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit -the work which the presence of the Holy Spirit accomplishes in us – is :-

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

These are the character traits of Jesus himself, traits that are the evidence in our lives of true freedom. True freedom is living in the fullness of a Spirit led and Spirit filled life. The reality is we can never develop these fruits by self effort, they are a natural product of living in partnership with the Holy Spirit. As Paul says, we are to keep in step or walk with the Holy Spirit. As we seek him, rely upon him, gain ever increasing revelation of the Spirit life that is now available to us and cultivate that life giving relationship with the Holy Spirit, his nature and character will flow through us. That is true freedom, to walk in the power, glory, grace and wonder of Kingdom reality.