How applicable is
the law of liberty?
The law of liberty like every
other law is applicable and has huge benefits when obeyed and huge consequences
when disobeyed. Like all other laws there is a literal and practical way by which
it is applicable and there are six (6) basic principles on how to apply it.
1
Building
one another without offending them
In
applying this first principle the first thing one should take into consideration
is the fact that it is by grace we all have been saved through faith, and that
not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not
of works, lest anyone should boast. Furthermore,
and if by grace, then it is
no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works,
it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Ephesians 2:8-9;
Romans 11:6).
In the
same token we also have to consider the fact that, we are all His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore, despite our liberty and
freedom there are certain guidelines that regulates our daily living especially
when it comes to the worship of the One and only true God and even though we
may not be breaking these guidelines ourselves but will be guilty if we approve
of those who practice them.
Therefore,
we must learn how to build one another in the faith without offending one
another for example we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore let us not
judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling
block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.”
The apostle Paul continued
admonishing us by saying; “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there
is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean,
to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you
are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom
Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the
kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit.
For he who serves Christ in these
things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the
things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do
not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure,
but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat
meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is
offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.
Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves” (Romans
14:14-22).
This principle applies not only
to what one eats and drinks but also applies to our day of worship as
emphasized by the apostle Paul who wrote saying; “Who are you to judge
another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be
made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day
above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in
his own mind.
He who observes the day, observes
it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not
observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who
does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us
lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the
Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we
are the Lord's: For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He
might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Romans 14:4-9).
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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