Editor’s Note: This article originally ran here on DK on November 28, 2011. The response was overwhelming as the article spread through social media sharing. “Please write 94 more ways the gospel frees women to finish this post!” one reader wrote in an email.
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by Gloria Furman
I was reading Galatians and felt a great wave of refreshment wash over my soul as I thought about how Christ’s fulfillment of God’s perfect law means freedom.
Jesus frees us from so much and He frees us to so much.
I pray you’ll be encouraged as you read over this short list of ways the gospel frees women…
1 – The gospel frees us from laying the burden of our happiness on our husband or children. As we are stunned by the mercy of Jesus who willingly bore a cross for our sins, our souls are released to find our joy foremost in God.
2 – The gospel frees us from hurling hostile criticism over personal preferences like homeschooling, epidurals and the Tooth Fairy. As we are united with one another through Jesus’ death and resurrection, grace frees us to affirm and appreciate women who hold different views.
3 – The gospel frees us from feeling the shame of scrutiny from other women. As we begin to understand that the cross demonstrates the magnitude of God’s love for sinners, we discover our Father’s approval of us in Christ is worth far more to us than the opinions of others.
4 – The gospel frees us from the futility of finding new things to brag about. As we see that every good thing is an undeserved gift from our gracious God, we delight in humility and boast only in Jesus’ death and resurrection which purchased for us the ultimate gift of fellowship with our Father.
5 – The gospel frees us from our exhausting preoccupation with style and beauty. As we become more conscious of the eternal promises of God which are guaranteed in Christ, the less captivated we are by fleeting things.
6 – The gospel frees us from the chains of anxiety over our past, present and future– which includes even trivial things like Christmas shopping. As we consider God’s unstoppable, sovereign, redeeming grace in Christ, our hearts are bolstered with hope and courage regardless of our circumstances.
These are just a few of the ways we have freedom in Christ!
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36
ABOUT THE WRITER
Gloria (@gloriafurman) is mostly from Texas. In 2008 she moved to the Middle East with her husband Dave to plant Redeemer Church of Dubai. They have three fun kiddos and Gloria enjoys serving the ladies in her community as a doula. Gloria is the author of Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home (Crossway 2013).
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Love this post! Just to add… I love that the Gospel frees women to enjoy spiritual disciplines. I used to be so bound up by the amount of time I did or didn’t spend in my Bible, or in prayer. Did I miss a day? (Hello kids!) It used to undo me if I missed. I had to repent of that thinking. Now, I don’t read my Bible and pray because I have to for God to be pleased with me. Rather, I do those things in light of the fact that God IS eternally pleased with me, because I am in Christ. I have a desire to know and worship Him. And when I don’t have that desire, I am no less accepted by Him. Freedom indeed!
I liked your post. As a mother with young adult children, I take comfort that the gospel frees me from taking the blame or the praise for my children’s decisions. The older my children get, the more I see his grace in my life and theirs.
Loved this! Powerful and practical truths. The gospel truly does impact every aspect of life and through him we are free indeed!
Loved your post. It’s so freeing!
Thank you for the reminder of the freedom we all enjoy because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we go and use it every moment of every day of our lives to further His kingdom! Praise God!:)
Thank you for this. Our small church plant here in San Diego is basing our women’s retreat in October on Galatians 5 & freedom, from the inspiration of your article. Blessings to you & thank you for your thoughtful & honest insight.
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