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“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” - John 8:36
Usually when people come to Christ, they find the motivation and inspiration to finally let go of their bad habits. However, the truth is that these “bad habits” are sin and the wages of sin are death. So regardless of whether someone is a true follower of God or not, they will find that not drinking, smoking, or having random sex is beneficial and conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
Of course it is easier to break free from our addictions to these things when we lean on Christ’s strength and not our own. This is part of the reason we say that there is freedom in Christ. We give our life to Christ and He gives us His freedom - which sounds amazing, however, most people never stop to read the fine print of this contract. Most people see this exchange as winning the lottery, with no work or expectations attached. In reality, this is not the case - far from it, actually.
I remember my dad always telling me when I was growing up that if something seems free, it usually isn’t — and I have yet to see this proven false!
We often make the mistake of claiming a freedom in Christ that requires zero sacrifice, but what if I told you that the freedom you have through Christ will actually cost you everything?
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” - Romans 6:22
The freedom we have as followers of God is the freedom to live for Christ. This freedom doesn’t include doing whatever you want to do and slapping a Christian catch phrase over a worldly lifestyle. It is the freedom to choose Christ every day, and not be confined to hell because of our sinful living. This is the free gift that we receive because of God’s grace.
“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” - 1 Peter 2:16
The truth is, Jesus paid an extremely high price for each and every one of us. So, we must be willing to lay our lives down for Him, even to the point of death, as He did for us.
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” - Colossians 1:21-23
So before you come to Christ, you must realize that your freedom isn’t free - and the cost is your life.