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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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THE
CONCEPT OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY (Romans 14;
1 Corinthians) 2/1/09 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I.
UNDERSTAND THE
CONCEPT OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
Outline of
Romans “GOD’S GOSPEL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” I.
Introduction: Righteousness (Justification) By Faith Alone
(1:1-17) I.
Sin: Righteousness Impoverished (1:18-3:20) II. Salvation:
Righteousness Imputed (3:21-5:21) III. Sanctification: Righteousness Imparted (6-8) IV. Sovereignty:
Righteousness Insured (9-11) V. Service:
Righteousness Implemented (12-15:13) VI. Conclusion:
(15:14-16:27) B.
Explanation of
Christian Liberty from Ro 14:1 1. Chapter 14 of Romans deals with another very
important practical matter. It deals with the concept of Christian Liberty.
Knowing about the believer’s Christian liberty and knowing the biblical way
to exercise it among other believers, is a way in which righteousness is
implemented. 2. The believer has Christian liberty in the sense
that, having been forgiven and possessing salvation, he is no longer bound to
the Law (Ro 7:6). In other words, the Law is no longer standing over the
believer in condemnation, for Christ nailed the Law and its condemnation to
the cross (Col 2:14). Except for the moral aspect of the Law, the believer
does not have to follow the ceremonial and ritualistic laws. In this sense,
the believer has liberty. The believer is free from sin’s power (Ro 6:4),
free from condemnation (Ro 8:1), and free from any form of legalism (Col 2:16,
20). 3. The primary context of Christian Liberty centered
around the Jewish and Gentile Christian. On the one hand, the Jewish believer
might have struggled with discarding certain rites and observances of holy days;
while on the other hand, Gentile believers might have been repulsed with
anything remotely associated with pagan rituals and customs such as
purchasing and eating meat, which were from pagan sacrifices. 4. Furthermore, there are other similar areas in life
considered “amoral,” that is, neither moral nor immoral. The Greeks had a
word for such categories called, adiáphora
and meant “indifferent things” or things that have no particular moral
distinction. These are the matters of conscience, faith, and Christian
liberty. C.
Definition of
Christian Liberty 1. …under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged
in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish
Church was subjected, … and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of
God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of (Westminster
Confession 20:1). 2. Christian freedoms are simply those areas of life, faith and
practice which are not explicitly commanded, or given to us as a clear model
from Scripture. (Constitution of the Sovereign Grace Bible Church) 3. Christian
liberty involves practices not covered in Scripture by a moral absolute that
either commands or forbids them. Such activities, scripturally speaking, are
morally indifferent. Still, because of social and cultural background,
individuals may find such practices offensive. (Feinberg & Huxley, Ethics for a Brave New
World, pg. 43) D.
Synopsis of
Christian Liberty from Romans 14 1. Proposition:
Accept those weak in the faith and do not judge (1) a) Example #1:
Meat sacrificed to idols (2-4) b) Example #2:
Observance of Jewish holy days (5-6) c) Explanation: The believer is accountable unto the Lord
(7-12). 2. Conclusion:
Liberty must not cause a brother to stumble (13) a) Explanation:
Liberty must not harm other believers (14-18) b) Explanation:
Liberty must build up other believers (19-23) E.
Exposition of
Christian Liberty from Romans 14:1 1. Accept Those Weak in the Faith (1a) a) Paul first speaks of the one who is weak (asthenéō – without
strength, lit. bodily ailment – 2Co 12:10; fig. spiritually weak) in the faith. This is not so much a Christian who
is weak in the characteristic of faith, as it is a Christian who is immature
or ungrounded in the Christian faith (tê
pístei – with the article). They have not come to a full
understanding of Christian doctrine and liberty in regard to food and
observance of days (and other areas). “Weak” would not always suggest an
inferior Christian. The weak were most likely weak because of prior
associations they had before they were believers (Judaism, paganism, etc.). b) However, the mature, who were strong in Christian
doctrine and liberty, were to accept those who were weak. “Accept” (Pres mid imper - proslambanō), literally says that they “must keep on receiving the weak to themselves.” In other
words, they must continually welcome the weak with open arms. 2. Do Not Dispute Over Differing Opinions (1b) a) If the mature are truly mature, they will not pass
judgment on the weaker Christian. b) The mature were not to receive the weak so that they
could dispute with them about their weakness in the faith. “Passing judgment”
(diákrisis
– the act of judgment) suggests
disputing over differences concerning “indifferent things” (adiáphora). At that point, the
mature would cease to be mature. c) The reason the mature are not to pass judgment on
the weak in regard to Christian Liberty is that eating meat sacrificed to
idols is considered indifferent. Eating or not eating food will not make us
better, worse, or more spiritual (1Co 8:8). II.
RECOGNIZE THE
DIFFICULTY OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
Not everything
in the Christian life is revealed in Scripture. Sometimes questions about the
Christian life are not easy to answer. For instance, on the question of
eating meat sacrificed to idols, Paul answers in three different ways
depending on the situation; yes, no, and maybe. 1. Yes, you may eat meat sacrificed to idols (1Co 8:4). 2. No, you may eat meat sacrificed to idols (1Co
10:20-21). 3. Maybe, you may eat meat sacrificed to idols (1Co
10:25-28). B.
Christian
Liberty must be thought through and each situation must be weighed. There are
numerous questions for determining the exercise of Christian Liberty that can
be derived from Romans 14. By those questions ,a believer is guided in his
Christian liberty. We will discuss those questions next week. III.
GUARD FROM THE
ABUSE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
However, the
believer must be very careful that he does not abuse his Christian liberty. The
following are basics safeguards against abusing our Christian liberty: 1. A believer must make sure he is not violating clear
Scriptural principles (cp. 1Ti 5:23 cp. Ep 5:18). 2. The believer is commanded to examine his life and
abstain from every form of evil (1Th 5:21-22). 3. The believer is cautioned by Scripture not to use
his freedom in Christ as a smokescreen for sin (Ga 5:13). 4. Another overriding major principle is that a
believer’s Christian liberty does not become a stumbling block for other
Christians (1Co 8:9). IV.
EMBRACE THE
POINT OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
Grace,
Forgiveness, Freedom (not freedom to do whatever we want, but freedom to
serve God and others. B.
Enjoy your
Christian Liberty ENJOYMENT . It is those areas of the Christian life, which God chooses
to be silent on in order to produce the diversity necessary to the joy and
beauty of the Body of Christ, the Church. These areas are of course, bound to and guided by the direct,
clear and explicit commands and models
given in the Scripture and never in violation. C.
Accept the weak
brother, knowing that weakness could mean a prior association. D.
Do not judge
and dispute, forcing your opinion on your Christian freedom. E.
Make sure you
are living by the principles of God and not using it as a smoke screen to sin.
Never become a stumbling block STUMBLING BLOCK . Should one of these areas---or others like it violate such a
command, then it ceases to be a freedom and immediately becomes sin. |
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