Freedom vs. Liberty
05/07/09 15:03
It is by
the grace of God that we are free. Period. It was one
of the first things that He said to man, “You
are free to eat from any tree in the Garden.”
This freedom is defined in that Adam and Eve were
unrestrained to choose to eat from any tree.
Think of it this way; they were just as free to eat from the Tree of Knowledge as they were from any other tree. But God commanded them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, for in the day that they did –they would surely die.
So, what do we have here? We have a few things that will better explain our situation with Christ and the freedom that He has placed us in.
First, Adam and Eve had freedom. Second, they were commanded not to choose from the Tree of Knowledge, so therefore, they were bound by a law. Third, because of the command, they were now subjected to temptation.
Or were they? This is where the difference between freedom and liberty is clearly seen in my opinion. Let me illustrate this way.
Let’s say we are traveling down the highway where the speed limit is posted at 45mph. This is the law and if we break the law we are going to pay the fine. Now, we have the freedom to break the law and travel faster than the posted limit, but we may be restrained by the fear of the authorities and the fine, so we remain under the speed limit. We may even keep the speed limit because we don’t want to do wrong.
This is an honorable motive but it doesn’t reveal a heart that is truly free. Let me explain. When I am driving down the road, I am free to drive faster than the law allows; I am free to keep the law and I am free to break the law. Sometimes there is the temptation to break the law, taking the chance of not getting caught. So then temptation comes to me and now I am not only bound by the law, but I am also bound by temptation. But do you see how I am being tempted?
The temptation is to use my freedom! If I want to drive faster –I can! Freedom to not obey the law is different from freedom from the law. If I am driving down that same section of road and have chosen (freely) to obey the speed limit, then I am free from the law. The law only informs me and allows me to carry out my desire to be from it.
Back to the Garden: Adam and Eve were free to eat from any of the trees –God was just informing them of the danger (consequences) of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. As the account in Genesis goes, Eve was deceived, ate some of the fruit and gave some to Adam who was with her.
Adam was now subjected to temptation and he succumbed to it. When Adam fell, he subjected himself to a lifetime of bondage and that bondage has been propagated down through all generations. Mankind would always be tempted, and when he succumbed to it, he would bind himself all the more.
True freedom just doesn’t mean you and I can do what we want. True freedom means liberty from not only the law, but also temptation to break the law. Paul tells us this is the freedom for which Christ has set us free.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
The salvation of God includes the freedom to obey Him with a willing heart. This is true liberty!
Have a great week!
Pastor Jim
Think of it this way; they were just as free to eat from the Tree of Knowledge as they were from any other tree. But God commanded them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, for in the day that they did –they would surely die.
So, what do we have here? We have a few things that will better explain our situation with Christ and the freedom that He has placed us in.
First, Adam and Eve had freedom. Second, they were commanded not to choose from the Tree of Knowledge, so therefore, they were bound by a law. Third, because of the command, they were now subjected to temptation.
Or were they? This is where the difference between freedom and liberty is clearly seen in my opinion. Let me illustrate this way.
Let’s say we are traveling down the highway where the speed limit is posted at 45mph. This is the law and if we break the law we are going to pay the fine. Now, we have the freedom to break the law and travel faster than the posted limit, but we may be restrained by the fear of the authorities and the fine, so we remain under the speed limit. We may even keep the speed limit because we don’t want to do wrong.
This is an honorable motive but it doesn’t reveal a heart that is truly free. Let me explain. When I am driving down the road, I am free to drive faster than the law allows; I am free to keep the law and I am free to break the law. Sometimes there is the temptation to break the law, taking the chance of not getting caught. So then temptation comes to me and now I am not only bound by the law, but I am also bound by temptation. But do you see how I am being tempted?
The temptation is to use my freedom! If I want to drive faster –I can! Freedom to not obey the law is different from freedom from the law. If I am driving down that same section of road and have chosen (freely) to obey the speed limit, then I am free from the law. The law only informs me and allows me to carry out my desire to be from it.
Back to the Garden: Adam and Eve were free to eat from any of the trees –God was just informing them of the danger (consequences) of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. As the account in Genesis goes, Eve was deceived, ate some of the fruit and gave some to Adam who was with her.
Adam was now subjected to temptation and he succumbed to it. When Adam fell, he subjected himself to a lifetime of bondage and that bondage has been propagated down through all generations. Mankind would always be tempted, and when he succumbed to it, he would bind himself all the more.
True freedom just doesn’t mean you and I can do what we want. True freedom means liberty from not only the law, but also temptation to break the law. Paul tells us this is the freedom for which Christ has set us free.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
The salvation of God includes the freedom to obey Him with a willing heart. This is true liberty!
Have a great week!
Pastor Jim
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