- "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, AND DO NOT BE ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH A YOKE OF BONDAGE.
- 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 (NKJV)
• Some practical tips for freedom have been shared in some of the previous articles posted.
IN THIS piece I want to be building on that, I want to emphasize that it is through the practice of the biblical principles that you experience total freedom and remains in it.
LIVING by the principles of the Bible guarantees a total freedom.
- We should not use the liberty or freedom we have in Christ as an opportunity for the flesh, which some who claimed to be born-again are doing.
- The first verse of the chapter 5 of the book of Galatians says: "DO NOT BE ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH A YOKE OF BONDAGE."
IT means someone who claims to be free from sin, the bondage of Satan, or be born-again, can still be entangled If he or she put their hands in what a Christian supposed not to do. - Some who believe the believers can be carefree in their disposition, in the way they behave, are not walking in line with the Bible.
SOME proponents of the erroneous teaching used to substantiate their point with the Bible passage that says nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39).
35 WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written:
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG;
WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 FOR I AM PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD."
Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV)
• We should always interpret the Scriptures correctly, and Scriptures should be used to interpret other Scriptures.
YOU cannot take a fragment, a part, of a particular passage of the Bible to support or justify the negative things you are doing.
- Apostle Paul in the passage was talking about his commitments, and that of other believers, that whatever they may be passing through THEY remain undeterred, that they would not give up their faith, they would not stop serving God, come what may (Romans 8:35,38,39).
HE was saying they were being killed for the sake of Christ and the Gospel (Romans 8:36).
HE was not talking about someone who is living in Sin and then claiming that Nothing can separate him or her from God through Jesus Christ. - Nothing would separate a believer WHO walks in the light of the Word of God, from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
- However, someone WHO is living contrary to the Word of God is already separated from the love of God: "BUT SHE [he] WHO LIVES IN PLEASURE [indulgence] IS DEAD WHILE SHE [he] LIVES" (1 Timothy 5:6).
READ: John 3:18-21 - The wrong interpretation given to the passage says: once you are accepted by God, through Jesus Christ, you can live whichever way you like and your salvation or relationship with God would still be intact—since nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
- But this is not consistent with other passages of the Bible, especially the New Testament.
JESUS CHRIST Himself says: "YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU" (John 15:14).
DOES someone who is living in the blatant Sin obeying His commandments?
DOES He command us, His disciples, to live in Sin?
APOSTLE Paul says in the Book of Colossians 3:1,2,5,6:
"1 If then you were raised with Christ, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 5 THEREFORE PUT TO DEATH YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE ON THE EARTH: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING UPON THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE." - Paul said because of the sins mentioned in verse 5 of Colossians 3 the WRATH of God is coming on the sons and daughters of disobedience.
READ: Romans 6:1-14,18,19; Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:17-32; 5:7-11; 1 Peter 1:14-17; 2:11,12; 4:17,18
Ephesians 5:7–11 (NKJV): 7 THEREFORE DO NOT BE PARTAKERS WITH THEM.
8 For you were once darkness, BUT NOW YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD. WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 AND HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, BUT RATHER EXPOSE THEM."
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED