And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:13-15)

Before Christ, we weren’t just “struggling” or “a little lost”—we were spiritually dead in our trespasses. Dead men walking. Like prisoners on death row, we were bound in the dark prison of this world, awaiting the final execution of our sentence.

But God stepped in. He sent His Son, Jesus—much like a judge sending his own child into the prison to take the place of the guilty. Jesus took our sentence, bore our punishment, and died in our place. Justice was satisfied. Our record of debt, with every single charge against us, was nailed to the cross and marked paid in full.

And it didn’t stop there.

God raised Jesus from the dead, and in doing so, made us alive together with Him. Not only were the cell doors unlocked, but Jesus flung them wide open. We aren’t meant to stay wandering the prison yard—we’re called to walk out in freedom, into His marvelous light.

So why do so many believers live under the chains of legalism, guilt, and shame? Pride whispers that we aren’t worth such a gift and that we need to “pay back” at least part of the cost. But grace doesn’t work like that. If we’re still trying to earn God’s favor, we’ve missed the reality and grace of the cross.

The record is gone, the debt is erased, and the enemy’s accusations have been disarmed because the Father looks at us in the same way that He sees Jesus. All that’s left is for us to receive the gift fully and walk in the freedom Christ has already purchased.

Does anything hold you back? We can label it pride, because that’s a foundation, but push beyond that. Get alone with God and ask Him to reveal what might be holding you back from walking in freedom. The work has been finished. The debt has been paid. So let’s walk like we’re free – because in Christ we are!