What does the Bible say about christian liberty?
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The Bible teaches that Christian liberty is freedom in Christ from sin’s condemning power and from human rules, so that believers may gladly serve God and neighbor in love. Galatians 5:1, 13 calls Christians to stand firm in freedom without using it for self-indulgence. In matters not commanded or forbidden, believers may exercise liberty with gratitude, yet love limits personal rights when they might harm another’s conscience or spiritual good, as Romans 14:1-23 and 1 Corinthians 8-10 teach. All things may be lawful, but not all build up. Christian freedom is therefore not autonomy, but willing obedience to Christ, doing all for God’s glory.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
- 1 Peter 2:16
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
- Galatians 5:1
Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be brought under the power of anything.
- James 1:25
But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
- Romans 14:1-23
[1] Now receive one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. [2] One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has received him. [4] Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. [5] One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. [6] He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn't eat, to the Lord he doesn't eat, and gives God thanks. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. [8] For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'" [12] So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. [13] Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling. [14] I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. [16] Then don't let your good be slandered, [17] for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. [20] Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. [21] It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak. [22] Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves. [23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. (14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, (14:25) but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; (14:26) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up.
- 2 Peter 2:19
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
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