One of the most profound statements by Paul is the one he shares with the folks in Galatians: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with teh yoke of bondage"--Gal 5:1. The liberty entailed in this verse is one amazing word, because it postulates this notion of freedom that can only be found in and through God, validated by His Son, Jesus Christ. There are several factors that pertain to freedom, indeed, there is the sense of freedom that is realized by considering the Cross more potent and amazing and revelatory in nature, over the law. Paul stressed this aspect emphatically in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor 3.1ff). He even went so far to emphazise that his main concern for the most part is being right with the Cross (1 Cor 2.2). Paul, in order to dispense the potency of the Cross over the law, shared that freedom is realized through the Cross. Second, Paul again shared that the cost of serving Christ is freedom, but now, in a different sense. It was articulated in the Roman epistle that "When [people] were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness" (Rom 6.20) essentially highlighting the cost of serving Christ is freedom--only in this sense, it is freedom from self and its pleasures. Finally, Paul espouses yet another aspect of freedom for Christians: freedom to serve Christ without fear of anything--: which the apostle reveals profoundly in several of his epistles (see. esp. Romans 14; 1 Cor 8). Consider this from Paul, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Cor 8.9)--reveals how Christians have been affecting and imposing their will and philosophies on others (see. Col 2.6-10). I love the fact that despite all of our differences, economically, interllectually, etc., we coalesce as one people freed by Christ--so we can be free of desires, and in turn, serve Him freely. How amazing indeed.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Freedom?
One of the most profound statements by Paul is the one he shares with the folks in Galatians: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with teh yoke of bondage"--Gal 5:1. The liberty entailed in this verse is one amazing word, because it postulates this notion of freedom that can only be found in and through God, validated by His Son, Jesus Christ. There are several factors that pertain to freedom, indeed, there is the sense of freedom that is realized by considering the Cross more potent and amazing and revelatory in nature, over the law. Paul stressed this aspect emphatically in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor 3.1ff). He even went so far to emphazise that his main concern for the most part is being right with the Cross (1 Cor 2.2). Paul, in order to dispense the potency of the Cross over the law, shared that freedom is realized through the Cross. Second, Paul again shared that the cost of serving Christ is freedom, but now, in a different sense. It was articulated in the Roman epistle that "When [people] were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness" (Rom 6.20) essentially highlighting the cost of serving Christ is freedom--only in this sense, it is freedom from self and its pleasures. Finally, Paul espouses yet another aspect of freedom for Christians: freedom to serve Christ without fear of anything--: which the apostle reveals profoundly in several of his epistles (see. esp. Romans 14; 1 Cor 8). Consider this from Paul, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Cor 8.9)--reveals how Christians have been affecting and imposing their will and philosophies on others (see. Col 2.6-10). I love the fact that despite all of our differences, economically, interllectually, etc., we coalesce as one people freed by Christ--so we can be free of desires, and in turn, serve Him freely. How amazing indeed.
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