Paul's mandate to remain firm in freedom does not appear in isolation. An important statement precedes it: "Christ made us free." Why Christians should remain firm in their freedom? Because Christ has already made free. In other words, our freedom is the result of what Christ He has already done for us.
This construction of a statement of a fact followed by an exhortation is typical in Paul's letters. For example, Paul makes several indicative statements in Romans 6 about the characteristics of our condition in Christ, such as: "Our old man was crucified together with him. " On the basis of this truth, Paul can then issue an imperative exhortation: "Do not reign, then, the sin in your body mortal". This is Paul's way of saying, in essence: "Become in what you already are in Christ. "
The ethical life of the gospel does not present the burden of try to do things to prove that we are children of God. Rather, we do what what we do because we are already his children
The use of the word "freedom" to describe the Christian life is more prominent in Paul's letters than in any other part of the New Testament. The word "Freedom" and the like appear 28 times in Paul's letters, in contrast to only 13 times in the rest of the New Testament.
What does Paul mean by "freedom"? First, it is not merely a concept abstract. It does not refer to political or economic freedom, nor to the freedom to live in whatever way we please. On the contrary, it is a freedom that is grounded in our relationship with Jesus Christ. The context suggests that Paul is referring to the freedom of slavery and the condemnation of a Christianity focused on the Law, but our freedom includes much more than that. It includes freedom from sin, eternal death and the devil.
"Outside of Jesus Christ, human existence is characterized by slavery: slavery to the Law, slavery to the evil powers that dominate the world, bondage to sin, to flesh and to the devil. God sent his Son into the world to break with the dominion of those enslavers. "