God’s Heart For Us Is To Be Free

Freedom is something we all want.
But what is freedom?

Woman Jumping Freely Wearing Green Backpack

God’s heart for us is to be free. He gave us free will and desires relationship with us in freedom. He’s not looking for “religious robots.”

But here’s the thing… we’re all infected with a “virus” called sin which restricts our freedom.

We’re born with it as a consequence of Adam’s fall. When he used his free will to rebel against the authority of God it was as if he’d been “infected with sin.”

We’re easily imprisoned by sin. It brings destruction, broken relationships and eventually spiritual death. It’s symptoms are evident all around us.

We need to be delivered from our “virus.”

Jesus did just that. He took the consequences of our sin for us on himself… separation from God and spiritual death.

But death could not hold him. Three days later he rose from the dead. The spiritual consequences of sin had been defeated. My part is to sincerely repent and receive God’s forgiveness.

At the point of genuine repentance a miracle happens. The Lord changes our hearts. It’s called being “born again.”

We’re not “sin free”…show me a perfect Christian… there are none… but our the motivations of our hearts change and our lives begin to change.

By the grace of God, through faith in Christ we are restored to the original freedom of relationship that He first intended to have with him and those around us.


Psalm 146:7
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.


Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.


  • Mark Saunders

The Gospel Is Powerful If We Let It Work In Us

Ever wished you could “re-set” your life ?

God’s mercies are new every morning. The opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord is always there. He never despises a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

photo of a mountain surrounded by fog in the morning

It’s true we can’t always “re-set” consequences – what’s done is done… but relationships can be restored… between ourselves and the Lord and between ourselves and others. If we are ready to humble ourselves, repent… and the hardest one, forgive, then there is hope for restoration.

Either way it takes a readiness to “carry my cross” …death for me but life for you.

The gospel is powerful if we let it work in us.


Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart– These, O God, You will not despise.


2 Corinthians 4:12
So then death is working in us, but life in you.


  • Mark Saunders

Trusting God in Difficult Times – Psalm 11 Meditation by Tim Keller

A special series of meditations by Tim Keller — “Trusting God in Difficult Times.” This new series is meant to encourage you to trust God more deeply and to meditate on his word and what it promises, to give you strength and hope in difficult times. After the meditation, Tim will be joined by Kathy Keller for a short Q&A.

These meditations are brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you’ve enjoyed this meditation and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/youtube and making a one-time or recurring donation.