As we come to freedom as found in Paul's epistles, we find that he is elaborating on what Jesus taught. This is powerful stuff. It is also very convicting! It is always convicting to read about how you should be living and then compare it to how you actually are living. But, rather than drag the Bible down to our level we need to let the truth transform us up to its level.
Rom 6:16-23 This is a very rich passage! Free occurs three times. But I think it can be summed up in the following three statements:
The principle: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Salvation: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
The application: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
We are now free to do this.
Romans 8:1-16 Another rich passage! Free only occurs once - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death - but the idea dominates the entire passage.
In chapter 6 he says we were servants of sin but God has set us free to be servant of righteousness. This chapter goes deeper, to the root of the problem: the law of sin. He explains that there are only two possible spiritual conditions: in the flesh or in the Spirit. The unbeliever is in the flesh because he lacks the Spirit and consequently walks after the flesh, lives a life governed by the flesh. The believer is not in the flesh but in the Spirit, because he now has the Spirit of Christ, and is to walk after the Spirit.
Here is the amazing truth that Paul is presenting. The Christian is the freest person on the planet. The unbeliever is a slave to sin and unable to please God. He is not able to do it. The believer is in a completely different spot – he is free to please God, he is able to please God, but he is also able and free to sin.
Is this not what he says in v 12-13:
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
A Christian is free to both walk after the flesh and walk after the Spirit. Freedom also has it consequences, which he clearly points out.
2 Corinthians 3: 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is another passage that deals with the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (see 1-16). This is very important to our understanding of the Bible and the gospel itself. There is life and sight and freedom in Christ.
Galatians 5:1-7
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
What has Christ freed us from? The Law. The Galatians were hearing false teaching that was telling them they needed to come under the Law in order to be pleasing to God. Paul tells them they have been made free from the law and should stand fast in that freedom. He has strong words here. If they or we return to the Law as a means of attaining righteousness he says:
Christ shall profit you nothing
Christ is become of no effect unto you
ye are fallen from grace
We have been freed from the Law and a works righteousness. we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith and all that avails for us is faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
We have been set free from slavery to sin, from the law of sin, from the Law itself. We are free! But, we are not to use this freedom to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (remember, we are so free we can do that, but such a choice has dreadful consequences: Rom 8:12-13, Gal 5:1-4 and 21; I know this does not sit well with some, but we need to let the Scriptures say what they say), instead we are to voluntarily serve one another by loving one another and walk in the Spirit. Have you noticed how often he mentions the Spirit? How essential the Holy Spirit is to living the normal Christian life? This is not merely words and philosophy, for the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Paul has so much to say about freedom that I will need another post to cover the rest. Most of part 2 will cover what he says about deliverance.
We are free! Awesome. As free we should:
yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free
by love serve one another
Walk in the Spirit
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