Although Christians have been set free from condemnation by grace, they remain under an obligation to be obedient to God. Abuses of Christian freedom result from a failure to take responsibilities towards God seriously.
Christian freedom can be abused
Believers are freed from condemnation
Romans 8:1 See also Isaiah 50:8–9; Romans 8:33–39; Colossians 1:22; Revelation 1:5
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Sin need not enslave believers
John 8:34–36 See also Romans 6:16–18, Romans 7:14–25; 1 Corinthians 7:22–23; 2 Peter 2:19
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Believers must resist sin
Romans 6:12, Romans 6:14 See also Hebrews 12:1–2; 1 John 5:16–18
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
The false idea that grace gives believers the freedom to sin
Romans 6:1–2, Romans 6:15 See also Romans 3:5–8; 1 Corinthians 10:23; Galatians 2:17–21
What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!
The dangers of abusing Christian freedom
Becoming a stumbling-block to others
1 Corinthians 8:9–12 See also Romans 15:1–3
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Indulging oneself
Galatians 5:13 See also Romans 14:1–18
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
Using freedom to cover up evil
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Examples of abuse of Christian freedom
Falling back into deliberate sin
See also Romans 6:1–2; Hebrews 12:1; 1 John 3:6, 1 John 5:16–18
Disobedience towards God
1 John 3:4; 2 Corinthians 10:6; Ephesians 5:6
Selfishness
1 John 3:17 See also Luke 6:32–34
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
Eating food sacrificed to idols
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.