Topical Bible: Christian Liberty: Called the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God

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Topical Encyclopedia

Christian Liberty, often referred to as the "Glorious Liberty of the Children of God," is a profound concept within Christian theology that emphasizes the freedom believers have in Christ. This liberty is not merely a release from the bondage of sin but also an invitation to live a life that reflects the transformative power of the Gospel.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of Christian Liberty is rooted in several key passages of Scripture. In Romans 8:21, the Apostle Paul speaks of this liberty: "that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" . This verse highlights the eschatological hope that believers, along with all creation, will experience complete liberation from the corruption of sin.

Galatians 5:1 further underscores this theme: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery" . Here, Paul exhorts the Galatian church to embrace the freedom they have in Christ, warning them against returning to the legalistic practices that once enslaved them.

Freedom from Sin and the Law

Christian Liberty involves freedom from the dominion of sin. Romans 6:14 declares, "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" . This freedom is not a license to sin but a call to live under the grace of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to pursue righteousness.

Moreover, Christian Liberty includes freedom from the ceremonial and civil laws of the Old Testament, which were fulfilled in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 states, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ" . Believers are no longer bound by these regulations, as they find their fulfillment in Jesus.

Liberty to Serve and Love

Christian Liberty is not solely about personal freedom; it is also about the freedom to serve others in love. Galatians 5:13 reminds believers, "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love" . This liberty empowers Christians to live selflessly, reflecting the love of Christ in their interactions with others.

Conscience and Christian Liberty

The exercise of Christian Liberty must be guided by a well-informed conscience. Romans 14:22-23 advises, "Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin" . Believers are encouraged to act according to their convictions, ensuring that their actions are rooted in faith and do not cause others to stumble.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer's experience of Christian Liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 proclaims, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" . The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in the freedom that Christ has secured, guiding them into all truth and enabling them to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

Conclusion

Christian Liberty, as the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God, is a multifaceted doctrine that encompasses freedom from sin, the law, and the constraints of the flesh. It is a call to live in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ, serving others in love and walking in the Spirit. This liberty is both a present reality and a future hope, as believers anticipate the full realization of their freedom in the coming kingdom of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 8:21
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On Christian Liberty
... by Monetarius and Carolastadius, who obliged Christian magistrates to ... of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the ... of adoption, and is called "the redemption ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 20 on christian liberty.htm

Christian Casuistry.
... "Art thou called," he says ... it is now, to be possessed of the highest liberty even
under ... It many times occurred that Christian men found themselves placed under ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xiii christian casuistry.htm

Twentieth Day. Holiness and Liberty.
... BE YE HOLY, AS I AM HOLY. Most glorious God! ... 'Where the Spirit is, there is liberty.'.
4. This liberty is in love. 'Ye were called for freedom; only use not ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twentieth day holiness and liberty.htm

The Late Work of God in North America
... The slave must be called to do this, and ... He will superadd to Christian liberty, liberty
from sin, true ... sin, and bringing them into "the glorious liberty of the ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 131 the late work.htm

Concerning Christian Liberty
... Thus He presents to Himself a glorious bride, without ... We are certainly called so
from Christ, who is ... attained, and thus utterly do away with Christian liberty. ...
/.../luther/concerning christian liberty/concerning christian liberty.htm

Concerning Christian Liberty
... Thus he presents to himself a glorious bride, without ... We are certainly called so
from Christ, who is ... attained, and thus utterly do away with Christian liberty. ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning christian liberty.htm

The Christian Honoring God by his Dying Behavior.
... or Prayer, suited to the case of a Dying Christian. ... becomes a child of Abraham, who
being called of thee ... chains, and calling me to the glorious liberty of the ...
/.../chapter xxx the christian honoring.htm

Fourth Sunday after Trinity Redemption of the Creatures.
... THE CHRISTIAN'S GLORY TO BE REVEALED ... I am unworthy to be called the child of God,
for ... delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/fourth sunday after trinity redemption.htm

"For as Many as are Led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of ...
... put his own Spirit within his own children, to be a ... last work, but know that you
are called in this ... to come out of yourselves into this glorious liberty of the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxvi for as many.htm

The Christian --A Debtor
... blessed hope, and, therefore, he called them "brethren ... names are celebrated in every
Christian land as ... the Scriptures, for maintaining liberty, for glorifying ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the christiana debtor.htm