Chapter 4: Christ’s Liberation

Welcome to Chapter 4 of ROW Against the Flow: Christ’s Liberation. This week, the focus is on the freedom Jesus offers—not just from habits or circumstances, but into a life truly set free for His purposes and presence.

Chapter Focus: Living in the Liberation of Christ

In this chapter, we explore what it means for Jesus to liberate us:

• Freedom from shame and guilt: Christ’s grace doesn’t just forgive—it releases us from the weight of the past.
• Release from spiritual bondage: Where we feel stuck—in sin, fear, cycles of defeat—Jesus’ victory on the cross breaks chains, even those we thought unbreakable.
• Free to walk as God’s children: Liberation isn’t just from something, but for something—intimacy with God, purpose, hope, and love expressed to others.

Key biblical truths anchor this chapter:

• “So if the Son sets you free, you will be really free.” (John 8:36, NET)
• “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, NET)
• Jesus declares liberty to captives (see Luke 4:18–19, NET)

You’ll find stories of real change, encouragement for those who feel stuck, and practical steps for embracing freedom—daily practices that keep us returning to the liberator, not bondage.

Conversation Starters

Let’s reflect and share together:

• Where in your life do you most long for freedom? What has kept you feeling “captive”?
• When have you experienced Jesus breaking chains—habits, mindsets, fears?
• How does it challenge or encourage you to see your freedom as both a gift and a calling to serve others?

Share your insights, a story, or a verse that’s meaningful to you. Your journey might encourage someone to claim Christ’s liberation for themselves.

What’s Next?

• Read ahead: The full book is available as a free PDF, or come back next week for Chapter 5.
• Invite someone: These chapters are for group or personal study—bring a friend or share thoughts in your community.
• Stay engaged: Each week, we keep moving toward authentic freedom in Christ—supporting and praying for one another.

Thank you for being part of this journey. May you discover afresh the liberation that only Jesus brings—freedom to walk in truth, love, and joy.

Chapter 4: Christ’s Liberation

As I was growing up, I was one stuck kid. My early years were uneventful enough and church life defined my weekly schedule. My parents loved Jesus and served in the church every time the doors were open. This gave me great exposure to a wonderful community. Of course that wasn’t the only exposure I would receive and when I was about 10 years old a fellow classmate  showed me pornography for the first time. It happened in the backseat as we carpooled to Christian school, of all places. That plus other types of abuse set me off down the pathway of disordered desires. Only in the last decade have I started to see how what had been done to me set me off down that pathway.  

All I knew as a boy and a teenager was that I was stuck. It seemed that no secret behavior was off-limits. I would shoplift so that I could seem generous to my friends. Only the restraining power of God kept me from being an abuser as I worked through all of these patterns of behavior. I would memorize all the verses and could repeat all of the important doctrine based on my years of Christian school and church attendance. The old ladies at church would pat my head and say “what a good little boy” but in my mind I was thinking “as far as you know.” Back in the 80s our Christian school used corporal punishment for people like me. Also I was forced to write the definition of tact so many times on chalkboards and notepads. I swore I would never remember it as I tried to avoid memorizing it while I wrote it over the years. Alas, I do indeed recall that “tact is skillfully saying and doing what is suitable and proper under the existing circumstances.” This actually made me more secretive and more slippery with the truth. 

In my senior year of High School, 1992, I was sitting in an English class and my teacher was disparaging the Bible. He classified it as fairytales and was discouraging us from taking it seriously as literature or history. I was a talker and because of my upbringing I knew better than to let this pass without confronting the errors. I had learned plenty over the years about the reliability of scripture. When I looked around the room I noticed Jeff, the friend who I had spent last class with making up all sorts of rude ways to speak to girls in the Spanish Language. Then I saw Joanna, the girl I had basically propositioned for sex in PE class. Maybe that’s why that guy kicked me in the face. Then I saw my basketball team with whom I was prone to misbehave. After surveying the room, I realized I was not the person to represent Jesus in the classroom. This was another kick in the teeth. I felt God telling me to sit down. Another friend, Jason, shared with the teacher what I wanted to say but he had the right to share. He represented Christ in his daily life not just in this moment.  

That night I lay in my bed and wept about the wreck my life had become. I felt so stuck and despaired that I could ever make good on my Sunday morning promises to God. Those promises would fall flat every Monday morning. 

I cried out to God and said “I don’t have what it takes to be the Christian you want me to be” and I heard back as clear as any other conversation “I never said you had what it takes, this is something I am going to do through you.” 

At that point I just gave my life to Jesus. “You can have it all.” Yes, my life was a mess but he accepted it.  

That summer, I saw the captivity I had been in more clearly than ever and experienced the liberation of Christ more powerfully than ever. There were days that I was witnessing to a coworker using my Spanish language skills and days where I was in a fight with another coworker. God squeezed it all out of my heart and revealed my need for reliance on Him.  Does Jesus have the power to liberate you? 

In the previous chapters, we explored the reality of spiritual warfare and the devastating consequences of humanity’s fall into sin. Now, we turn our attention to the heart of the gospel message: Christ’s liberating work on the cross. This chapter will delve into God’s plan of redemption, the power of Christ’s sacrifice, and what it means to live in the freedom He provides. 

