biblical meaning of freedom essay

4 Things the Bible Says About Freedom

By BGEA Admin • June 29, 2020 • Topics: Holidays , Lifestyle

As the United States of America celebrates Independence Day on July 4, it’s worth noting the nation was founded upon the idea that God created human beings to be free. The Declaration of Independence states that people “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

But what is “liberty,” exactly? Is freedom based upon the country where you live, or can it have a deeper meaning?

Here are some key ideas from the Bible about freedom—including how to find true freedom in your life.

1. People have been searching for it for thousands of years.

The quest for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Just three chapters into the story of God’s creation, humanity gave up its freedom by choosing to rebel against God. From that time forward, the perfect freedom God created in the Garden of Eden was gone, and the long-term effects were both physical and spiritual.

The Old Testament of the Bible records how God’s people lost their physical freedom time and again as various empires overtook them (most notably the Egyptians, as recorded in the book of Exodus).

The loss of physical freedom was often tied to spiritual disobedience like worshiping false gods. But time and again, the one true God forgave His people and rescued them. When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He was foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus Christ, who came to free humanity from sin—the spiritual slavery that leads to death.

Today, many people are living in spiritual slavery without realizing it. They chase false gods of money, success, personal comfort and romantic love—only to realize they still have an emptiness that can’t be filled by any of those things .

>> Everyone worships something. Read Billy Graham’s short answer about the definition of an idol.

2. God’s answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus Christ.

When Jesus began his short period of ministry on the earth, He announced He was the One that God’s people had been waiting for since the fall of humanity. He did this by reading a particular passage from the book of Isaiah—a passage his listeners knew was referring to the Messiah, or the Savior of the world.

The words had been written hundreds of years earlier and spoke of a new freedom that was coming in the future. When Jesus stood up to read, He was saying the future had arrived. Liberty would come through Him.

“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘ Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:17-21, emphasis added).

>> Read Billy Graham’s short devotion, “Truth Brings Freedom.”

3. Jesus came to free us from death, sin and anything that enslaves us.

The core message of the Christian faith—the Gospel—is that Jesus Christ rescues us from the slavery of sin and offers true freedom in this life and beyond. This is what Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life ” (John 3:16).

The Good News—the best news ever—is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted upon us at the end of our lives for the evil things we’ve thought and done.

While Christ followers still battle with sin, they are no longer slaves to it. Through the power of Christ, His people can be set free from the bondage of greed, vanity, pride, pornography, addiction , abusive behavior, gluttony, selfishness—and any other sin under the sun. Here’s what Jesus said about the freedom He offers:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” ( John 8:31-32).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).

>> Watch Billy Graham’s powerful message, “Truth and Freedom,” from his 1969 New York City Crusade.

4. God gives us freedom to choose our own path.

God created human beings, not robots. We don’t have to accept the freedom He offers us through Jesus Christ. He gives each person the free will to accept or reject His salvation. But the Bible warns that hell is a real place where real people end up when they knowingly reject the truth.

Likewise, those who choose Christ are not forced to obey Him at every turn. But God makes it clear: the best life is one that’s devoted to honoring Him. As the Apostle Paul explained to some of the first Christians:

“’All things are lawful for me,’” but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

>> What is “the judgment,” and why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Listen to Billy Graham’s message .

Final thoughts on freedom

From cover to cover, God’s Word points to freedom in Christ. And God doesn’t leave us wondering how to grab hold of the freedom He offers. It starts with acknowledging our brokenness—and admitting we are slaves to sin. And it ends with choosing Jesus and following Him daily. Only He can break the bonds of slavery and lead us to true freedom, now and forever.

Choose Jesus today, and find out what true freedom feels like .

Read Today's Devotion

He is alive.

July 16, 2020

What Is The Biblical Perspective On Freedom?

written by Tamara Chamberlain

We all want to be free. I can’t think of anyone who would disagree with that. But it seems like everyone’s definition of true freedom is different.

