A Biblical Theology of Freedom...

Freedom from destructive behaviors means freedom from overt sin, which is a direct overflow of freedom in Christ. The Greek word ἐλευθερία (eleutheria), mentioned 11 times in the New Testament, is translated, “freedom” or “liberty” and often refers to “freedom from the dominion of corrupt desires, so that we do by the free impulse of the soul what the will of God requires.

STRONGS NT 1657: ἐλευθερία, ἐλευθερία, ἐλευθέρας, ἡ (ἐλεύθερος), liberty, (from Pindar, Herodotus down); in the N. T.  11 occurrences.

    The Gospel of John, chapter 8 depicts an interesting exchange with Jesus and a hostile crowd who were interrogating him. Verse 30 say that as he spoke, “many believed in him” (v. 30). The interesting part is that in the next verses, Jesus then turns to those Jews who believed in him and offers them freedom:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Jesus offers these Jewish believers freedom because they are “enslaved to sin” and their destructive behavior includes a plot to kill him:

They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
John 8:32‭-‬38 ESV

    The implication here is that there is a type of freedom for those who are already believers in Christ; to those who are children of God, but living enslaved to overt sin or destructive behaviors including premeditated murder of the Messiah! Pastor Bobby Davis wrote an entire book on this idea entitled, Saved But Still Enslaved. Justification by faith in Christ does not guarantee righteous living otherwise known as progressive sanctification or the ongoing process of spiritual maturity and growth. Pastor and author Rob Bell wrote a book called, Jesus Wants to Save Christians.

    The Scriptures are clear; nobody is free from sin otherwise known as destructive behavior. Whether mental, verbal, or over, there is an ongoing need for confession of sin that leads to freedom here on earth as it is in heaven. John offers the most explicit treatise on the need for confession of sin and the consequence of denial:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8‭-‬10 ESV

In his letter to the Galatian saints, Paul gives much attention to the topic of freedom:

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:3-7 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV

    

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 ESV

For Paul, freedom does not only mean freedom from something such as sin and death (Romans 8:1-4), but rather freedom toward something. The child of God is not only saved from condemnation and hell, but set free to love and serve his neighbor. The gospel frees the believer to love enemies and bless those who persecute (Matthew 5:44). The Apostle Peter sums up the life of freedom as, “...not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” 1 Peter 2:16 ESV.  Ultimately, “...the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV