It's your freedom

[setfreeandforgivin]

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
(Joh 8:36)

Feb 4 2015

Freedom is an abstract concept it means many things to many people, what you believe about your freedom has an effect on others, and like some kind of flu your freedom can become extremely contagious.

The level of freedom one walks in is dependent on the choices one makes…

Freedom can really become a place of bondage for many, yet, freedom can lead a people to greatness. Freedom is such an abstract concept that few really understand what free to choose really means.

We as believers are free to choose what boxes we live in, Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not profitable.” With freedom there is a responsibility to make sure that our freedom isn’t used as an excuse to take away another’s freedom; we will be held accountable for the things we choose to do with the freedom Jesus gave to us.

Pray about it…

 

[Bramwell]

Freedom is a unique concept. In many ways it's a paradox, in that the more we seek to hold onto our "freedom" and do our own thing, the more of a slave (to greed, pride, and sin) we become. But when we choose to let go of our freedom for Christ, and choose to become His slave, the freer we become in reality!

The truth is that we have so much freedom in Christ that it's scary for most Christians to consider. But, as mentioned above, we must also be careful not to abuse our freedoms or use it selfishly.

May we come to a greater understanding of God's freedom and liberty in our lives, and realize that only in surrending our freedom to Christ can we truly be made free.

 

[Inkfingers]

The carnal is a narrow vision of the world.
The spirit gives a wider vision, that is a releasing from the bondage of the temporal carnal into the eternal spirit.

 

[Bramwell]

Good point, Inkfingers. A guess a question that comes to mind is how do we best move away from our carnal nature and into the spiritual mind God wants us to hold? Personally, I think the best way to do this is by immersing ourselves in the teachings of Jesus... essentially being born again?

What would you suggest as the best way to more from carnality to spirituality?

 

[Inkfingers]

Good point, Inkfingers. A guess a question that comes to mind is how do we best move away from our carnal nature and into the spiritual mind God wants us to hold? Personally, I think the best way to do this is by immersing ourselves in the teachings of Jesus... essentially being born again?

What would you suggest as the best way to more from carnality to spirituality?

You are asking a Calvinist how "we" can "do" something in regards to this?

Okay, that aside, the short answer is that we move from the carnal to the spiritual when God draws to do so. Its a matter of when God makes us born again by his gift of grace and faith that lets us recognise one-ness in and with Christ (and our being the body and temple of God on earth). With that, we begin to identify more with the eternal-spiritual rather than the temporal-carnal.

 

[Job8]

May we come to a greater understanding of God's freedom and liberty in our lives, and realize that only in surrending our freedom to Christ can we truly be made free.

Exactly. Fear keeps people in bondage. God's perfect love "casteth out fear".

God sets us free so that we can be effective in (1) becoming more like Christ, (2) bringing others to Christ through the Gospel, (3) helping others grow in Christ, (4) bringing help and healing to those that are hurting, and (5) above all worshipping God in Spirit and in truth. FREEDOM = LOVING AND SERVING GOD AND MAN.

 

[Bramwell]

Hi InkFingers,

I'm not a huge fan of labels, so I hope you don't mind if I pose my questions to you as an individual (as opposed to a representative of Calvinism).

It seems like you're saying the movement away from the carnal and toward the spiritual happens when God leads. I guess my question is, what can WE do to help facilitate that? Jesus talks about things we can do (e.g. pray, fast, or help the poor - Matthew 6) which RESULT in God rewarding us. Do you think this sort of cause and effect dynamic can apply to an issue like moving from carnality to spirituality?

 

[Inkfingers]

Hi InkFingers,

I'm not a huge fan of labels, so I hope you don't mind if I pose my questions to you as an individual (as opposed to a representative of Calvinism).

That's okay. I'm just aware that this non-denom land, rather than Calvin-land, so am endeavouring not to preach Calvinism at you in my answers. But then I am a Calvinist because I am a Determinist, so I hope that people don't mistake my teaching Determinism for a preaching of Calvinism. Just best to put all cards on the table.

It seems like you're saying the movement away from the carnal and toward the spiritual happens when God leads. I guess my question is, what can WE do to help facilitate that? Jesus talks about things we can do (e.g. pray, fast, or help the poor - Matthew 6) which RESULT in God rewarding us. Do you think this sort of cause and effect dynamic can apply to an issue like moving from carnality to spirituality?

Cause and effect applies to everything. It is a foundational rule of the universe without which there is neither order, nor reason, nor structure, no existence itself. Without cause and effect there is only chaos; or, more accurately, there would be nothing.

So yes, there is certainly a "cause and effect dynamic" that applies to us moving from the carnal to the spiritual. Whether that includes "pray, fast, or help the poor" depends on the situation...

For example, if we focus on the suffering of the poor we may actually be reinforcing carnality by seeing them through a carnal-temporal lens rather than through a spiritual-eternal lens. What I mean here is if we identify them with their flesh, we reinforce carnality, but if we identify them with the spirit, we reinforce spirituality. So don't feed them because they are hungry, feed them because they are your brothers in God - the point of feeding them is not to feed their body, but to teach them that we are all one in God. If you feed them to feed their body, you reinforce carnality. If you feed them because we are one in God, you reinforce spirituality.

That's why Jesus says "love one another" and "all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Love your brother as yourself because you are all one in God.

Do you understand what I mean? Or am I being as clear as mud?

 

[dayhiker]

Freedom in Christ has been one of the important things about my Christianity since I started reading the Bible as a teenager. Several times I've had preaching effect me in a way that I turned to obeying law and each time I felt the Holy Spirit move away from me.

I think I've learned that lesson not and I never want to go back there. So to be spiritual to me is to love God and to love people. Christianity, being like Christ, etc is that simple to me these days. The joy I find in the Lord has been amazing in living that simply for Christ.

 

[Andry]

If we are not absolutely free to say "no", then there's no value in our "yes".

IOW, in the absence of total and absolute freedom, our obedience to God is simply compliance.

 

[gideons300]

Freedom is a unique concept. In many ways it's a paradox, in that the more we seek to hold onto our "freedom" and do our own thing, the more of a slave (to greed, pride, and sin) we become. But when we choose to let go of our freedom for Christ, and choose to become His slave, the freer we become in reality!

The truth is that we have so much freedom in Christ that it's scary for most Christians to consider. But, as mentioned above, we must also be careful not to abuse our freedoms or use it selfishly.

May we come to a greater understanding of God's freedom and liberty in our lives, and realize that only in surrending our freedom to Christ can we truly be made free.

There is great wisdom and depth in your words. In our journey to absolute surrender, the very last item we are called on to offer up is our free will. It is then we go from servant to bond servant, choosing willingly to be eternal servants to His will for us. How can one come to such a drastic conclusion? Only by our knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that His will for us is good, perfect and above all, He will make it acceptable to us.

Blessings,

Gideon

 

[parsley]

I've always loved the song, "Make Me a Captive, Lord." It juxtaposes the desire to live a full life in Him, with the day-to-day submission to His ways. Humbling ourselves and leaning on Him for support.

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.

(Must be Leominster)
Make Me A Captive, Lord | HymnPod