God’s Plan of Redemption 

From the moment of humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan to restore us to relationship with Him. This plan wasn’t an afterthought or a reaction to our failure. It was a demonstration of His infinite love and mercy. 

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. — John 3:16-18

This familiar verse encapsulates the heart of God’s redemptive plan. It reveals that: 

• God’s motivation is love: At the heart of God’s redemptive plan is His boundless love for humanity. Despite our rebellion and sin, God’s love remains constant and unwavering. This love drove Him to pursue us even when we were at our worst, demonstrating a depth of affection that surpasses human understanding. 
• His plan involved personal sacrifice: God’s plan for our redemption came at an immense cost – the life of His own Son. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven to take on human flesh, enduring suffering, rejection, and ultimately death on the cross. This supreme act of sacrifice reveals the lengths to which God would go to restore our relationship with Him. 
• The goal is our salvation and eternal life: God’s redemptive plan aims not just at forgiveness, but at complete restoration and eternal life with Him. Through Christ’s work, we are not only saved from the penalty of sin but are also given the promise of eternal fellowship with God, starting now and extending into eternity. 
• It’s available to everyone who believes: The beauty of God’s plan is its universal availability. Regardless of our past, our social status, or our perceived worthiness, salvation is offered freely to all who put their faith in Christ. This inclusivity reflects God’s desire for all people to experience His liberating grace. 
• God’s intention is to save, not condemn: Despite our deserved condemnation, God’s heart is set on our salvation. His approach is not one of harsh judgment, but of merciful redemption. Through Christ, God offers a way out of condemnation and into the freedom of His love and acceptance. 

The Power of Christ’s Sacrifice 

The cross of Christ is the pivotal moment in history where God’s plan of redemption was fulfilled. On the cross, Jesus did more than just die for our sins. He broke the power of sin and death itself. 

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. — Colossians 2:12-15 

Let’s expand on what Christ accomplished: 

• He brought us from death to life: Through His sacrifice, Jesus restored our spiritual vitality. We were once spiritually dead due to sin, but Christ’s work on the cross breathed new life into us, enabling us to have a living relationship with God.  
• He forgave ALL our sins: Christ’s atonement covers every sin – past, present, and future. This complete forgiveness frees us from the burden of guilt and shame, allowing us to approach God with confidence. 
• He canceled the record of charges against us: Jesus erased the debt of sin that stood against us. Like a legal document listing our transgressions, this record was nailed to the cross, symbolically demonstrating that our sins have been fully paid for. 
• He disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities: Christ’s victory on the cross stripped the enemy of their power over believers. While these forces still exist, they no longer have authority over those who are in Christ. 
• He triumphed over them publicly: Jesus’ resurrection was a public declaration of His victory over sin, death, and the forces of darkness. This triumph was not hidden but displayed openly, demonstrating God’s power and the effectiveness of Christ’s sacrifice. 

Let’s Pause. 

Is Christ’s sacrifice effective for you? Does King Jesus have your allegiance? 

If so, this total and complete victory means that the enemy has been defeated, disarmed, and publicly humiliated. If Jesus has your believing loyalty, you can now live in the freedom and authority that Christ has won for you. 

The enemy has no power over you that you do not give back to him. 

Read that again. How does that happen? In a word, sin. He gets power back when you give it to him.

We often wander back to the foot of the Cross where all the broken chains are. We’ve been set free but we are back again fitting ourselves for the most comfortable shackles. After all, they fit right over the scars that were there from before. In chapter 8, we will look at breaking agreements with the enemy of our souls that keep us slipping back into these shackles.

Asymmetrical Warfare 

It seems that the enemy of our souls had his teeth knocked out at the cross and resurrection event, but just like in modern warfare it’s not always a frontal assault that takes us down. I believe there is a whisper campaign that continues to derail God’s people. Even Christian leaders, or should I say especially Christian leaders, are at risk.  

In 30 years of ministry, I’ve had this idea that the enemy doesn’t care how influential a Christian leader gets as long as the devil has a hook in them to take as many people down as possible. It’s not like I want to spend a lot of time in the devil’s way of thinking but if he has the key to take me down whenever he wants to, then I shouldn’t trust the lack of frontal assault as terms of peace. Just because I experience success even in ministry does not mean that I’m living right. In these same 30 years I’ve watched the fall of hundreds of “successful” ministry leaders and I want to get all the hooks out of me I can. That’s why we’re ROWing. 

If I am in Christ, I am safe, I am saved. That being said, I’ve got to process the whispers and capture the thoughts running through my head and make them obedient to Christ and the gospel. Keep the broken chains broken. 

for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 

Living in the Freedom Christ Provides 

So what does this mean for us in our daily lives? How do we live in the freedom Christ has won for us? I’ve wandered to the foot of the cross plenty over the years. It’s been 32 years of walking with Jesus but I still fit myself for old chains every once in a while. I don’t do the shame spiral or slap myself on the wrist. You say, “What no shame spiral, no whirlpool, well, maybe Aaron you’re not even sorry.” I just confess, agree that it was sin, and thank Jesus for forgiveness. I don’t want the enemy to have access to me. Do you? 

