Lesson 59
October 27, 2002
Part
3 & 4 - Newness of our Position in Christ
Freedom
as Ability to Love God and to Love One's Neighbor
True freedom in Christ is the ability to love God
with one's whole heart, soul, and mind, to be occupied with Christ and to love
one's neighbor as oneself, the application that flows from that relationship
with God through Christ.
Most are not accustomed to thinking that true
Christian freedom is God's enablement to do his will.
It is a change of masters: from bondage to the sin
nature, to bondage to Christ (Rom.
6:15-23). Freedom is based on the enablement provided by the Holy Spirit who
frees people to love God fully, unshackled by the sin nature as we formerly
were shackled by sin in Adam.
Freedom enjoyed is therefore predicated on obedience to
the will of God, living in the sphere of the will of God, therefore living a sanctified life. [1 Ths. 4:3,7-8]
Paul uses the verb "walk" to describe
the fact that the Christian life is not merely a "sign up" but a
complete course through which to pass, one's whole life lived daily.
(Rom. 6:4; 8:4; 13:13; 14:15; 1 Cor. 3:3; 7:17; 2
Cor. 4:2; 5:7; 10:2; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15; Col. 1:10; 2:6;
3:7; 4:5; 1 Thess. 2:12; 4:1, 12; 2 Thess. 3:6, 11).
Perfection is not possible, if by
"perfection" you mean sinlessness.
But it
is possible to live basically the
way God wants Christians to live.
In addition, it is not impossible to live because
the Holy Spirit is present as a constant helper and he will cause the growth
and development that are necessary if we will live by His power. The freedom that Christ has provided
guarantees success.
2. Life in the Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a central role in our life
as believers.
When the transfer was made from "in
Adam" to "in Christ" a corresponding transfer was made from
"in flesh" to "in Spirit" positionally.
We as Christians are no longer related to Adam and
the flesh, but to Christ and the Holy Spirit.