The esteemed historian Will Durant wrote, “Since men love freedom, and the freedom of individuals in society requires some regulation of conduct, the first condition of freedom is its limitation; make it absolute and it dies in chaos. So the prime task of government is to establish order; . . .” The statement echoes Paul in Galatians 5. In verse 1 Paul declares that we have been set free by the sacrifice of Jesus. As he continues on he warns us not to use our freedom foolishly or we will end up consuming ourselves. “For you, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.” Galatians 5:13-15
Christ has set us free from the obligations of the law. Instead of the law being a standard of conduct to earn salvation, it has become an instructional tool for those of us who need to be taught how to behave in a loving manner. If I love you I will not steal from you. If I love you I will not tell bad stories about you. It is for us who are conduct challenged. In II Corinthians 5:14 Paul wrote that “the love of Christ compels us” to do the right thing.
Freedom is not license to feed out lower nature and harm others. As we can see from the above quote from Will Durant, this is not just a spiritual issue. It is a governmental issue both in kingdoms of man and also in God’s.
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 18, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org