3:17 How is this liberty Paul refers to here defined?
3:17 How is this liberty Paul refers to here defined?
Liberty is defined as freedom from captivity, slavery, imprisonment or despotic control by others. For Christians it is the gift of Christ who by His death ransomed them from bondage to Satan, sin, the condemnation of the Old Covenant law, and death (CP Jn 1:29; 2Cor 5:21; Ga 3:13; Tit 2:11-14; 1Pe 1:18-19; 1Jn 2:2; 3:8 and Rev 5:9-10 with Jn 3:16; 8:31-32; Ro 4:6-8; 6:6-7, 17-18, 22-23; 8:1-4; Col 1:12-14).
Liberty also means that Christians are free from the need to do works of righteousness for salvation (CP Ro 3:20-26; 4:1-8; 9:31-32; Ga 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; 2Ti 1:8-10; Tit 3:3-5). Christians do works of righteousness because they are saved - not to be saved (CP Mt 5:14-16; Eph 2:10; 2Ti 3:16-17; Tit 2:7-14; 3:14, Jas 2:14-18).
Liberty is also the removal of the Spiritual veil of disobedience and unbelief that prevents one from seeing the glory of God in Christ (CP Isa 25:6-7 with 2Cor 3:16, 18). Christians must never use their liberty however as a license to indulge fleshly desires, or do anything that could be a stumbling block for other Christians (CP Ro 14:1-7; 13-23; 1Cor 6:12; 8:9; 10:23; Ga 5:13; 1Pe 2:13-17).
Liberty also points to creation's future deliverance from decay and imperfection when God's children are redeemed and glorified (CP Ro 8:21-23).