The Liberty that is in Christ

[Grandpa]

What is the Liberty in Christ that has made us Free? What are we free from?

Galatians 5:1-26
[SUP]1[/SUP]Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
[SUP]2 [/SUP]Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
[SUP]8 [/SUP]This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[SUP]23 [/SUP]Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


This is from the Apostle Paul and it is important. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He knew as much or more about the Jewish ways than anyone else.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

free from sin

For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many into freedom from sins. Matthew 26:28
​

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 1

Stand fast in the Liberty where Christ has made us free. Do not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage.

Do not be entangled AGAIN in the yoke of bondage.

What is the yoke of bondage? Working at the law to be sinless or show your sinlessness. At some point most of us thought we were pretty good people "keeping" the law. At least I did. Before I even really read the bible I would twist the law to fit how I was living at the time.

But the Holy Spirit shows us that we aren't perfect before Him by our own work. The harder we try to be perfect before Him the more we see that we are not. This is the beginning of sorrow and shame before God. Have you ever had sorrow in your heart before God? Have you had shame before God? I did. It wasn't pleasant...

I could understand how it could make some people think they are not of His elect, or chosen. I thought that for a while. I thought that because I couldn't cause myself to be sinless before Him that I was a vessel made unto destruction. But I'm stubborn I guess and I determined to be the best vessel made unto destruction God ever made... lol

It sounds strange maybe, to some, but this yoke of bondage is designed to do just that in those who Christ has called. It is designed to show your sin, your sorrow and shame. He came not for the Righteous, but for sinners...

When we come to Christ and ask Him (plea, beg, cry out, etc..) He pulls us from this tangled mess we have gotten ourselves into. He gives us rest, taking away our sorrow and shame. He cleans us and translates us into His Kingdom. This is His Power and we don't come anywhere close to performing any of it. I'm not trying to belittle anyone or how hard they may be trying. He is God and we are not...

Colossians 1:11-14
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
[SUP]14 [/SUP]In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

None of this happens because of what we do. This is accomplished by Him. We come before Him and ask. By faith.

I wasn't even smart enough to ask for this directly. But I prayed, a lot, and read the bible asking for wisdom and revelation in the Knowledge of Him. (Eph 1:17) And He gives us abundantly more than we can ask or think. (Eph 3:20)

What is kind of funny, a side story, is I prayed this prayer for a week straight about 3 times a day. The very next week I had people from bible study and church giving me bibles and study bibles left and right. I had a stack of about 8 of them. I told the Lord, and my family, ok I get it... lol The wisdom and revelation in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is contained in His Word the bible. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand it.

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 2

If you are circumcised Christ profits you nothing.

This is a common theme by Paul. He is very careful to tell us this in a lot of different ways and places.

If you desire to go back to the way of the shadow, working at the law to show your own sinlessness, or perfection, or extra holiness, or whatever reason you come up with, you have set Christ aside and have started working in your own power.

Like you used to do before you came to Christ... As a child of the flesh...

In this way Paul shows us that we can't have it both ways. We are either children of faith and of the spirit, or we are children of bondage working to show God our "obedience", or sinlessness, or perfection, or whatever we want to call it.

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 3
For I testify to every man who is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

It is your prerogative to go back to the Law. It is your decision to go back to the shadow. Perhaps the schoolmaster didn't finish the job and there is still work to do on you.

By this we can see God's patience with us. Go back to the Law, but you must do all of it, perfectly. This should bring you back to Christ. Quicker and quicker each time.

Because no matter how much wisdom and power you think you have it is nothing before God. Your righteousness is dirty rags before Him.

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 4
Christ is become of no effect to you, you who are justified by the Law, you are fallen from Grace.

You cleansed your own heart? You think you obey the law? You think you are righteous before Him? You think you are perfect? You are just going to Go and Sin no more by your own will and power?

Then you don't need Christ. You just need you. And your righteousness and perfection. You have fallen from Grace.

You are also deceiving yourself. You're not really perfect before Him by your law keeping or your own power. You just think you are... You've brought His Law down to a level where you are keeping it in your own eyes.