Is freedom the right to own land? To make your own choices? To drive whatever speed limit you feel appropriate? To wear or not wear a mask? To speak your mind on any topic in any setting? What is freedom?

There’s recently been a lot of talk about guarding the freedoms given to Americans. Unfortunately, in the debate of whether or not “they” are taking away your rights, we often lose the true meaning of liberty. Right now, freedom means the benefits of the individual and the ability to do what pleases him or her.

This isn’t the freedom we read about in scripture. And the Bible is all about freedom. In fact, it says that Jesus came for the very sake of true liberty. Yet I don’t think Jesus would be standing with the current cries for a particular brand of freedom.

Jesus is all about freedom. So it’s important that we understand the kind of freedom we should truly be fighting for. Here are three truths to help us develop a biblical understanding of freedom.

1. Christians experience freedom from sin.

When we’re talking about freedom, it’s important to understand what we’re free from. Here’s what Paul has to say about it in Romans.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:22)

There’s one thing that holds every single person on this earth captive and enslaved. It doesn’t have any bias towards geography, race, age, or language. It’s sin. Each and every person who has ever walked this earth can relate to the bondage of sin. No matter how hard you work or how educated you become, you can’t outrun sin. It is the destroyer of all things and the taker of lives.

This is what Jesus sacrificed his life to free you from. When Jesus first began his ministry, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth and read scripture. The passage he read was significant because it revealed what his mission is.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)

This is what Jesus came to bring, but it wasn’t in the way they expected it. Their physical situations didn’t immediately change, but their spiritual situations did. You see, the poor didn’t instantly become stacked with cash and the people suffering in prison didn’t run free that night. But freedom was declared.

Certainly, Jesus will bring the fullness of liberty, but even now we walk in freedom. It is the liberty of everlasting life. It is the freedom to live an abundant life even if your physical circumstances don’t change.

The truest form of liberty isn’t dependent upon your location or what’s physically happening around you. It’s freedom for those things to not control your joy and to rob you of the rich life Jesus has for you. Freedom isn’t about the right to free speech, owning your own property, or going about your day however you see fit.

Freedom is about your eternal state being changed and rewritten . It’s about redeeming you from the weight of the dirtiest and darkest thought you’ve ever had. It’s about so much more than making you comfortable.

2. Your freedom is for the good of others.

While we’ve been saved from the eternal weight of sin, the freedom that Jesus has given us is also meant to be used for something.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13)

Many of us view freedom as an individual benefit, but that runs counter to how scripture describes freedom. The most beautiful and truest form of freedom is that you would have the ability to better love and serve others. At the heart of the freedom Jesus intended for us is living out his command to care for others.

I recently spoke with a dentist who explained the reason it’s standard protocol for him to wear a mask while working. He informed me that it had nothing to do with his own benefit, but it’s a measure of care he takes for his patients. As he works within the close personal space of another person, the mask acts as a barrier between him and his patient. When you’re talking and leaning over someone it’s very likely that you might unknowingly have saliva or even secretion from your nose fall out onto the other person. So as an act of care for his patients he wears a mask. Even though there is no medical benefit to himself personally.

Paul’s warning to the church of Galatia is that there is a temptation to see their liberty as an opportunity to fulfill the desires of their flesh. An opportunity to fulfill their personal desires and justify it in their freedom given by Christ.

Paul knows this is happening, so he reminds them that their liberty isn’t a pass to indulge in their own selfishness but needs to be used to love others. They are no longer bound to the law, but that doesn’t mean the law doesn’t matter. Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. So as you walk by the Spirit and live in the freedom of Jesus to love others you are fulfilling the law.

Freedom in Jesus has always been about your ability to better love others.

So as we live in a time when it feels like your freedoms are being challenged, I encourage you to stop and think about the kind of liberty you are fighting for. Is it for the benefit of your own desires or for others?

