Christian liberty can spark controversy. To legalistic thinking in the name of righteousness, any other way but its way is viewed as license (to sin). To relativistic thinking in the name of liberty, any other way but its way is viewed as legalism. But in between legalism and relativism is the liberating life of Jesus—a person, not merely a paradigm. This third grid of thinking is not a synthesis, it’s a third grid. 

Some, in rightly rejecting the emperor-styled coercion of some leaders who go beyond leading to lording, overreact and become their own emperors where every man does that which is right in his own eyes. Ironically, both have human emperors. Both errors miss the focus on the liberating life of Jesus, the real leader. 

When some address real sins that are stated as such in the written Word of God, they often get accused of legalism by those who have overreacted to real legalism. But this ignores where the Bible is clear. Embracing where the Bible is clear is not legalism, it’s faith. When others address man’s traditions that are added to the Word of God, they often get accused of license by those who only see things their way. But this ignores where the Bible is intentionally unspecified so the Holy Spirit can give personalized leadership. Embracing where the Holy Spirit guides within the boundaries of the truth He breathed out is not license, it’s faith. 

When someone ventures to address some aspect of legalistic thinking, they often get accused of license, worldliness, and opening the door to sin. Even Paul anticipated this wrong conclusion: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1), and “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?” (Romans 6:15). But Paul never budged on the truth he already stated. He explained that the truth sanctifies by faith in the Spirit of Jesus, who always leads in the paths of righteousness.

Sandwiched between legalism and relativism is the way of faith in Christ alone—Christian liberty. Jesus can and must be trusted to both lead and empower. Paul said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). You get saved by faith in Christ and you live by faith in Christ, so don’t go back to self-will and self-dependent works. Christian liberty is the freedom of faith (not works) in Christ alone. But to clarify, Paul also said, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Christian liberty is not for an opportunity to indulge the flesh in sin. Paul knew some could misuse what he said. So, he clarified, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit leads and imparts the life of the indwelling Christ. When we walk in the provision of the Spirit’s leadership and power, we experience the fruit of the Spirit rather than the works of the flesh. This is liberty in the life of Jesus, the liberating life Himself.

Christian liberty is the freedom of faith in the will and power of Jesus. 

For a thorough dealing with the law approach of legalism, the lax approach of relativism, and the life approach of the life of Jesus, read, The Liberating Life of Jesus: Finding Freedom in Christ between the Two Extremes of Law and License. 

For an exposition of this same basic truth provided in Romans 6-8, read The Gospel to Saints: The Good News of the Holy Spirit.

John Van Gelderen

John Van Gelderen

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