Liberty In Christ - Part 5
Galatians 5:1
“1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Romans 3:23
“23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Every mortal human being born into this world is born a lost sinner. Every one commits sins because we are born with a sin nature. No matter how hard we try we cannot change our hearts. There are some programs that help some people gain a measure of change in their actions, but the heart is still the same old wicked heart.
The born again Christian has been given a new nature.
John 5:24
“24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
The born again Christian is passed from death unto life. This is a work of God, not of man. This is what liberty is all about. It is freedom from the bondage of sin and freedom to serve God. This liberty is a beautiful thing. It is a precious thing. It was given freely to all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Man was created by God to glorify Him. Man was created to live free from sin. Adam chose to sin and thus he also brought death upon all men. Jesus Christ provided forgiveness of sin and eternal life through His finished sacrifice. He left Heaven’s glory, willingly became a man, even a servant made in the likeness of men. He alone provides the means for man to be at liberty today. That liberty is a reality because in Christ we are justified freely.
John 1:12
“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
This verse tells us that as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God . . . No lost sinner can be a son of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Here is liberty. The unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This list covers all lost sinners. Verse 11 gives us the good news. It says “and such were some of you”. Notice it is past tense. Those who are saved, have been delivered from that bondage of sin. They have been given liberty. How did this happen? In Galatians 5:1 we read that it is because of Christ.