The Fact of Christian Liberty
Romans 8:21 – “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
Introduction
In our text, Paul speaks explicitly of the “glorious liberty of the children of God.” It is a fact that God’s children have liberty. The next few posts have been born out of a concern for so many Christians who have liberty, but thinking it to be a mark of spirituality, they forfeit their Christian liberty. This forfeiting of Christian liberty originates often out of a heart that loves God. They love God so much that they desire to be close to Him. However, since they do not know how to draw close to God, they get rid of “things,” cease to take part in various activities, delete their Facebook accounts, and put restraints on themselves – restraints that are neither instructed nor commanded by the scripture. The “things” they are giving up to get closer to God are not sinful; but because it makes them feel spiritual, they strip away their own liberty. However, as we will see later, stripping away your own liberty does not make you any more spiritual than the one who enjoys his liberty. As a matter of fact, the Christian who enjoys his liberty is referred to as the strong Christian; the Christian who condemns himself unnecessarily is considered the weak Christian.
Some who are reading this right now are already objecting to my words because they have stripped themselves of their Christian liberty, and they do not want anyone else to have liberty either. But the liberty we have in Christ was given to us to enjoy. When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he instructed Timothy to charge them that are rich not to trust in their riches, but rather to trust in the living God. He then reminds Timothy that God richly gives us all things to enjoy (I Timothy 6:17). It is hard for those who constantly strip themselves of their liberty to enjoy anything! But God richly gives us all things to enjoy!
Of course, when I speak of Christian liberty, I am not speaking of liberty to sin. As for the individual who hears the term “Christian liberty” and automatically assumes that liberty to sin is what is meant, that person does not know anything about the Biblical doctrine of Christian liberty. So, what is meant by the term “Christian liberty”? Let us see.
Liberty from What?
It is interesting that, on the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted from the prophet Joel. Toward the end of Joel’s prophecy, Peter quotes it this way – “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). In the book of Joel, however, Joel records a slightly different wording. Joel writes, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32). Now, there is no contradiction here at all. Calling upon the name of the Lord brings salvation, and that salvation is deliverance – a setting free.
Real, Biblical salvation is deliverance. Those who have been saved have been set free! But the question now arises – set free from what? There is a host of various types of bondage from which the Christian has been set free – and these freedoms compose the sum of what is meant by the phrase “Christian liberty.”
First, it must be noted that the man who is saved by the grace of God is delivered from the bondage of corruption. Our text, Romans 8:21, speaks of the creation itself which shall one day be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Believers have already enjoyed such deliverance. When I was born the first time, I was born of corruptible seed. I was born of the flesh. The seed of which I was conceived was a corruptible seed. I was first born of a seed that is capable of dying – and this flesh will one day die. However, when I was born again, my inner man was born of an incorruptible seed – a seed that will never die. Therefore, my inner man will never die. This is called everlasting life. The liberty that the creation of God will one day enjoy is a liberty that the children of God already enjoy – the liberty from the bondage of corruption. Our text calls this liberty THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD!
Second, the child of God is delivered from the Law of Moses. Romans 7:6 declares, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Many Christians do not enjoy this freedom. They say and believe that they are under the Old Testament law. The law could never give life (Galatians 3:21). The law condemns, declaring guilt (Romans 3:19). Therefore, those who are under the law are under its guilt and condemnation. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot be bound to the law and yet be free from its guilt and condemnation. Such a state does not exist. The only way to be free from the guilt and condemnation of the law is to be free from the law itself. And such liberty has been granted to the Christian.
Third, the Christian is delivered from not only the law, but also the curse that the law brings. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Three verses earlier, Paul defines the curse of which he is speaking – “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Those who are under the law are under the curse (Galatians 3:10). And the curse is defined as the obligation to keep the whole law. Everyone I know who claims to be under the law picks and chooses what portion of the law they want to keep and what portion they want to say is fulfilled in Christ. The very law they say they are under does not permit them to do this! The very law they claim to keep says that they are under the whole law or none at all! I do not have to keep the whole because Christ kept the whole law, delivering me from the law and its curse.
Fourth, Christians are delivered from the fear of death. Hebrews 2:15 says, “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” I do not know of a greater bondage than living in fear of death. What a blessing to know that, since I have been saved, I have no need to fear death. It will be better on the other side of death than it is on this side! Only Christians have this assurance.
Fifth, Christians are delivered from sin. Matthew 1:21 says, “And thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Romans 6:18 says, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Unfortunately, many who have had an experience from the wells of salvation do not enjoy the freedom from sin. Many Christians stumble, often repeatedly, over the same obstacles. They spend their lives getting what appears to be victory over a sinful habit, only to succumb to its temptation yet again. I would tell such a believer that this does not have to be the story of your Christian walk. There is victory over sin!
Sixth, the children of God find in their salvation deliverance from men. Though many Christians do not enjoy this liberty, it is available to the redeemed. I Corinthians 9:19 says, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” Paul made himself a servant to all men, but only to win souls. Outside of winning souls, Paul was bound to no man. No man controlled what Paul preached. Unlike Matthias, Paul was not chosen by man to be an apostle (Galatians 1:1). Paul was not interested in pleasing man. Every believer has the right to enjoy this liberty. Although we should submit to the authority of man so long as it does not interfere with the authority of God (Romans 13:5), when it comes to the Christian life, we should seek to please God. It is noteworthy that, when the issue of Christian liberty arises in the New Testament, it is most always because weak Christians condemned themselves because they had broken one of the commandments of men. We will look at this further in the next post.
Last, in the package of salvation comes deliverance from this present, evil world. Look at Galatians 1:4 – “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Many Christians know little of separation from the world. The man who has been saved is a new creature in Christ, and should be different from the world around them. As a Christian, you should not look like the world. As a Christian, you should not behave as those in the world. You should not sorrow as those in the world sorrow. You should not pattern yourself after the world’s heroes. You should not entertain yourself with God-hating, Christ-hating, church-hating entertainment. Do you wish to be a soul winner? Do you wish to win your family to Christ? You will never do it until you live separated from the world. If you’re in the same muck they’re in, you have nothing to which to win them. Jude said in Jude 22, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Do you want to make a difference? You will never make a difference if you’re not different. Liberty from the pull of this world is available to, and should be enjoyed by, every Christian!
