Title: Liberty Not License

Text: Rom 14: 17-20

Date: 6-22-08.am

Introduction:

Two weeks ago we concluded the first sermon from chapter 14 by saying that as Christians we must be wise in our discernment; discerning where to take a stand concerning what are and aren't essential doctrines of Christianity. We can never compromise the essential doctrines of our faith for the sake of harmony or unity within the church or within culture. In the book UN Christian, by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, the authors point out that Christianity is thought of in a very negative way by those known sociologically as Mosaics, those between the ages of 16 and 29. Some of that negativism comes in part from their observation of how Christians act. Our walk doesn't match our talk. And some of it is from a misconception of what Christianity is. One of their conclusions (Kinnaman is an evangelical Christian who is President of the Barna Research Group) is that "softening or reshaping the gospel is an utterly wrong way to respond to the objections people raise." (P. 33) We have to remain strong in doctrinal integrity and we have to be strong in our stance against sin and unrighteousness, we can never compromise on either of those. We can't deny things like salvation by grace through faith, the deity of Jesus, the atonement, the resurrection that Jesus is the only means of salvation for the sake of harmony. But, we also have to be faithful in living out our faith in holiness, exhibiting genuine love inside the church as well as in the world, and not be judgmental towards other believers on nonessential beliefs.

Paul's main point in chapter 14 and into 15 is unity and harmony in the church. It is about Christian liberty from justification by works. He is dealing specifically with the rituals of Judaism which caused problems throughout the early church between Jewish and Gentile believers, but making a broader application which applies to the church today. I think the passage we are looking at this morning sums up his message:

Ro 14:17-20

17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food.

NASB

Paul's concern here and in 1 Corinthians is that a misunderstanding of the nature and practice of Christian Liberty can destroy the fellowship within the church and in destroying fellowship within the church it will also damage or destroy the faith and witness of individual believers, both strong and weak, and in damaging the fellowship it will also damage the witness of the church itself.

What is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is not external things.

In verse 17 Paul wrote, "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." The kingdom of God and by extension the church which is individuals is not external things. External things don't make us a part of the church nor do they make us a part of the Kingdom of God. Coming to church doesn't make us Christians. Coming to church doesn't make us love God. Coming to church doesn't make us live moral lives. The Kingdom of God is not about obedience to the Law or living a good moral life. There are people who come to church and live moral lives but are not Christians.

Being a Christian is not about sexual purity it's about not drinking or not telling dirty jokes or using bad language it's not about not spending all night in a bar drinking with friends or not gambling or not doing drugs. But don't misunderstand that, some people do see Christian liberty in that light. I'm saved, I can't lose it so it doesn't matter what I do or how I live. That's not what eternal security is about, that's not what I'm saying that's not what Paul was saying. Doing all of those "righteous" things are good but in and of themselves they don't get you into or make you a part of the Kingdom of God.

Paul isn't talking about the future kingdom of God, at the end of time. He is talking about the present kingdom of God - the reign and rule of God in the hearts and minds of men and women. Indeed the present kingdom of God is not externals, however it is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit things which far surpass mere obedience to rituals or law.

As Christians we are truly free. We have liberty in Christ. That's the key to the entire message of the Bible, in Christ we have freedom.

Paul wrote in Eph 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. NASB

That means in Christ (or in relationship to Christ) we are free from the "legal" obligation of those things like sexual purity and high moral and ethical standards. However, we are bound to higher standards of conduct. There is a greater law written in our hearts and minds.

That's what the rule and reign of God in our hearts and minds is about. Paul wrote the Kingdom is about righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness has to do first with our relationship to God. It is His righteousness imputed to us through our faith in Jesus Christ and lived out in the world in relationship to others. Peace with God and from God again comes through that right relationship through Christ but like righteousness is lived out through our relationships with others. And joy is that attitude of calmness or satisfaction in our lives brought about by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

So while we understand the Kingdom is not externals but liberty, there are limits to our liberty. So let's look at understand a little about the limits of liberty.

The Limits of Liberty.

In verse 20 Paul wrote: Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. Our priorities as Christians are not about our individual liberty but should be those of God's Kingdom. God's will be done not ours. Christian liberty is limited so as not to destroy or damage the work of God in our lives as individuals, nor the work of God in the life of the church, nor the work of God in the world.

In our lives personally we don't want to do anything that will put us in bondage to sin.

Sin has a funny well not so funny a tragic way of taking over our lives. Sin is like alcohol or drugs, it may begin small and innocent. The popular exclusionary term in moderation. We may think it's just one time I am not going to lose my salvation and no one will know, but the danger is that it gradually takes control and then it's just one more time or one more little thing and all of a sudden it's controlling us. Our freedom in Christ is not an excuse to sin.

Look at what Paul has already said in Romans:

Ro 6:1-2

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? NASB

Ro 6:11

11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. NASB

Ro 12:1-2 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NASB

Paul wrote in 1 Co 6:12-13:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. NASB

All things are legal in regard to the obtaining of righteousness. In other words we don't have to be obedient to morals and ethics and laws to gain a right standing before God. In that sense all things are legal. However, we are not to be involved in any type of sinful activity or anything unrighteous that would be harmful to us emotionally, physically or spiritually in relationship to God or others.

Peter wrote in 1 Pe 2:16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. NASB We don't want to allow our freedom in Christ to destroy us or others or the work of the church. We are called to be salt and light in the world. And Jesus made this judgement in Mt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea.

NASB

While we want to limit our freedom so as not to tear down God's work we also want to limit our freedom so we don't do anything that doesn't build up, our relationship with God or our relationships with others or our own self-esteem. 1 Co 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. NASB

That's what Paul has been emphasizing about relationships in chapters 12 and 13 we as believers need to be building one another up rather than tearing one another down. I mentioned this last week in reference to parents but the same is true in the family of God we need to be encouragers rather than discouragers. We need to be helping one another rather than hindering one another, strengthening rather than weakening.

Building up includes obedience to God's commands out of love not constraint. We are not free from obedience but are now free to obedience because we are no long in bondage to sin. And we obey and are free to seek after righteousness, peace and joy because of love. We Love God in response to His love for us and we love our brothers and sisters in Christ and those who don't know Christ because of His great love for us. We love John wrote in 1 Jn 4:19 because he first loved us. And that love plays itself out in and through our lives.

Jesus said in Jn 14:21:

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him." NASB

Paul wrote in 2 Co 5:14a:

14 For the love of Christ controls us, NASB

John wrote in 1 Jn 2:3-6:

3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. NASB

and in 1 Jn 5:1-3:

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. NASB

Christian liberty is freedom to obey God not disobey. It is freedom to live godly lives not godless lives. It is freedom to build up not tear down. It is freedom to be loving and not hateful or hurtful, it is freedom to respect and not despise.

Do you know that kind of freedom in your life? Are you are practicing that kind of freedom in all of your relationship? It begins by surrendering all you are, all you have, all of your dreams and desires and all you hope to be to Jesus trusting Him as Lord and Savior of your life and living daily in and by His presence.