[Biblemat] A) CALL TO LIBERTY

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

CALL TO LIBERTY

     It has been said, "The Cross of Christ is our Statue of Lib-
erty!"  In Jesus Christ we are free from sin, both its guilt and
penalty (Rom. 6:22), and  we are free from the Law of Moses
(Rom. 7:1-6).  Jesus died on the cross to set all of mankind
free (Rom. 5:18).  So, we can see how the Cross of Christ is 
our Statue of Liberty.  Paul wrote, "and by Him to reconcile
all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, 
having made peace through the blood of
His cross" (Col. 1:20).

     Liberty in Christ calls for a law that we are to follow.  We
must stand fast in the freedom that Christ has given us.  And,
we need to keep in mind that we will be judged by the law of
liberty.  Our society reminds us that many want pure freedom
without any kind of restrictions.  That is not the liberty that
Jesus offers!  Compare society's notion with this statement
of Paul, "And having been set free from sin, you became slav-
es of righteousness" (Rom. 6:18).

     Christians live under the "perfect law of liberty," continu-
ing in it and doing good works (Jas. 1:25).  Jesus said, "And
you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"
(Jno. 8:32).  The Law of Moses was a works/faith based law.
Jews were in bondage to this Law, and this Law offered no 
freedom from sin and death.  Both Jew and Gentile are called
to liberty under the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,"
which "has made us us free from the law of sin and death"
(Rom. 8:2).  This New Testament law of liberty is a grace/faith
based law (Gal. 3:22-29).  Therefore, the cross of Christ means a law of 
liberty by which we live and by which we are
blessed!

     There is a calling for Christians to stand fast in the liberty
by which Christ has made us free, and not to embrace again
the Law of Moses (i.e. yoke of bondage, Gal. 5:1).  Also, the
Lord warns them not to use their freedom to sin (1 Cor. 8:9; 10: 29; Gal. 
2:4; 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:16).  The blessing of liberty
brings great responsibility.  Unfortunately freedom allows a
person to do good or evil.  That is why God warns the child of God to keep 
his liberty in check under the guidance of 
God's righteousness.

     The apostle James writes, "So speak and so do as those
who will be judged by the law of liberty" (Jas. 2:12).  As child-
ren in Christ heeding the call to liberty, God desires that we
bring forth fruit to holiness in order for us to receive everlast-
ing life (Rom. 6:22).

     A law of liberty guides God's call to freedom by which the
child of God must stand and by which he will receive judg-
ment!     ------- Ron Drumm.  (We need to realize, as Gentiles,
that we were never under the Law of Moses therefore the law
of liberty did not free us from it, but we were under the law of
sin and death, proferred by Satan himself.  It is from the beg-
garly elements of this world that we as Gentiles were set free.
The Jews were the ones set free from the Law of Moses by
the blood of Christ, JWS).
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