3. Freedom comes with responsibility.

As we understand what we’re free from and what we’re free for , what we begin to realize is that freedom really is a responsibility.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

In the church of Corinth there was a lot of sin and ungodliness happening among believers. One of their arguments was that they were free in Jesus and were thus allowed to do anything. Paul reminds them that just because they are able to act in a certain way doesn’t mean exercising that measure of freedom is beneficial.

The purpose behind the freedom Jesus has given you is that it would be used for his glory. As we desire to be more like Jesus, we have to start viewing our freedom as a tool for his glory, rather than a reason to push forward our own agenda.

The Christian life has always been about laying your life down in surrender to Jesus. Even in our liberty, we must surrender the way we would like to use that freedom at the feet of Jesus. Because what we have been given is powerful and we must care for it responsibly.

Use your liberty wisely.

Our freedom is a gift and with every gift Jesus gives we must not squander it or use it foolishly. When biblical freedom is viewed more as a responsibility and less as something we deserve we will care for it better.

There will be moments when your personal liberty is challenged and that’s uncomfortable. The desire to fight back and push forward your freedom in spite of who it’s benefiting is a natural response. But Jesus wants us to use our freedom for the benefit and love of others and not for our personal desires.

Biblical freedom is far more about loving others and living a life of godliness than it is about exercising the power to carry out your own desires.

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Blog / What Does Biblical Freedom Really Mean?

What Does Biblical Freedom Really Mean?

Karrie Garcia: Biblical freedom allows us to reclaim what the Enemy has robbed from us so we can live the story of who God created us to be.

I was taught that God wants us to live freely, but I never understood what that kind of freedom meant or felt like. It seemed like a good idea in theory, but elusive—I had no idea how to grab a hold of it. Granted, there were seasons of my life when I felt free but really wasn’t.

If freedom meant being carefree and uninhibited, that kind of freedom was mine during the years I was addicted to drugs (more on that in my book ). I was free to make the decisions I wanted and do whatever made me feel good in the moment, but that freedom never brought me peace. I was free but not fully alive. I was enslaved to my own freedom—which was really counterfeit freedom.

Biblical Freedom

So what does biblical freedom mean? The freedom God offers throughout Scripture is freedom from the enslaving power of sin in our lives. The Enemy uses sin to obstruct our relationship with God, keeping us from experiencing abundant life in God. Biblical freedom allows us to reclaim what the Enemy has robbed from us so we can live the story of who God created us to be.

By contrast, worldly freedom is the ability to do what we want, when we want. When Adam and Eve were in Eden, they were free to choose whether to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. But choosing to eat from it brought consequences—death.

Paul gives us a clear idea of this whole freedom thing and defines what biblical freedom truly means and doesn’t mean. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12 , “ ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.”

What does this mean for you? This means Jesus set you free so you can stand firm in his power to live a life that is free and fully alive, not so you can be bound to the things of this earth. He wants you awakened to a life that can hold both hurt and hope. A life that cries out in grief but can whisper gratitude in the same breath.

This kind of freedom allows you to have faith in Christ but still experience human fears. You can bring them both before the cross, where his grace, love, and mercy can cover you and empower you.

Addressing Counterfeit Freedom

There’s a not-so-fun part of finding freedom, though. If you want to be truly free, you must first recognize the places where you have settled for counterfeit freedom. You must awaken to the reality that parts of your story have been hijacked by an Enemy who wants you to believe that freedom lies in your power to choose, rather than through the transformation of your heart.

Once you recognize where this Enemy has attacked your story, you can begin the work of reclaiming those places so you can experience the life abundant and return to who you were created to be.

The Hope of Redemption

We all come with stories—some good, some bad, and some really hard. Our deepest desire is to be known and loved, but our stories often include times when we were not known for who we really are and definitely were not fully loved. And yet we can’t escape the belief that maybe, just maybe, there’s hope for our stories, that maybe our lives can be redeemed and we can emerge as the free little ones we once were.

