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 un-clean. 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 the day (not a 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).
This freedom however does not
give one the license to appear before God on a day/s that He has not ordained for
thus it is written: “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this
from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense (prayer)
is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of
assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons
and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary
of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of
blood” (Isaiah
1:12-15).
Please note carefully that, the
New Moons, the Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies and the sacred meetings
which the Lord says that His soul hates and cannot endure iniquity and are a
trouble to Him and He is weary of bearing them are not the Lord’s appointed
festivals: But rather the times when one comes to appear before Him on a day or
occasion which the Lord has not appointed or ordained to come and appear before
Him.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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