Read Matthew 5 and check yourself. See if you are perfect like your Father in Heaven is Perfect.

 

[Abiding]

wait Grandpa...you have nothing there to please the pride and flesh
oh there i go again with my evil sarcasm.

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

We rely on Christ, through the Spirit. He is our Hope. He is our Righteousness. He has provided this for us. It is His Work and His Power that saves us. We know this by the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3-6
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
[SUP]4 [/SUP]According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
[SUP]5 [/SUP]Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
[SUP]6 [/SUP]To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

[Grandpa]

wait Grandpa...you have nothing there to please the pride and flesh
oh there i go again with my evil sarcasm.

Surely we can find something... lol

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Its not the way of the Jews, or the way of the Greeks. Its not by the NT or OT. Its by faith which worketh by love.

Not our faith or our love. His Love and His Faith that He freely gives to us.

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 7
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

The Galatians started off well. By faith. But then they turned to the jewish way. The works of the law.

Galatians 3:1-4
[SUP]1[/SUP] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[SUP]2 [/SUP]This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

 

[Abiding]

Surely we can find something... lol

You LOL ed me...ty

 

[Grandpa]

Verse 8
[SUP] [/SUP]This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

The Lord is not persuading you to go back to the shadow. He is persuading you to stay in the Light.

The blessing is not in the shadow. The shadow just points to the blessing. We are blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ Alone.

 

[Grandpa]

You LOL ed me...ty

You bet. Its hard to tell how serious someone is without a little lol now and then.

 

[Bookends]

Heya Grandpa, good to see you create a post!!! First thing I thought of you post was this:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Paul’s Use of His Freedom

[SUP]19 [/SUP]Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. [SUP]20 [/SUP]To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. [SUP]21 [/SUP]To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. [SUP]22 [/SUP]To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. [SUP]23 [/SUP]I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

This isn't to be mistaken as a freedom to sin, but it does give us liberty to join the things of the world to evangelize to world. And that's not to say that the things of the world are our passion, it isn't, Christ is! Example, I feel I have the freedom to enter into a bar and have a beer, but not to exceed the limit in where I'd become drunk, and perhaps the Lord would open a door for me to express the the gospel. However, I would have the freedom to enter a strip joint, but would I be strong enough not to let that environment lead me into sin, I think NOT! Thus I wouldn't dare enter a strip joint. May every man/woman enter or become whatever, whenever for the gospel's sake with a clear conscience and the Lord's guidance.

 

[PopClick]

If the Son has set you free... you are free, indeed!

Great thread.

 

[crossnote]

Heya Grandpa, good to see you create a post!!! First thing I thought of you post was this:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Paul’s Use of His Freedom

[SUP]19 [/SUP]Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. [SUP]20 [/SUP]To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. [SUP]21 [/SUP]To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. [SUP]22 [/SUP]To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. [SUP]23 [/SUP]I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

This isn't to be mistaken as a freedom to sin, but it does give us liberty to join the things of the world to evangelize to world. And that's not to say that the things of the world are our passion, it isn't, Christ is! Example, I feel I have the freedom to enter into a bar and have a beer, but not to exceed the limit in where I'd become drunk, and perhaps the Lord would open a door for me to express the the gospel. However, I would have the freedom to enter a strip joint, but would I be strong enough not to let that environment lead me into sin, I think NOT! Thus I wouldn't dare enter a strip joint. May every man/woman enter or become whatever, whenever for the gospel's sake with a clear conscience and the Lord's guidance.

I would only add...if our freedom to go into a bar causes a WEAKER brother to stumble then we ought to be restraint in that freedom.

 

[OwenHeidenreich]

free from ourselves becuase the root of all sin is selfishness

 

[4enlightment]

Liberty from Ignorance. If a person live in ignorance they depends on rules to follow, but the knowledge from God free us from it.

 

[psychomom]

Grandpa...I just love you.

Thanks for this thread.

ps--"you must spread some reputation around before giving it to Grandpa again"