Christian liberty is a profound theme within the New Testament, emphasizing the freedom believers have in Christ. This liberty is not merely a release from the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament but a deeper spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin and the law's condemnation. However, this liberty is not extended to the wicked, who remain devoid of such freedom due to their rejection of Christ and His redemptive work.

Nature of Christian Liberty

Christian liberty is rooted in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. In Galatians 5:1, the Apostle Paul exhorts 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 freedom is characterized by a release from the law's curse and the power of sin, enabling believers to live in the Spirit and pursue righteousness.

The Condition of the Wicked

The wicked, in contrast, are described as being in bondage to sin and devoid of true liberty. In John 8:34, Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." This enslavement to sin indicates a lack of freedom, as the wicked are unable to break free from their sinful nature without divine intervention.

Spiritual Blindness and Bondage

The wicked are also spiritually blind, unable to perceive the truth that sets one free. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul explains, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." This blindness keeps them in spiritual bondage, preventing them from experiencing the liberty found in Christ.

The Deception of False Freedom

The wicked may perceive themselves as free, but this is a deception. In 2 Peter 2:19, Peter warns, "They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." This false sense of freedom is a hallmark of the wicked, who are mastered by their own sinful desires and the deceit of the world.

Judgment and the Absence of Liberty

Ultimately, the wicked face judgment, which underscores their lack of true liberty. In Romans 6:23, Paul states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The absence of liberty is evident in the eternal consequences of sin, contrasting sharply with the eternal life and freedom offered to those in Christ.

The Call to Repentance

Despite their current state, the wicked are not beyond the reach of God's grace. The call to repentance and faith in Christ is extended to all, offering the hope of liberation from sin's bondage. In Acts 3:19, Peter urges, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away." This call highlights the potential for the wicked to move from a state of bondage to one of true Christian liberty through the transformative power of the gospel.John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 6:20
For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Objections to General Synod.
... to curtail the exercise of Christian liberty in regard ... not by this clause have given
liberty to form ... that this confession is erroneous, heretical, and wicked? ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/objections to general synod.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism
... of a wicked man, which is not less devoid of sense ... baptism, and obscures the knowledge
of Christian liberty; not to ... Oh ye most wicked Bishops and most unhappy ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of baptism.htm

Sunday Before Lent
... their hidden sense; though he may know all about Christian liberty and a ... THE NATURE
OF CHRISTIAN LOVE ... Rather it bears in patience with the wicked and the infirm ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday before lent.htm

Letter xxiii. (AD 392. )
... For as now, since the liberty of faith has come ... of bondage has been removed, no
Christian receives circumcision ... reigning with the Lord, and the wicked have been ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxiii a d 392.htm

Easter Sunday
... and wickedness"; he means whatever is evil and wicked. ... them they are not Christians,
but devoid of the ... the Gospel, under cover of Christian liberty; for that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

The Most Ancient and Most Respectable of the Christian Fathers ...
... accustomed to speak of one who is a Christian, a believer ... has endowed thee with a
two-fold liberty; for it ... of sin; because it lives there in a wicked world of ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/ii the most ancient and.htm

Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, Till it Attained a ...
... IT ATTAINED A HEIGHT BY WHICH THE LIBERTY OF THE ... But far be it from any Christian
mind to wish to ... sacred council, and yet to term it wicked, profane, nefarious ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 of the beginning.htm

Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his ...
... seeing they regard it as immeasurably more wicked to allow ... rule, it is the duty of
the Christian people to ... You will ask, What liberty of conscience will there ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 of the power.htm

ii.
... His heart was so devoid of fear and he had ... He employs them to punish the wicked and
to ... antithesis in his Treatise, Concerning Christian Liberty:' "A Christian ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/first principles of the reformation/ii.htm

General Character of Christians.
... Those who are Christ's instead of taking liberty to sin ... How far a Christian may be
influenced by remaining ... that both the righteous and the wicked, will be ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xi general character of.htm

How should Christians view religious liberty? | GotQuestions.org

Christian liberty what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.org

What is the law of liberty? | GotQuestions.org

Liberty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus