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The Law of Liberty

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

Protestant theologians have created an artificial divide between mercy and law-keeping, asserting that 'the law of liberty' does away with God's Law.

Liberty Under the Law

Sermon by Mark Schindler

In the pursuit of true liberty, we find a profound connection to God's law, a principle deeply rooted in the foundation of freedom. Liberty, as proclaimed by Jesus Christ, is the process of setting free, of liberating captives from the dominion of our enemy. Through Him, we are delivered from the spirit of bondage and ushered into the glorious liberty of the children of God. This liberty is not a license to live as we please, but rather a call to live as we should, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. True liberty, as defined in the Greek term "eleutheria," signifies a state of being free from control or domination. Where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is no longer domination or constraint, but freedom to live God's way of peace. This freedom is realized through Jesus Christ dwelling in us, enabling us to embrace God's way of give, rather than the way of get promoted by our adversary. Living within God's hedge of liberty under the law requires careful adherence to the spirit of the law. The blessings and freedoms of liberty from our enemy come from living through Jesus Christ with outgoing concern, not selfish desire. God's law provides the framework within which we move freely and peacefully, fulfilling all commandments in the spirit, striving to be just like Him. The concept of liberty, as seen in the Old Testament, is tied to release and freedom, often connected to the Year of Release. This liberty is also reflected in the purity and sanctity associated with God's commandments, preserving those liberated by Christ as pure for His return. Through His Holy Spirit, God grants us the ability to live the fullness of liberty under His law amidst a world of chaos, sanctifying us to worship Him in spirit and truth. We are called to appreciate the incredible privilege of living both the letter and the spirit of God's law of liberty. This law keeps us focused on consciously and conspicuously worshipping our Great God. Through Jesus Christ, we have been given real liberty under God's law and the Spirit of God to abide by it, sanctified by the pouring out of His Holy Spirit on those who will be His at His coming. As Christ declared, the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him to set us at liberty, and we are to do all the words of this law.

We are Called to Liberty

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Liberty, as understood in the context of the Days of Unleavened Bread, represents a profound spiritual release from the bondage of sin, made possible through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. These days symbolize our deliverance and sanctification, marking the beginning of a life free from sin's penalty, where Christ's righteousness is ascribed to us, enabling us to live according to God's way. Keeping God's commandments is liberating, bringing great joy and freedom rather than oppression, as His love within us stirs a desire to please Him. Obedience to God's commandments is the true expression of love, complementing the law and guiding us to do good for others. Liberty in this sense is not independence from God but a covenant blessing, maintained through faithfulness to Him. It is the joyous state of living in fellowship with God under His covenant, a supernatural gift unmerited by our actions. True liberty is found in service to God, where we are freed from captivity to created forces by becoming bound to our Creator. However, human nature often misinterprets liberty as independence, a deception promoted by satan, leading to individualism and a disregard for community. Such unrestrained liberty, or licentiousness, results in chaos and ultimately servitude, as it lacks the self-discipline necessary to maintain true freedom. Christ died to set us free from sin, not to indulge selfish desires, but to enable unselfish living. Christian liberty is not a license to act without restraint but a call to responsible service to others, reflecting the love and righteousness of God. The enemies from which God, through Christ, liberates His people are sin, satan, and death. This liberation is a gift, not an achievement, and it calls for a response of bond service to God and righteousness. The law of Christ, also the law of liberty and love, demands voluntary, selfless sacrifice for the good of humanity and the glory of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, best utilized through the responsible fulfillment of this law of love toward God and one another. Thus, liberty is not merely freedom from restraint but a freedom to serve, grounded in the covenant between God and His people.

Liberty or Independence?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Liberty, as a cherished condition, has been desperately sought by many, even unto death, reflecting a deep human yearning for release from restraint. In the biblical context, liberty implies a prior state of bondage, signifying a happy release from servitude into a life of enjoyment and satisfaction previously unattainable. The deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt exemplifies this paradigm, where God set them free to serve Him as His covenant people, promising political independence and economic prosperity contingent on their obedience to His laws. This liberty was a supernatural, unmerited gift from God, sustained as a covenant blessing only through faithfulness to Him. True liberty is not independence from God but is found precisely in His service, where release from bondage to created things comes through bondage to the Creator. However, human nature, influenced by satan, distorts this into a belief that liberty means independence from responsibility and obedience, fostering individualism. This unchecked liberty, without self-discipline, leads to licentiousness—unrestrained behavior that disregards what is right and the good of others—ultimately resulting in chaos and tyranny, a path evident in societal degeneration. Spiritually, liberty is imparted through the truth and is a gift from Jesus Christ, who by His death bought us out of bondage to sin, satan, and death. This Christian liberty, received through faith, unites us to Christ via the Spirit, bringing adoption as sons of God. Yet, it is not a license for irresponsibility; we are warned not to abuse this liberty but to use it in love and service to one another, adhering to the law of Christ. This law of liberty, rooted in love, requires voluntary self-sacrifice for the good of mankind and the glory of God, ensuring that liberty does not become a stumbling block to others. Freedom from the penalty of the law does not mean being without law toward God; the divine law, as exemplified by Christ, remains the standard for His freed bondservants. True liberty exists within limits defined by the covenant between God and man, where serving the Creator is not servitude but the very essence of freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, best used through responsible fulfillment of the law of love. This spiritual liberation, beginning with the significance of the first day of Unleavened Bread, offers an eternal liberty in the Kingdom of God, a freedom unattainable by those who reject Him and remain in bondage to sin.

Liberty Through Self-Control

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Only by using God's Spirit can we gain the self-discipline, self-mastery, and self-control to put to death the carnal pulls, giving us freedom from sin.

Loyalty

Sermon by James Beaubelle

The God-given human longing for freedom is not the pursuit of uninhibited self-will, but the disciplined, loyal use of our choices to follow God.

Psalms: Book Five (Part Six): Psalm 119 (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The keeping of the law is a practical response to God, providing us with principles for our lives, establishing our character and implanting God's values.

Narrow Is the Way

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paradoxically, becoming a slave of righteousness — maintaining the narrow way — leads to freedom, peace of mind, and ultimately, God's Kingdom.

Conscience (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Lawful behavior with a wrong attitude, motivated by pride, displaying lack of sensitivity to others or lack of wisdom, also constitutes sin.

A GPS for our Spiritual Pilgrimage

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

Since God's thoughts are higher than ours, we must keep an intimate GPS-like dialogue with our heavenly Father so we can stay on the right path to the Kingdom.