Living Free in Christ

by Neil T. Anderson

Best-selling author Neil Anderson has helped more than one million people find real, lasting freedom: freedom from fear, hopelessness and destructive habits such as drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction and eating disorders.

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Paperback, 312 pages

Published January 1st 1995 by Regal Books (first published January 1st 1993)

tags: nonfiction, christian living, christian

Book Quotes

“Chapter 8 I am a saint If I walked into any church in America and asked how many perceived themselves as a sinner saved by grace, almost everyone would raise their hands. But then if I asked how many perceive themselves as saints, few, if any, would raise their hands. My response would be: Which is the most biblically accurate statement of who you are as a Christian? Does the Bible refer to the believer as a sinner or a saint? Did Paul address his letters to the sinners at Ephesus or to the saints? Look at the truth in 1 Corinthians 1:2, "To the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours" (NASB). Tragically, many Christians live their lives as though the passage reads, "To others in the church who are struggling to be sanctified, sinners by calling (or saints by hard work), with some who call upon the name of the Lord, my Lord, but I'm not sure about theirs." Every Child of God Is a Saint The overwhelming and consistent message of the New Testament is that we are all saints by the grace of God, sanctified because we are in Christ Jesus. Every child of God is a saint because he is in Christ Jesus. The most overwhelming concept in the early parts of Ephesians is the tremendous inheritance we have in Christ. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing *in Christ*. For he chose us *in Him* before the creation of the world” Ephesians 1:3-4 (emphasis added). Forty times in the one book of Ephesians, references are made to either you being in Christ or Christ in you. And for every verse throughout the Bible that talks about Christ being in you, 10 verses can be found that talk about you being in him. Go through the rest of Ephesians 1 and see how many times you can find this truth. In verse 7 you will find, “*in Him* we have redemption.” In verse 11 it says “*in Him* we were also chosen.” Verse 12 will tell you that your hope lies *in Christ*. Verse 13 says that you were included *in Christ* when you heard the word of truth. The problem is not that the Bible does not clearly identify believers as saints - it does! The primary problem is, we just do not see it! So Paul says in Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance *in the* saints” (emphasis added).”

― Neil T. Anderson

topics: Christ, Christian, Saint

“The remaining question is, "How can I know the difference between Satan's accusations and the Holy Spirit's conviction regarding sin in my life?" The answer, I believe, is in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NIV) "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." Paul is saying, "I'm glad you are under the conviction of God, that you are feeling that sense of sorrow." Why? Because it leads to repentance and to life with no regret. So as I confess my sins to God, there is never any lingering regret or condemnation. It is over and finished. But worldly sorrow brings death, it just tears you down. Scripture uses the word "sorrow" for the emotional result from the conviction of the Lord and the "sorrow" of the world. The point is they may feel the same. The difference is in the result. One leads to life; the other leads to death. For instance, Judas betrayed Christ and probably came under conviction but responded to the sorrow of the world and committed suicide. Peter also betrayed Christ, felt the conviction of God, repented and became the spokesperson for the church. I believe the Lord wants us free from Satan's condemning thoughts - free to love and serve Him.”

― Neil T. Anderson

“When people ask me to help them forgive those who have hurt them, I suggest they name the offense they are forgiving. And often I ask, "How did that offense make you feel?" They answer with words such as, "dirty," "worthless," "inadequate" or "rejected." When they forgive their offenders for those things, they are getting down to their hurt and pain, and they are also revealing how they have probably perceived themselves. That information was most likely believed and then programmed into their "computer" (memory), becoming part of their perception. If in your belief system you see yourself as inadequate or no good, you will likely live that out. We are all living according to what we believe. If we have a wrong belief about ourselves, it will affect the way we live.”

― Neil T. Anderson

“Chapter 20 Quote: I have often been intrigued by Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 7:4 "Great is my confidence in you, great is my boasting on your behalf" NASB. Then at the end of the chapter, in verse 16, he says: "I am glad I can have complete confidence in you." Has Paul lost his mind? I could see where he would have confidence in the church at Ephesus, but the church at Corinth? It was a church racked with dissension, and morality and carnality of every kind. Is this just some type of phony psychological hype? No, I believe Paul conveyed a very biblical principle: The work that God begins, he completes. This underscores the value to be gained by expressing confidence in others and encouraging one another to keep on keeping on.”

― Neil T. Anderson

“Chapter 20: In Matthew 8:23-26 (NASB) "When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26 He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm." There is no way that boat would ever sink with Jesus in it; it was destined to make it to the other side. Though there are storms raging around us, we are destined to make it to the other side because Christ is in us - He is our hope of glory. It is He who has begun the work in us and will carry it on to completion.”

― Neil T. Anderson

“I am no longer a product of my past, I am a product of the work of Christ on the cross.”

― Neil T. Anderson

topics: Christian, Encouragement

“Chapter 20 Another story involving Jesus and a boat is found in Mark 6:45-50 NASB "Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” My mind is riveted on the phrase, "He intended to pass by them." I believe that even today Jesus intends to pass by the self sufficient. If we think getting to the other side is a question of how we row, we may never get there. We must never forget that it is He who began the work in us, and it is He who will carry it to completion.”

― Neil T. Anderson

“Chapter 20 There's One More Inning I don't know what "inning" of life you are in, but the odds are you have at least one more opportunity to come to the plate. Are you running against the wind? Is a storm about to swamp your boat? Have you failed in the past? Do you believe God has given up on you? I don't believe he has! In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul reflects the attitude I believe we ought to have: Philippians 3:12-14 (NASB) Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

― Neil T. Anderson

“One may ask, "How do you know whether you are walking according to the flesh or the spirit?" It's obvious according to Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these" Galatians 5:22 gives the flip side But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" To determine if you are walking according to the flesh or the Spirit, examine what's radiating out of your life. Though we are in Christ Jesus, we can still choose to operate according to the flesh. So if you have a fit of rage, what is the problem? Is somebody making you angry? Is it a deed of the other person's flesh or yours? We must assume responsibility for our own attitudes and actions. When you sense you're walking according to the flesh, confess it, and ask the Lord to take control of your life again. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord (see Ephesians 5:18-20). The law of the Spirit of life is always there, and we must learn to operate according to it. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." Galatians 5:16.”

― Neil T. Anderson

topics: Christian, Discipline, Sin

“The church in Corinth had become quite carnal. Paul encouraged them to stay in communion with God and to judge themselves accordingly. Because they hadn't assume their responsibilities, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:30-32 "For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world." God does not punish us out of condemnation. He disciplines us so we may share in His holiness. As Hebrews 12:10-11 says, "For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

― Neil T. Anderson

topics: Christian, Discipline, Sin

“We shouldn't avoid sin because we fear eternal damnation. We should do so because we no longer want to live in bondage….”

― Neil T. Anderson

Neil T. Anderson

Neil Anderson was raised on a farm in Minnesota. He served his country for four years in the Navy. He worked four years as an aerospace engineer before being called into full time ministry. He has served the Lord as a high school campus pastor, and in local churches as a youth pastor, college pastor, associate pastor, and senior pastor.

He taught for ten years at Talbot School of Theology and was the chairman of the Practical Theology Department. He is the founder and now president emeritus of Freedom In Christ Ministries, which has offices in Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. He conducts conferences for Christian leaders around the world in addition to maintaining a heavy writing schedule.

Neil stays involved with the academic community by teaching Doctor of Ministry classes at several seminaries. He has five earned degrees including a doctor of ministry, doctor of education, a masters of divinity and a masters in Christian education.
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Neil T. Anderson

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