Here’s a test on whether you know 1 John 1:9. See if I get this right. “If we confess our sins and grovel and beat ourselves up and shame ourselves for doing this again and isolate ourselves from the Christian community for a good long while then Jesus will forgive me.” Not right you say? Oh yeah, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” That’s it. Unrighteousness is all the stuff we don’t know we’re doing that isn’t rightly related to God and others and ourselves and creation. Just imagine with me how patient God is to know our deeds before we do them and still offer us a way to agree and align with Him and cleanse us! Righteousness means to be rightly related to God through allegiance to Jesus. 

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. – Romans 6:6-8

Living in freedom means: 

1. Recognizing our old sinful nature has been crucified with Christ: Through Jesus’ sacrifice, our former self, bound by sin, has been put to death. We are new creations in Christ, no longer defined by our past failures or sinful tendencies. 
2. Understanding we are no longer slaves to sin: Sin’s power over us has been broken. We are no longer compelled to obey its demands or trapped in cycles of guilt and shame. Christ’s victory has liberated us from sin’s dominion. 
3. Actively choosing to live as free people: Freedom in Christ requires our participation. We must daily decide to walk in the liberty Christ has provided, resisting the temptation to return to old patterns or pick up the chains that have been broken. 
4. Using our freedom to serve God and others: Our liberation isn’t just for our own benefit. We are set free so that we can love and serve God wholeheartedly, and extend His grace to those around us. Our freedom becomes a powerful testimony of God’s transforming work. 

Practical Application: R.O.W. in Action 

Repent: Acknowledge where you’ve been living as if you’re still a slave to sin. Turn away from this mindset and towards the truth of your freedom in Christ. 

Obey: Choose to live as a free person. What does obedience look like now that you’re no longer bound by sin? How can you use your freedom to serve God and others? 

Worship: Praise God for His incredible plan of redemption. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice that has set you free. Let your life be a living act of worship in response to this freedom. 

The Challenge of Freedom 

While we’ve been set free, we often struggle to live in that freedom. We may find ourselves returning to old patterns of sin, picking up the chains that have been broken. This is why Paul urges us in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” 

Living in freedom requires vigilance and a continual turning towards Christ. It’s not a one-time decision, but a daily choice to embrace our identity as free children of God. 

Conclusion 

King Jesus’s work on the cross has provided our ultimate liberation. We are no longer slaves to sin or under the power of the enemy. We have been set free to live in relationship with God and to fulfill our purpose in His Kingdom. As we continue to repent, obey, and worship, we grow in our ability to live out this freedom and resist the enemy’s attempts to re-enslave us. Remember, the chains are broken. You are free. Now live like it. 

Reflection

1. How has your understanding of Christ’s sacrifice changed after reading this chapter? 
2. The chapter discusses the enemy’s “whisper campaign” and “asymmetrical warfare.” What specific “whispers” is the enemy using in your life to discourage or derail you, and how can you use 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 to “tear down arguments” and “take every thought captive”?
3. The author emphasizes confessing sins without the “shame spiral.” How can you apply 1 John 1:9 to approach God in confession and thank Him for forgiveness, rather than returning to “broken chains”?
4. In what areas of your life do you still struggle to live in the freedom Christ provides? 
5. How can you practically apply the R.O.W. principle to maintain your freedom in Christ? 

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, we come before You in awe of the authority You’ve given us through Christ. We thank You for the victory Jesus won on the cross, disarming the spiritual rulers and authorities. 

Lord, help us to fully grasp the reality of our position in Christ. Remind us daily that we are Your children, more than conquerors, ambassadors for Christ, and Your workmanship. Let these truths sink deep into our hearts and transform the way we live. 

We confess the times we’ve lived as if we were still slaves to sin and fear. Forgive us for the moments we’ve given ground back to the enemy through our choices and beliefs. Help us to stand firm in the freedom Christ has won for us. 

Holy Spirit, give us discernment to recognize the enemy’s schemes and the courage to resist them. Teach us how to effectively use the spiritual armor You’ve provided. May we be diligent in putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. 

Father, we ask for wisdom to exercise our authority in Christ with humility. Keep us from pride or misusing this authority. Help us to always remember that our power comes from You alone. 

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the authority You’ve given us to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Give us boldness to walk in this authority, especially in areas where we’ve felt powerless before. 

We pray for strength to resist the enemy’s intimidation tactics. When he roars like a lion, remind us that he’s already defeated. Help us to stand firm in our faith, knowing that our brothers and sisters around the world are facing similar battles. 

Father, we ask that You would use us as instruments of Your Kingdom. As we exercise our authority in Christ, may we bring light to dark places, hope to the hopeless, and freedom to those in bondage. 

Finally, Lord, we pray for a deeper understanding of what it means to be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. May this heavenly perspective shape our earthly lives, giving us confidence and peace as we face each day’s challenges. 

We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus, our victorious King. Amen. 

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