"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, AND DO NOT BE ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH A YOKE OF BONDAGE."
Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)
• Blessing comes from God on the basis of faith, not of the law.
- The law declares men guilty and imprisons them; faith sets men free to enjoy liberty in Christ.
HOWEVER, liberty is not a license: "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 5:13).
FREEDOM in Christ means freedom to produce the fruits of righteousness through a spirit-led lifestyle (Galatians 5:16-18).
- "KNOWING THAT A MAN IS NOT JUSTIFIED [declared righteous] BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW BUT BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be Justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; FOR BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW NO FLESH SHALL BE JUSTIFIED.
- "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!"
Galatians 2:16,17 (NKJV)
• We are not called to live right that we may earn salvation, but we received salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, that we may live right.
- "FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD,
- NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.
- For we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
- Some who claimed to be born-again are still living their LIFE in order to keep the law, they still observe things to do and things not to do (Colossians 2:8,18,20-23).
LOVE is the New Testament Law: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).
IF you walk in love, you have fulfilled the law.
• That said, the fact that we are justified by faith does not mean we should wallow in sin.
"I have be crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
- "What shall we say then? SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?
- CERTAINLY NOT! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
- Knowing this, our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with [rendered inoperative], THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES OF SIN.
- For he who has died has been freed from sin."
Romans 6:1,2,6,7 (NKJV)
SOME believe once you are saved, you are free to live as you like, even if the life you live is contrary to the Word of God, your salvation is still intact.
BUT that is not consistent with the teaching of the Bible.
- "For this you know, that fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
- LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU WITH EMPTY WORDS, FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS THE WRATH OF GOD COMES UPON THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE.
- Therefore do not be partakers with them."
Ephesians 5:5-7 (NKJV)
PROPONENTS of such teaching claimed that Jesus has paid for the past, present, and the future SIN of believers, thus they are free to live whichever way they want.
BELIEVERS are not saved to continue in sin, but to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:21-24).
IF you claimed to be born-again and the evidence of it is not seen in your character, the ways and manners you live, that salvation should be questionable!
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!