CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. 1 Cor 8-11; Rom 14-15

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1 CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 1 Cor 8-11; Rom 14-15

2 What is Christian Liberty? What exactly is Christian Liberty? Thoughts? Someone said to me that they believe in our circles RB circles we understand and grasp Christian Liberty? Thoughts? There are different ways Christian Liberty is defined in the Bible One way liberty is explained in the Word is that Christians been freed from the penalty of sin by faith in Jesus Christ

3 Christian Liberty? Free from Sin John 8:31 36 (NASB95) 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. 33 They answered Him, We are Abraham s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, You will become free? 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed Romans 6:23 (NASB95) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

4 Christian Liberty? Free from Sin s Power Christian Liberty can also refers to the idea of being free from the power of sin by faith in Jesus as the Lord of our character and conduct Romans 6:5 6 (NASB95) 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin Romans 6:14 (NASB95) 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace

5 Christian Liberty? Free from OT Law Christian Liberty is also used to describe the truth that Christians are free from the Ceremonial and Civil law of the OT. What does all this mean? Thoughts? The idea here is that as NT believers we understand that the law is our tutor which exposes sin in our life, but cannot "forgive" our sin Romans 3:20 22 (NASB95) because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction

6 Christian Liberty? Free from Others Law Finally, Christian liberty also means that Christians are free from other people s Law As Christian s we are free to enjoy this world and partake of its goodness as long as we don t violate 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB95) Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God Of course 1 Cor 10:31 is a loaded statement. What do I mean by this? Thoughts? Romans 14:12 16 (NASB95) So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil

7 What is Christian Liberty? When it comes to daily living, there is a large part of life that is not specifically directed by revelation in God's Word. Christian liberty deals particularly in the use of/not use of things. It deals with a whole range of matters of opinion that as Christians we wrestle with We need to find the balance. Christians who tend to promote liberties can fall into an undisciplined and loose lifestyle Christians who tend to limit liberties can fall into legalistic thinking and become people who are no longer defined by What they believe but by What they are against This can cause people to become Grace Deniers

8 What Does Our Confession Say The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their!eedom!om the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigor and curse of the law, and in their being delivered!om this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin,!om the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and ever-lasting damnation: as also in their!ee access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and wi$ing mind What does this mean? Put this in your own words. Thoughts? It tells us that Christian liberty is a special Christian inheritance which flows from the Gospel providing freedom from the power and corruption and guilt and condemnation due to sin

9 What Does Our Confession Say A$ which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their!eedom!om the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fu$er communications of the!ee Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of. ( Galatians 3:13; Galatians 1:4; Acts 26:18; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 8:15; Luke 1:73-75; 1 John 4:18; Galatians 3:9, 14; John 7:38, 39; Hebrews 10:19-21 ) What is this saying? OwnWords? Thoughts? Acts 10 makes it clear that our relationship to the Ceremonial Law is different the the Saints of the OT

10 What Does Our Confession Say We live in the days when the fullness of God's is revealed in Christ The Holy Spirit has been abundantly poured out on all believers We are now able to eat and drink, and do whatever we do to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31) We no longer need to "abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth, for every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (I Tim. 4:3-5) At the end of the day this is saying that no one can tell you that your freedom and peace with God rests in faith in Christ plus the keeping the law. In fact we would say standing against us here makes you an enemy of the Gospel

11 What Does Our Confession Say God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath le' it!ee!om the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also. ( James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19, 29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:20, 22, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24 ) Thoughts? Own Words? Basically you, man, have no right over my conscience. Like Luther s famous quote Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so o'en contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I wi$ not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me

12 What Does Our Confession Say They who upon pretense of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction, so they who$y destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of a$ our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, a$ the days of our lives. ( Romans 6:1, 2; Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:18, 21 ) Thoughts? Own Words? Christian Liberty is not a license to sin. We are not free to pick and choose what to believe and obey from the Word Romans 6:1 2 (NASB95) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?