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Perfect Law of Liberty
October 11, 2015
The law given by Christ is the perfect law of liberty. It frees us from the ordinances and rituals of the Law of Moses. It frees us from a set of rules. It frees us to serve one another in love, not because we have to, but because we want to! - Bernie Parsons
Perfect Law of Liberty
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 10-11-2015
Presented to Load church of Christ on 10-18-2015
We have liberty in Christ Jesus, and many who profess to follow Him have
not understood that truth.
Liberty from the Law of Moses
The Law of Moses was given to a reluctant citizenry in the kingdom of
God. The law of freedom in Christ is given to a willing citizenry of
God’s kingdom.
Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath
made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall
profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a
debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified
by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none
otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment,
whosoever he be."
Hebrews 9:8 "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the
holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle
was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered
both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal
ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to
say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption
for us."
2 Corinthians 3:3 “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to
be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but
with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy
tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of
ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the
letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth
life."
Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the
middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby:"
Colossians 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you
all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it."
Romans 7:5 "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which
were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto
death.
6 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."
Liberty to Serve God By Serving One Another
By being freed from keeping a set of ordinances, we are free to serve
God willingly.
Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only
use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one
another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not
consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust
of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do
the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
1 Corinthians 9:19 "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made
myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to
them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them
that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law
to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are
without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof
with you."
Liberty Must Not Be A Stumblingblock
Freedom in Christ allows us to serve one another, not damage one
another.
1 Corinthians 8:8 "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we
eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a
stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the
idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be
emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom
Christ died?"
The Law of Liberty Transforms Us
We look into Christ’s law of liberty for our spiritual selves similarly
to looking into a mirror for our physical selves. When we see something
that needs cleaned up, we do that. That results in our becoming more
like Christ.
James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the
work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is liberty.
