There are two philosophies that seem to be getting a lot of press these days, these philosophies are: Without Rule of Law and Excessive Rule of Law. Without Rule of Law is defined as a total collapse of society in a “mad Max” sort of situation. It is a collapse of organized government or gang rule. You see small temporary examples of this in different pockets of area’s functioning as if there was no law. People disregarding curfew and the prosecution of the officers who tried to enforce the law instead of those who broke the law for example.

The other side of the coin is the Excessive Rule of Law, where some catalyst occurs that caused the government to go to the other extreme (Corona-virus, Racial unrest, take your pick). This is when the government becomes oppressive using its power and laws to control the citizens that it is supposed to protect.

Looking at society today,

we can see the plot of George Orwell’s book 1984 playing out right in front of our eyes:

• Government surveillance in masse
• Thought Crimes
• Newspeak (elimination of negative thinking and speaking)
• The ministry of truth (the re-writing of our history)

What does all of this have to do with the Christian? These two philosophies are also used in the approach to proper Christian living principles. There are those who operate under the guise of “without rule of law” where they adopt an anything-goes attitude. They act as if just because we are saved by grace through faith and not of works, that works have no part in the Christian life. While it is true that you are saved apart from your works, the Bible clearly teaches that once you are a Christian, you are expected to conduct your life in a very specific way. We will discuss this more later but you can also check out this series that we taught about the Wrong arm of the Law.

How you live – matters

The way that you live your Christian life has a bearing on your relationship with the Lord

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:1-9

Christian liberty is not freedom to live in sin, according to the Bible living in sin is not freedom, if you live in sin you are making yourself a servant to sin, and the last time I checked, servants are not free.

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:34-36

What are we from from?

As a Christian, you have been freed from the demands of the law (Galatians 4:4). As a Christian, you don’t follow the law out of necessity, but out of love for the Lord

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:1-5

We have been made free from the demands of the Law, because Jesus fulfilled the law for us:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:17

We are free to be seen as righteous independent of the law:

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 3:21-26

We are free from the condemnation of the law:

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:21-25

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8:1-17

We are free to voluntarily obey the law:

I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Psalms 119:32

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

Psalms 119:45

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James 1:25

Christian Liberty is not

• Freedom to feed the flesh
• Freedom to hurt others
• Freedom to ignore the law

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:13-16

Christian Liberty is freedom from the bindings of the law

Christians are not under the law of Moses, instead Christians are under the law of Christ, and as such we should behave ourselves accordingly.

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.