Christian Liberty

There is a distinction between what a Christian is at liberty to do and what they ought to do. While the bible repeatedly exhorts disciples to avoid sin (Romans 8:13, I Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 5:19-24, II Timothy 2:22), Christians are at liberty to sin if they so choose. The fact of remaining sin makes this apparent to any reasonable observer (I John 1:8). While God certainly has the power to prevent someone from sinning if He so chooses, it is evident that He often does not. As such we are responsible for our actions and the bible exhorts us to follow Christ in obedient discipleship as a voluntary expression of the new creation - an exercise of the regenerate will of the new man. Paul affirms this saying:

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13)

Paul makes it clear that it is entirely possible, yea even likely, that Christians may misuse their God-given liberty as an occasion to the flesh, that is, they may use liberty as an excuse for sinning. Liberty speaks of the domain of freedom one possesses within which they may willingly operate. For a Christian, that domain includes both sin and righteousness. The will of the new creation is that which inclines us to righteousness and restricts our behavior to the things we ought to do, which is always a subset of what we are at liberty to do. This is why we are warned against misusing liberty as a justification for sin.

- Elder Daniel Samons