Sunday, February 09, 2020

Do we really understand liberty?

Just because one can does not mean one should...
Even if your heart is free to act in a certain way --and by free, I mean unhindered by your conscience-- it does not mean it is wise to indeed do all that your heart "feels" (for lack of a better word) you ought to do.
Paul said, "'All things are lawful for me,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful for me,' but I will not be dominated by anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV)
Some occasion grace to believe everything is permissible. Such thinking totally misunderstands grace. Grace is more about receiving favor we did not / could not earn than it is about receiving permission which was never extended.
However, grace is freeing. Grace frees us from the load of guilt, but it does not free us to load on wrong.
That Paul quotes "'All things are lawful to me'" probably means it was a common saying among Corinthian believers adopted that they used to excuse their choices. Paul could not, nor would not, deny Christian freedom, but he also could not ignore Christian wisdom. Sure, we are free beings, under the greatness of grace, and we are not bound by law, but it is good to live by wisdom in the Spirit, not just license in the flesh.
So, then, will you agree, just because we can do something does not me we ought to do it?

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