Freedom in Christ

A speaker recently argued that a belief in prohibitive silence was a real threat to the freedom we have "in" Christ. Now Americans and people the world over treasure the concept of freedom, and we should. We are blessed to be a free people. But the freedom we have in America as a democracy, where each man has a voice and a vote, should not be confused with New Testament Christianity which is not a democracy but a kingdom. Only the Lord Jesus is King, and only King Jesus can make the rules. We have no vote and no legislature.

Freedom in Christ does not give us license to add to His word. We cannot, in the name of freedom, overrule the will of God. We cannot plead for two gospels, when the Lord has proclaimed there is but one (Gal. 1:6-9). We cannot plead for two baptisms, when the Lord has declared there is but one (Eph. 4:5); and we cannot say there are two bodies (or churches), when the Lord says there is but one (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23; 5:23). Freedom in Christ is not a license to add new forms of worship either.

The freedom we have "in" Christ is not a freedom to act "outside" of His will. We cannot claim we are free "in" Him, while we are pleading for things foreign to His will and outside His instructions.

Notice John 8:31-32
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Freedom in Christ is found only when one abides in the word, not when one goes outside the word to innovate whatever he finds pleasing and popular. The truth sets us free.

Humanly devised religion is a return to the things that enslave people to the world. It doesn't get very far with God (Matt. 15:14). Why should we adopt what the world thinks? Should we not go back to the Bible and do Bible things in Bible ways?

Don't be fooled into thinking that we have to be like others to be free. There is nothing out there in the religious world that surpasses New Testament Christianity. Doing things God's way sets us free from the delusions and confusions of the world and allows us to exercise a pure faith and a spiritual worship.

Let us offer to God what He desires, free from all the contamination of worldly desires. This is what makes us free, and as sons we are free indeed!

kindly,
Phil