Freedom That Bears Fruit: A Gospel-Saturated Life in the Spirit
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”—Gal. 5:1 (ESV)
Every July 4th, we celebrate freedom—fireworks light the sky, flags wave, and phrases like “liberty” and “independence” fill our feeds.
And yet, for many of us, this cultural vision of freedom quietly seeps into our spiritual lives. We begin to think that true freedom means doing what we want, proving ourselves, or escaping anything that feels limiting.
But the gospel tells a different story: freedom isn’t found in self-reliance or self-expression—it’s found in surrender. Christ sets us free not to serve ourselves, but to walk by the Spirit and become like Him.
I’m taking this week off to spend with family, but I also wanted to check in to introduce the next series on this blog—a summer study on the fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23.
The gospel doesn’t just rescue us from sin—it transforms us into people who reflect the heart of Christ. This transformation is not the result of my own work and effort, but from walking with the Spirit. Only as we do so will we find true freedom.
This walk with the Spirit doesn’t begin with trying harder—it begins with resting in what Christ has already done. Before we can bear fruit, we need to know we are fully accepted, fully clothed in His righteousness, and fully free.
That’s why the words of the song “All-Sufficient Merit “ have been echoing in my heart as I prepare for this series. It reminds me that the foundation for a Spirit-formed life isn’t my striving, but Christ’s sufficiency:
“All-sufficient merit, shining like the sun… my righteousness I forfeit at my Savior’s cross, where all-sufficient merit did what I could not.”
Before we talk about the fruit, we start with the root: a Savior who gave everything so we could be free.
So, in preparation for this series, I encourage you to listen to this song and reflect on the questions that follow. May it draw your heart to rest in Christ’s all-sufficient merit, remind you of the true freedom you’ve been given, and ready your soul to receive the Spirit’s transforming work—fruit that grows not from striving, but from grace.
Reflection Questions:
1. “A fortune I inherit by no work I have done.”
If your worth is secured by Christ’s finished work and not your performance, what would it look like to live this week free from proving yourself? How does this free you from the pressure to perform?
2. “I lay down my garments, any empty boast… His righteousness is mine.”
What "garments"—accomplishments, appearances, or roles—are you tempted to wear to feel worthy, and what would it mean to lay them down and be clothed in Christ instead? Read Isaiah 61:10. Praise Him for the garments He has clothed us in as His bride.
3. “It is done, it is finished, no more debt I owe.”
When you feel anxious, guilty, or not enough, how might remembering “It is finished” help you rest in Jesus rather than striving for approval? How does this reassurance in Christ’s finished work free you from the stress of striving?
4. “All-sufficient merit firm in life and death… I’ll gaze upon my Jesus and thank Him for the cross.”
How does knowing that Jesus has secured your future reshape how you handle uncertainty, suffering, or even the thought of death?
5. “The joy of my salvation shall be my final breath.”
How might embracing your identity as fully accepted in Christ shift your motivations from pressure to joy, from fear to freedom?
