If you'd ask people, 'What is freedom?' you'd get many different opinions. Depending on their background, upbringing, culture and religion (atheism included!), they'll define 'freedom' in different ways. Perhaps the following sentence would sum up what many Westerners would think about freedom: 'to be able to do what I like.'
Freedom also plays a key role in the Bible. There are several passages that speak about freedom, and this in relation to both what Christ did on the cross - how He set us free - and how we are to live out this freedom. Paul wrote the following to the Galatian Christians.
Paul goes on to say that the Law is fulfilled in love others (v 14) and by the power of the Spirit, the Spirit of holiness, we can overcome sin and live according to God's will (v 16). In Romans Paul makes a similar point: as we present our bodies to God, we can be servants of righteousness rather than slaves of sin (Rom 6). Freedom, from a biblical point of view, is freedom from sin to live holy lives; not perfect, but a walk in sanctification, a heart to obey God and be changed into a life that reflects Christ's holiness more and more. Sanctifiation is God's will for every believer (1 Thess 4:3; cf., Heb 12:14).
With freedom also comes responsibility. Paul admonished us to live lives according to what is profitable to others (1 Cor 10:23) and that which imparts grace to others (Eph 4:29). In Galatians Paul made clear that freedom comes with responsibility - the responsibility to love and serve others (5:13). Godly freedom is not doing what one wants to do in a selfish and self-centred way, but to love God and people and serve them accordingly! To sum it up, let me define a worldly understanding of freedom as well as a biblical/Christian one:
With the worldly definition one can see that self is the centre, whereas the Christian understanding would place God at the centre and people as the objects of love and service; it is selfless, rather than selfish.
Another influential apostle in the Bible was John, the disciple Jesus loved. He makes clear that to love God is to keep His commandments, which are not burdensome (1 Jn 5:2-3). People who believe in Jesus as Messiah (Christ) are born of God and have within them the power to overcome (vv 1, 4-5). There is a direct link between overcome the world and obeying God's commandments. When we look at what John had to say about the 'world,' it is clear that lust, pride and greed is wrong and sinful (2:15-16), but to do the will of God is everlasting (v 17).
There is serious heresy in the world today that teaches that ther is no law, nor any commandments we are to obey. This is an extreme form of a generally accepted view that goes something like this: the Old Covenant was one of law, the New of grace. By implication, and by taking Galatians 5:18 out of context, it is said that we are under no obligation towards the Law of God. But is this what Jesus, John and Paul wrote? Paul had a very positive view of the Law (Rom 7:12, 14; 1 Tim 1:8); Jesus obeyed the Law fully and said He didn't come to abolish it (Mt 5:17ff); and John made clear that to love God is to obey His commandments (1 Jn 5:2-3). So, what is the Bible teaching?
The notion that is often refuted by an extreme grace teaching is that we are not to earn our favour from God by works. And we must uphold clearly that grace is a free gift, that cannot and must not be earned - it's the free gift of God (Rom 6:23). But the response to God's grace is the crucial factor: are we to live careless, sinful and selfish after we have received God's grace? 'May it never be!' in Paul's strong language (Rom 6:1-2). The right response to God's grace is obedience, doing that which pleases God - in the power, not of self, but of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of holiness (Rom 1:5).
We can clearly see that both grace and law are part of all covenants of God. Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David all received grace, yet God always wanted them to live according to His will. Not to earn the blessing, but as a response to His gracious election and plans. God provided Israel with the sacrifical system which brought atonement for them, forgivenss and cleansing. This is the background to the death of Christ - it is God's perfect and eternal atonement, the means of grace to humanity. 'Byt grace we are saved, by faith' (Eph 2:8). Grace is God's part, faith ours! In fact, the work of Christ is affirmed by the Law and affirms the Law (Rom 3:31). Grace is not contrary to law, only contrary to a false legalism and self-righteousness which was never God's plan.
God wants us to life freely and responsibily at the same time. The basis of freedom is Christ's work and the free gift of eternal life that comes with it (accessible by faith for anyone!); the action of freedom is obedience to God's will and word, but in the power of the Spirit and an intiminate relatioships with God. The problem with a lot of Western Christianity is that people have an intelectual, but no intimate relatioship with God, hence the absence of power to obey God.
Gandhi, the great Indian peacemaker, was a great admirer of the teachings of Christ. His problem was that the Christians didn't live up to it! He in fact stated that he likes Christ but dislikes Christians, and that if Christians lived up to the teachings of Christ, all of India would be Christian! How sad a reality, and it often comes from a wrong understanding of grace and freedom - for it lacks responsibility. It lacks the emphasis on obedience from the heart, yet it is full of legalistic, judgmental Churchianity rather than empowered and holy Christianity that demonstrates the life of Christ in purity.
The Church must understand that Christ calls us into a relationship with God, gives us perfect freedom, and empowers us to live as pleases God - this will be the lifestyle that will show the world who we truly are! (cf., Jn 13:34-35) We have to rid the world of this terribly corrupted Churchianity that distorts Christ and falsifies His teachings, and return to the truth of Scripture that sets us free! God has a glorious life for us, a life of freedom and glory, a life that will transforms society and tryly preserve it as the 'salt of the earth' (Mt 5:13).
