Freedom and liberty are common themes that are discussed in this country. In fact, those ideas are what the founding of this country are based on. So, if we’re free in this country, why do we need all these laws and restrictions on our behavior? What’s with all the laws?
I think about the U. S. Constitution. It started out with a select number of rules and regulations. It provides confines within which our government and society can function. If you look at all the articles, it provides specific structures for different functions of government. The theme running through much of the Constitution is to place restrictions on Government, but ensure freedoms for the people. Amendments were added as time progressed to add restrictions or protect rights of the citizens. I think this is the difference in free societies and oppressive societies. In free societies all things are lawful unless prohibited by the state. In more oppressive societies nothing is lawful unless allowed by the state. I think we often don’t notice the big difference that makes.
The reality is, the laws are there for good or bad. It’s how they’re applied that matters. I think we often take that for granted in this country. And if we’ve never been to any other countries, the stark contrast isn’t really apparent. Maybe some foreign travel would be warranted for that reason alone. I myself, haven’t travelled outside of the United States. I wonder sometimes if it would be good for me to visit some other countries for that reason. We have a lot to be thankful for here and I know I am not as thankful as I often should be.
I think what’s often overlooked is that freedom and liberty, by definition, can’t exist without certain restrictions and limitations. Freedom and liberty only exist in a clearly defined space. Freedom and liberty aren’t ‘anything goes’. That is the definition of anarchy. And no society is pure anarchy today or it would have long since imploded. Even the worst of societies today have some law and order.
If you think about it, it’s the law and government, and rule of law we have in this country that allow for a robust economy. I believe that’s why, in a lot of countries, their economies aren’t very strong. It’s difficult for people to have confidence to start a new business if they don’t believe there are any laws there to protect them or their rights. They could start a new business one day and just have someone take it all from them the next, and there’s nothing they could do about it. That’s what a stable government and the rule of law provides in a free society. It gives us confidence in the knowledge that we have something backing us up as a free citizen. We don’t have to wonder whether there’s any recourse for us if we are slighted or wronged by someone else.
I was thinking about this topic and this verse came to mind. AV Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” I believe this verse accurately illustrates that when we are under a righteous government and leadership, we all benefit. So, it is when we experience salvation. But when you have an oppressive leader, or form of government, no one is going to benefit from that, or be happy.
Paul shows for us in Galatians that God has provided liberty for us in Christ. We have freedom once we come to Him and accept the free gift of salvation. AV Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” The great thing is that we have a freedom and liberty in Christ. You might say, “Really, I thought it would be constricting?” It’s not, though, because we are no longer under bondage to sin. We are free to live for Him. Put another way, we are now free to do as we ought, not do whatever we want. It says, then, not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Paul was talking here to ‘Judaizers’ who thought you still had to follow religious law to be saved. Christ has set us free, so that we can follow the law in Him.
AV Galatians 5:18 says, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” This further tells us that we are to be led by the Spirit of God. What does it mean, then, that we are not under the law? Well, it just means that, when we are led by the Spirit, we will automatically fulfill the law. We will act and behave in right ways. We won’t sin because the Holy Spirit cannot lead us to sin. So, following His direction we are now fulfilling the law.
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AV Romans 2:14 says, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:” This further amplifies this concept for us. The Gentiles are defined as anyone outside the Jewish community. They were learning to live right by living according to their regenerate spirit. They didn’t necessarily know the law but were automatically fulfilling it by the direction of the Holy Spirit.
AV 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Just to make it clear, Paul wasn’t saying, here, that he could do anything he wanted to do. What he was saying is that he can do many things within the confines of right behavior. Some of those things, though, weren’t necessarily wrong, but they just weren’t profitable for him. They weren’t fruitful endeavors.
Putting this all together gives us a better understanding of freedom and liberty in the Biblical sense. We have a freedom and liberty in Christ that we can execute on a daily basis in our lives, when we are led by the Spirit. This is a result of the new birth.
AV Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
AV Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” The great thing is that we have a freedom and liberty in Christ. You might say, “Really, I thought it would be constricting?”
AV Galatians 5:18 says, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
AV Romans 2:14 says, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:”
AV 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”