Freedom

You, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

We all love to point to our Christian liberty! Rightly so. After all, the bible tells us that as new covenant Christians, we are not under law but under grace. However, the question begs asking, "How are we going to use our Christian liberty?" Our passage of scripture today reminds us that we are not to use our liberty as Christians as an opportunity to gratify the desires of the flesh. Using the grace of our Lord that way tramples it. With that kind of attitude you become a disgrace to grace.

May we go deeper? If a person uses their liberty as an occasion for the flesh, are they really free? What is real freedom? Might I suggest to you that real freedom is not the freedom to do what we want to do, but the freedom to do what is right? It is only through the power of Christ that we are able to be over comers and live lives that are pleasing to Him. Those who are really free, are the ones that have experienced the transforming power of Jesus to make us new creations who thirst after righteousness. I see a huge gap between the state of the person I just described and the person who is making excuses for sin. Do you see it?

Do not use your freedom in Christ as a justification for vice. Let your freedom in Christ empower you to be free from vice. If the son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.