Is "Freedom" only an abstract word and does it vary from person to person?

Tone said:

Is it fitting to discuss the concept of being free, only, in personal terms...or only in relation to society...or both?

I believe that ultimate Freedom is the reign of love... wherein no fear dwells.

My personal idea of freedom, today, is being in a position to help someone who is not free.

I know, it sounds a little fluffy and vague, but really what do you think freedom is?

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I think James is a good letter too look at about liberty as a Christian.

From that sense, I see that God bought our freedom from the slavery of sin so we are free. no longer "from" but that freedom just is, just like the I am just is.


this freedom is based on God's forgiveness, and being unforgiving or unmerciful can result in feeling like you are a slave again.

Tone said:

Is it fitting to discuss the concept of being free, only, in personal terms...or only in relation to society...or both?

I believe that ultimate Freedom is the reign of love... wherein no fear dwells.

My personal idea of freedom, today, is being in a position to help someone who is not free.

I know, it sounds a little fluffy and vague, but really what do you think freedom is?

Click to expand...

Freedom is being released from the demands of the world, flesh and the devil, and the freedom to follow the commands of Jesus, whose burden is easy and light.

Joy is freedom to me. And peace. The fruits of the spirit...joy and peace. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom...

Tone said:

it sounds a little fluffy and vague

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Yes. "fluffy and vague".

Freedom in what sense?
Free from what? Not enslaved by what?

Galatians 5:13-14
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Tone said:

Yeah, not being subject to the works of the flesh is freedom. The bondage comes in, when we have to be subject to the "lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life". His Spirit gives freedom and we are free to love others.



This is where it can get controversial. Some believe that freedom is doing whatever we want and not being "under the yoke".

Galatians 5:1
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.

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Jesus said that we are His friends if we do what He commands us to do. Those who believe they can do as they like cannot be the friends of Jesus because they have not surrendered their hearts, wills, and lives to Jesus. A person who makes a profession of Christian, continues to engage in his sins because he thinks he can do as he pleases, however religious he may appear, is not yet totally converted to Christ.

The first thing that Paul said when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus Road was "Lord, what do you want me to do?" He did not think that he could do just what he wanted. He needed to know what the Lord wanted him to do so he could comply with it. This should be the overruling desire of every genuinely converted believer.

The yoke of slavery is slavery to sin (the world, flesh and the devil). But the freedom that Jesus offers is the freedom to live in love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. It is a free choice that we make to follow Jesus and what He tells us to do. The world, flesh and devil puts us in chains to sin where we have no choice.

YOU/WE ARE IN BONDAGE AND SLAVERY ON THIS PLANET.. EVERY DAY,, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE,,,JESUS /GOD HOLY SPIRIT, THE ONLY WAY OUT. BUT WE ALL KNOW THIS,, THE ONLY WAY..AMEN

Tone said:

Yeah, not being subject to the works of the flesh is freedom. The bondage comes in, when we have to be subject to the "lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life". His Spirit gives freedom and we are free to love others.



This is where it can get controversial. Some believe that freedom is doing whatever we want and not being "under the yoke".

Galatians 5:1
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.

Click to expand...

And what is that yoke of slavery Paul is talking about?

Tone said:

Yeah, not being subject to the works of the flesh is freedom. The bondage comes in, when we have to be subject to the "lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life". His Spirit gives freedom and we are free to love others.



This is where it can get controversial. Some believe that freedom is doing whatever we want and not being "under the yoke".

Galatians 5:1
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.

Click to expand...

Some seem to believe law means freedom. I've never seen a law granting freedom. Every law I've ever seen is restrictive.

Saint Steven said:

Yes. "fluffy and vague".

Freedom in what sense?
Free from what? Not enslaved by what?

Galatians 5:13-14
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Click to expand...

I don't know much but I find this interesting -

Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

This is in support of your post. I don't understand how this means submitting to the law is liberty talked about more in chapter 5 as you post.

ace of hearts said:

This is in support of your post. I don't understand how this means submitting to the law is liberty talked about more in chapter 5 as you post.

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I don't think that is the point the Apostle is trying to make here.
He is not saying "Love your neighbor as yourself" in order to fulfill the law.
He is saying, if you "Love your neighbor as yourself", THE ENTIRE law is FULFILLED.

Meaning, if we love our neighbor we don't have to worry about the law,
because the law was fulfilled in that act of loving.
Basically, forget about the law and love your neighbor instead.

Galatians 5:13-14
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

ace of hearts said:

I don't know much but I find this interesting -

Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

This is in support of your post. I don't understand how this means submitting to the law is liberty talked about more in chapter 5 as you post.

Click to expand...

This Gal.2 passage is talking about the Circumcision Group bringing their ideas about the law into the church. They came to spy on the freedom they had, and bring them into bondage under the law. I prefer the NIV translation on this.

Galatians 2:4-5 NIV
This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.