Topical Bible: Christian Liberty: Saints should Assert

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Christian liberty is a profound and essential aspect of the believer's life, rooted in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It encompasses the freedom from the bondage of sin, the law, and human traditions, allowing believers to live in the fullness of the Spirit. This liberty is not a license for lawlessness but a call to live in righteousness and truth, empowered by the grace of God.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of Christian liberty is deeply embedded in the New Testament. In Galatians 5:1, the Apostle Paul exhorts the believers, "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." This verse underscores the liberation from the legalistic constraints of the Mosaic Law, emphasizing that Christ's sacrifice has fulfilled the law's demands, thus freeing believers to live by the Spirit.

Furthermore, in 2 Corinthians 3:17, Paul declares, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." This freedom is not merely external but internal, transforming the believer's heart and mind to align with God's will.

The Role of Conscience

Christian liberty also involves the role of conscience, as discussed in Romans 14. Paul addresses the diversity of convictions among believers, urging them to respect one another's consciences in matters of personal conviction. Romans 14:5 states, "One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." This passage highlights the importance of individual conscience in exercising Christian liberty, while maintaining unity and love within the body of Christ.

Freedom from Sin

The liberty granted to believers is primarily a freedom from the power and penalty of sin. Romans 6:18 affirms, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." This transformation signifies a shift from the dominion of sin to a life characterized by righteousness and holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Liberty and Love

Christian liberty is intrinsically linked to love. Galatians 5:13 advises, "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 verse emphasizes that true liberty is expressed through love and service to others, reflecting the selfless nature of Christ.

Asserting Christian Liberty

Believers are encouraged to assert their Christian liberty, standing firm in the freedom Christ has provided. This assertion involves rejecting legalism and human-imposed traditions that contradict the gospel's message. Colossians 2:16-17 warns, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." Here, Paul encourages believers to resist judgment based on external observances, focusing instead on the substance found in Christ.

Responsibility and Restraint

While asserting liberty, believers must exercise responsibility and restraint. 1 Corinthians 8:9 cautions, "Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." This admonition reminds believers that their actions should not cause others to falter in their faith, highlighting the balance between liberty and love for the community.

In summary, Christian liberty is a gift from God, enabling believers to live in the freedom of the Spirit, free from the constraints of sin and the law. It calls for a life of righteousness, love, and service, asserting the truth of the gospel while respecting the consciences of others.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 10:29
Conscience, I say, not your own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Easter Sunday
... of the Gospel, under cover of Christian liberty; for that ... representations and views
a Christian Church is ... and precocious, self-made saints, immediately become ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

On the Babylonish Captivity of the Church on the Babylonish ...
... CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY III ON THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY OF THE ... of God; so familiar
are these saints with Christ ... we are bound to obey, what should be done ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/iii on the babylonish captivity.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
... of saints, the lying legends of saints, the confidence ... the people of God; for what
has liberty to do ... character is to be compared to Christian brotherhood; nor ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of penance.htm

Liberty of Conscience Threatened
... once said: Heresy and unbelief are crimes; and in Christian countries, as ... despotic
now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 35 liberty of conscience.htm

The Savoy Declaration of the Congregational Churches. AD 1658.
... in the Holy Ghost's word) approved Saints, have been ... And this Christian Clemency
and indulgence in our Governors ... foundation of that Freedom and Liberty, in the ...
/.../the savoy declaration of the.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... 1] it speaks of children as "saints" and as ... only a legitimate exercise of his Christian
liberty; and they ... therefore reminds them that they too should seek to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Perseverance of Saints.
... and what arc the essential attributes of Christian character. ... While they promise
them liberty, they themselves are the ... if she have washed the saints' feet, if ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture li perseverance of saints.htm

Christian Behavior
... see how wise men and fools, saints and sinners ... more like to Israel's enemies than
Christian masters (Exodus 1 ... carnal families they have had more liberty to God's ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Introductory Essays
... that God is wonderful among His saints,' for this ... precious, how much more should
injuries, persecutions ... in the Treatise "On Christian Liberty," translated in ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/introductory essays.htm

Sanctification.
... that Christians are entering into the liberty of perfect ... of the most important points
of Christian doctrine. ... that both the sanctification of the saints and the ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xli sanctification.htm