Freedom also plays a key role in the Bible. There are several passages that speak about freedom, and this in relation to both what Christ did on the cross - how He set us free - and how we are to live out this freedom. Paul wrote the following to the Galatian Christians.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery... For you were called to freedom; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.'Christ set us free'! When Jesus died on the cross, He sets us free from sin and its power and consequences. He provided a way to be forgiven by God that was perfect, so that we can know perfect forgivenss and freedom. Jesus Himself said that to know the truth is to be set free - He is the Son who truely sets free (Jn 8:30-36). He holds the power over life and death, so He is the One who can bestow eternal life to those who believe in Him and His atonement. God won't hold anything against us, but forgive us completely - that is true freedom!
--Galatians 5:1, 13 NASB
Paul goes on to say that the Law is fulfilled in love others (v 14) and by the power of the Spirit, the Spirit of holiness, we can overcome sin and live according to God's will (v 16). In Romans Paul makes a similar point: as we present our bodies to God, we can be servants of righteousness rather than slaves of sin (Rom 6). Freedom, from a biblical point of view, is freedom from sin to live holy lives; not perfect, but a walk in sanctification, a heart to obey God and be changed into a life that reflects Christ's holiness more and more. Sanctifiation is God's will for every believer (1 Thess 4:3; cf., Heb 12:14).
With freedom also comes responsibility. Paul admonished us to live lives according to what is profitable to others (1 Cor 10:23) and that which imparts grace to others (Eph 4:29). In Galatians Paul made clear that freedom comes with responsibility - the responsibility to love and serve others (5:13). Godly freedom is not doing what one wants to do in a selfish and self-centred way, but to love God and people and serve them accordingly! To sum it up, let me define a worldly understanding of freedom as well as a biblical/Christian one:
- Worldly: freedom is to do whatever pleases a person and benefits him/herself.
- Christian: freedom is to do what is right before God, what is beneficial for others, and even what is good for ourselves.
With the worldly definition one can see that self is the centre, whereas the Christian understanding would place God at the centre and people as the objects of love and service; it is selfless, rather than selfish.
Another influential apostle in the Bible was John, the disciple Jesus loved. He makes clear that to love God is to keep His commandments, which are not burdensome (1 Jn 5:2-3). People who believe in Jesus as Messiah (Christ) are born of God and have within them the power to overcome (vv 1, 4-5). There is a direct link between overcome the world and obeying God's commandments. When we look at what John had to say about the 'world,' it is clear that lust, pride and greed is wrong and sinful (2:15-16), but to do the will of God is everlasting (v 17).
There is serious heresy in the world today that teaches that ther is no law, nor any commandments we are to obey. This is an extreme form of a generally accepted view that goes something like this: the Old Covenant was one of law, the New of grace. By implication, and by taking Galatians 5:18 out of context, it is said that we are under no obligation towards the Law of God. But is this what Jesus, John and Paul wrote? Paul had a very positive view of the Law (Rom 7:12, 14; 1 Tim 1:8); Jesus obeyed the Law fully and said He didn't come to abolish it (Mt 5:17ff); and John made clear that to love God is to obey His commandments (1 Jn 5:2-3). So, what is the Bible teaching?
The notion that is often refuted by an extreme grace teaching is that we are not to earn our favour from God by works. And we must uphold clearly that grace is a free gift, that cannot and must not be earned - it's the free gift of God (Rom 6:23). But the response to God's grace is the crucial factor: are we to live careless, sinful and selfish after we have received God's grace? 'May it never be!' in Paul's strong language (Rom 6:1-2). The right response to God's grace is obedience, doing that which pleases God - in the power, not of self, but of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of holiness (Rom 1:5).
We can clearly see that both grace and law are part of all covenants of God. Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David all received grace, yet God always wanted them to live according to His will. Not to earn the blessing, but as a response to His gracious election and plans. God provided Israel with the sacrifical system which brought atonement for them, forgivenss and cleansing. This is the background to the death of Christ - it is God's perfect and eternal atonement, the means of grace to humanity. 'Byt grace we are saved, by faith' (Eph 2:8). Grace is God's part, faith ours! In fact, the work of Christ is affirmed by the Law and affirms the Law (Rom 3:31). Grace is not contrary to law, only contrary to a false legalism and self-righteousness which was never God's plan.
God wants us to life freely and responsibily at the same time. The basis of freedom is Christ's work and the free gift of eternal life that comes with it (accessible by faith for anyone!); the action of freedom is obedience to God's will and word, but in the power of the Spirit and an intiminate relatioships with God. The problem with a lot of Western Christianity is that people have an intelectual, but no intimate relatioship with God, hence the absence of power to obey God.
Gandhi, the great Indian peacemaker, was a great admirer of the teachings of Christ. His problem was that the Christians didn't live up to it! He in fact stated that he likes Christ but dislikes Christians, and that if Christians lived up to the teachings of Christ, all of India would be Christian! How sad a reality, and it often comes from a wrong understanding of grace and freedom - for it lacks responsibility. It lacks the emphasis on obedience from the heart, yet it is full of legalistic, judgmental Churchianity rather than empowered and holy Christianity that demonstrates the life of Christ in purity.
The Church must understand that Christ calls us into a relationship with God, gives us perfect freedom, and empowers us to live as pleases God - this will be the lifestyle that will show the world who we truly are! (cf., Jn 13:34-35) We have to rid the world of this terribly corrupted Churchianity that distorts Christ and falsifies His teachings, and return to the truth of Scripture that sets us free! God has a glorious life for us, a life of freedom and glory, a life that will transforms society and tryly preserve it as the 'salt of the earth' (Mt 5:13).
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