Called to Liberty

"Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Christian liberty is a major theme of the New Testament. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (II Cor. 3:17) and "It was for freedom that Christ set us free." (Gal. 5:1)

While liberty was a central teaching, it was often misunderstood. Pall used a major part of his letter to the Corinthians, the Romans and the Galatians to instruct the brethren in the proper use of their liberty. There were many abuses. Some had turn "the grace of God into Lasciviousness." (Jude 4) There are still abuses of Christian liberty and there are still false ideas about the grace of God. Willful false doctrine and deliberate false living has never been covered by the grace of God.

Christian liberty is not freedom to sin, Peter said, "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondservants of God." (I Peter 2:16)

Two extremes are often followed in regard to doubtful things. One is legalism, the other is license.

Jewish Christians had difficulty understanding Christian liberty because they were so accustomed to legalism. Gentile Christians had difficulty with Christian liberty because of their background with license. So, both needed much teaching.

The legalistic concept is there must be a rule for everything - every act, every habit, every type of behavior must be written in black and white. They live and act by rule, rather than by the Spirit of God. The legalist is prone to make himself a list, and spirituality is determined by how well he keeps the list. It matters not what the inner person is like. Legalism stifles liberty, stifles conscience and stifles the Word. Jesus countered this thinking in the Sermon on the Mount; true being motivates True action.

But, license is just the opposite; almost anything is acceptable as long as it is not strictly forbidden in scripture. As long as conscience is free, do as you please. No restrictions, no limitations! Many then and now interpret God's love as covering any practice of man that is fulfilling.

But, Paul taught a principle that every Christian should take to heart when he said, Take care lest this liberty of yours somehow becomes a stumbling block to the weak". (I Cor. 8:9) Before we exercise our liberty even in areas not forbidden by scripture, we should consider how it will effect others.

Use your liberty, but don't abuse it by legalism of license.