Our spirits hold a curiosity around hope. Even if that hope has sunk within us, it’s still there, calling to us, speaking of what was and what could be. This longing comes from the desire to create and dream and play. It’s as if our spirits know life wasn’t supposed to be this way—we weren’t made for pain and despair. We were designed for something greater. Our spirits long for Eden.

Our spirits long for the goodness and intimacy they were created to experience. They long for the wonder of the unknown and the mystery of what could be. Our spirits seem to know something our brains don’t—that we were made for abundant life—but our brains won’t let us engage because of fear of disappointment or failure or rejection. It’s our spirits that keep leading us to the reckless hope of trying again.

All it takes to keep going is a willingness to be honest, to invite God into the story, and to allow some trustworthy people to witness your story in a way that enables your heart to be seen and held. Something dynamic and supernatural begins to happen. Life starts to have color. The puzzle pieces of your broken story come together. You are awakened to a God who sees you in the hard and the holy, and you realize you are loved.

God meets the great longing of your soul within the recesses of the stories you bear—which he wants to redeem.

Free and Fully Alive: Reclaiming the Story of Who You Were Created to Be

A dynamic, practical guide to embracing your past and discovering a deeper connection to yourself, God, and others so you can reclaim who God created you to be.

Many of us yearn for a sense of purpose, but we wonder how we can overcome the trauma and mistakes of our past. We keep doing and doing for God, hoping to erase our story so we can find our true calling.

Free and Fully Alive is a powerful reminder that our stories hold the key to our true purpose, and it’s who we are in those stories, not what we do, that is the secret to living the abundant life God promises.

As author Karrie Garcia draws on her own experiences and her expertise as a life coach, she shows us why God’s redemptive purpose for our lives doesn’t begin once we’re free from pain, and as we are vulnerable with God, ourselves, and others, we find that we are already who God created us to be.

A vibrant guide to getting unstuck, Free and Fully Alive equips you to:

Ditch the behavior modification strategies and focus on true heart transformation
Stop chasing external achievements when what you long for is internal change
Silence that inner critic and find the voice of truth through the Word of God
Realize that God’s love for you has nothing to do with all you accomplish today
Understand that your past does not disqualify you from God’s purpose

Feel fully alive in the story you’re living. You are meant to be here. In fact, that’s the greatest purpose of all.

The book Free and Fully Alive is published by Zondervan Books, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.

Karrie Garcia is a pastor, licensed life coach, and CEO. She inspires change in others by boldly sharing her journey to freedom and by using her training in the area of psychology to help others connect their minds with their bodies for a holistic approach to overall wellness. Karrie is currently working toward her Training Certificate Level III at The Allender Center, a program addressing trauma-focused narrative therapy taught by leading Christian psychologist, Dr. Dan Allender.

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What is Christian Freedom (and What It’s not)

More by wyatt.

Christian freedom played a central role during the Reformation. Martin Luther wrote his famous 1520 pamphlet On Christian Freedom, showing how God justifies us and so gives us a free conscience. John Calvin called Christian freedom or liberty a summary of evangelical doctrine ( Inst . 3.19).

Since God has justified us, no earthly power can directly bind the conscience of a believer . Certainly, God grants a certain authority to parents and governors (Eph 6:5; Rom 13). In this sense, our consciences are bound to God’s general command to obey our parents or leaders (Inst. 4.10.5). But the point is that justification by faith means we have a free conscience since God alone condemns or justifies (Rom 8:1).

As so often happens today, some people during the Reformation confused Christian freedom or liberty with political liberty. Others argued that freedom meant we obey no laws—whether civil or divine. Some wanted to deconstruct all human laws and reconstruct solely mosaic laws over a state. If these opinions seem familiar, they are. Today, we often make similar errors.

