Are we using liberty as a pretext for wickedness
Another major concern for the
church, the body of Christ is that of knowing how to stand fast in the liberty
by which Christ has made us free as instructed by the apostle Paul saying; “Stand
fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be
entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” He further instructed us saying; “For
you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians
5:1.13).
Not knowing how to stand fast in
this liberty is the downfall of many sincere devoted believers and resulting in
many using this liberty as an opportunity to satisfy the flesh and following
the customs and traditions of men instead of using this liberty to express
their love, reverence and gratitude to the Most High in thanksgiving for what
He has done and continues to do for humanity.
Under
the dispensation of the old covenant the law had dominion over a man as long as
he lives, but in our new dispensation since Jesus Christ died and paid the penalty
of sin in or stead, the law no longer dominion over us as explained by the
apostle Paul who wrote. “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through
the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as
through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation,
even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting
in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans
5:17-19).
The
law and sin no longer has dominion over us because Jesus Christ fulfilled the
just requirements of the law by not succumbing to sin and paid the penalty of
sin in full for humanity but it did not eradicate the law nor made it obsolete:
For according to the apostle Paul; “What then? Shall we sin because we are not
under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you
present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans
6:15-16),
The
apostle Paul gave more clarification regarding the present status of the law by
stating; “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the
contrary, we establish the law. “Furthermore, it is clearly stated that, “(For
until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
And: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us”…If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His
word is not in us” (Romans 3:31; 5:13; 1John 1:8, 10).
So obviously, God’s laws are
still in effect because it is clearly stated that, “Whoever commits sin also
commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” And why should we be given the
admonition saying; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And, “My little
children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone
sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He
Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for
the whole world” (1John 3:4; 1John 2:1-2).
So the reason why sin does not
have dominion over us it is not because the law is redundant and it is no
longer in force but rather, it is because there is forgiveness if we confess
our sins and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. Therefore, we
should not use the grace of God and the liberty that we have as a pretext to
disobey the laws of God and spending our time in the flesh fulfilling our
fleshly desires and submitting ourselves to the customs and traditions of men.
To be continued, stay tuned
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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