An overused and blatantly hypocritical phrase heard almost daily is “no one’s above the law.” But we live in a fallen world where lady justice has misplaced her blindfold. That’s not the case in God’s courtroom. Regardless, due to the ultimate Judge’s grace and mercy, Christians won’t suffer the eternal punishment our lawlessness deserves. We’ve been liberated from prosecution.
Understand mankind is cursed. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…” (Galatians 3:13). It’s easy for folks to misinterpret that verse. It certainly doesn’t mean we’re free to sin willy-nilly. Paul nipped that falsehood in the bud. “What’ll we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?“ (Romans 6:1-2).
Calvin wrote about Christian liberty, starting with God not requiring us to earn our salvation via good works. “The consciences of believers, when seeking assurance of their justification before God, should raise themselves above the law, and forget all the righteousness of the law. Since the law leaves no man righteous, either we must be excluded from all hope of justification, or it’s necessary for us to be delivered from it so completely as to not have any dependence on works.”
Does this nullify the importance of depending upon God’s moral and civil laws to learn how to think and act like Jesus? Nope. We’re to do everything possible to comply with every one of them. Paul wrote to the church: “Brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more. …For God didn’t call us to impurity but to holiness“ (1 Thessalonians 4:1,7).
Another blessing of Christian liberty is having the Holy Spirit inside who encourages us to honor our Savior by willingly obeying His commands. Of course, this entails constantly engaging in battles with our flesh. And, if we’re not careful, our defeats in some of those battles can become roadblocks. Calvin wrote, “Those who’ve made considerable progress in the way of the Lord are yet at an immense distance from perfection. Though they love God with their soul and with sincere affection of heart, they have still much of their heart and soul occupied by carnal desires which retard their progress toward God.”
Sad to admit, though I’ve been ransomed by my Lord Jesus, I’m still a lawbreaker, a sinner. If not for Christ’s sacrifice, I’d be headed for hell. I thank God for what He’s done for me. The Bible states: “Sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace“ (Romans 6:14) and “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death“ (Romans 8:1-2).
Christian liberty also rescues us from becoming slaves to empty religious rituals and rites. Calvin wrote, “Christian liberty teaches that we’re bound by no obligation before God regarding external things, which in themselves are indifferent… The knowledge of this liberty is very necessary, for without it we’ll have no tranquility of conscience, nor will there be any end of superstitions.”
A.W. Tozer wrote, “Since man’s expulsion from the Garden, religion has been an intolerable burden on the back of all mankind. But now the people of the world, bearing the heavy yoke of religion, can know the true freedom of genuine worship. God never called man to walk knee-deep in the sludge of the world, nor did He intend for man to be mired down in the traditions of men. Therefore, the Lord sets us free and opens a fountain of healing water for the wounds of the world. Yet, in spite of all this, man deliberately chooses the bondage of religion over the liberating freedom in Christ.”
Jesus asks that we believe in Him. Nothing else. He doesn’t care where we’re from or where we are now. He doesn’t care about skin color or how well off we are. Calvin wrote, “Let all men, in their respective stations, whether of poverty, of competence, or of splendor, live in the remembrance of this truth, that God confers His blessing on them for the support of life, not for luxury; and let them consider this as the law of Christian liberty, that they learn the lesson which Paul had learned when he said, ‘I’ve learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I’m instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need‘ (Philippians 4:11-12).”
Believers have been released from the onus of worrying about appearing gullible or foolish in the estimation of others. Our responsibility is to obey God, not our ego. The Holy Word is our infallible life coach. “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up“ (Romans 15:1-2). “Be careful that this liberty of yours doesn’t become a hindrance to the weak“ (1 Corinthians 8:9). “You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another“ (Galatians 5:13).
Larry Crabb wrote, “If we look only at our lives, we’ll wonder if we’re saved. If we evaluate our progress along the spiritual journey, doubts will arise. But if we learn to listen to the Spirit, we’ll know we’re Christ’s. And we’ll delight in holy fellowship with God. We’ll walk out of the courtroom and into the judge’s home. We are His children.”
What a blessing it is knowing we’re beloved children of God.
Even Christians Get the Blues 