The usual idea that goes with that word is, “freedom to do what I want.”
Now, if that means you want to live wherever you want, work where you want, pursue whatever vocation you want, marry who you want, have kids if you want, eat what you want, go where you want when you want – stuff like that; great.
If what you want means following the urge of the moment, that would be a different thing. That’s a different kind of freedom, but usually we bunch all ideas of freedom together. Don’t. How many times has following the urge of the moment got you in trouble? The urge to blurt, or doubt, or reject, or judge, or grab, or push, or be selfish, or indulge, or look, or retaliate, or insult, or do ‘just one more.’
This second kind of freedom is not really freedom; it’s slavery. You think you’re free to do what you want, but really you’re a slave to your urges. But freedom is available; the freedom to not be controlled by your urges. The freedom to not have to. This is the freedom God offers, but so few accept.
Part of being a slave to your urges is an even uglier, more deceitful, invisible slavery: Being a slave to being a slave, and not knowing it. Now that’s heinous. No wonder the cure was so radical and costly. And that’s what makes this freedom even more miraculous.
our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin – Romans 6.6