Christian freedom means that no person can condemn us if Christ is for us

As fallible humans, we often mistake Christian freedom for civil freedom or by thinking our freedom means we do not obey divine or human laws whatsoever (along with many other like errors). To clarify the biblical and reformed teaching on Christian freedom, this article will look at Andreas Rivetus’s disputation on Christian freedom in the justly famous Leiden Synopsis .

The Leiden Synopsis came into being during the years of 1620–1625 as a commentary of sorts on the Synod of Dort in 1618. It represents a biblical and orthodox position on various matters of theology. In other words, the synopsis has the advantage of summarizing the prior one-hundred years of reformed thinking on the important teaching of Christian Freedom.

Christian Freedom means a free conscience before God by justification

Christian Freedom refers to “spiritual freedom,” explains Rivetus. While the language of freedom or liberty borrows from the political sphere, reformed theologians used the word freedom by analogy to explain our spiritual freedom in Christ.

Particularly, reformed theologians emphasized that when we believe in Jesus for our salvation, God justifies us and objectively frees our conscience from condemnation. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Since God alone justifies, then no one can bind our conscience except God.

This is the doctrine of Christian Freedom that the Reformers rediscovered. No scruple or religious observance apart from God’s Word can bind our conscience. And therefore many of the Roman traditions could not either. Our conscience is free before God because God justifies by faith. We are free men and women for this reason.

And despite the fact that we think of liberty or freedom primarily as political categories today, Christian liberty or freedom does not concern that kind of freedom. Andreas Rivetus explains:

“We are not dealing here with the question of that civil and corporal slavery, nor with its opposite, civil and corporal freedom. But we do use some terms and expressions from those realms in order to explain the slavery and freedom that are spiritual. Concerning that spiritual slavery and freedom Christ says: ‘If the Son shall set you free, you will indeed be free’ (John 8:36)’” (Disp. 35.4).

This freedom means Christ sets us free from the condemnation of law, the fear of death, and a guilty conscience before God and men. But it does not mean that Christians obey no laws.

Christian Freedom is not Freedom from all laws

Christian freedom involves the freedom to serve and servitude to righteousness (1 Pet 2:16; Rom 6:18). The Bible tells us that we obey both divine laws and human laws. We obey human laws because we serve masters as unto the Lord (Eph 6:5) and since God grants governing authority to leaders to which authority, we owe obedience (Rom 13).

Since human laws order society, they cannot straightforwardly bind our conscience and thereby make us guilty before God. At the same time, God grants a certain authority to parents and magistrates. And so, denying all human laws can in this particular sense causes us to sin against God. Rivetus goes so far as to call those who reject any human law fanatics. By contrast, he calls antinomians (anti-law) those people who say we don’t have to follow God’s law.

Against those who attempt to deny any authority given to human law makers, Rivetus says that Christians “seriously condemn all those who under the pretext of Christian freedom attempt to shake off the yoke of magistrates and who enslave themselves to the devil by ‘turning their freedom into an opportunity for the flesh’ (Gal 5:13)” (Disp. 35.47). In other words, since God gives authority to magistrates, we should follow human laws since we follow the general command of God to submit to authorities (e.g. Rom 13:1).

When a child obeys his parents and a citizen follows the laws of the land, neither parent nor law maker can bind the conscience of Christian in an unmediated way. We obey parents and magistrates based on the general commands of God (“obey your parents,” “submit to governing authorities”). And when magistrates make laws that correspond to moral law, that law binds the conscience since it repeats God’s law.

With that all said, It might seem that Christian Freedom means we obey all laws whatsoever. It, however, does not.

Christian Freedom does not mean we obey all laws

If Christian freedom includes human and divine laws as defined abov e, then does that mean we obey every sort of law? No, the Reformed believed that we should only obeys laws lawfully , meaning that Christ fulfilled the mosaic law’s ceremonial rites and its civil laws no longer have force over Christians, since such an arrangement was specifically in force for ancient Israel in its time and place.

Rivetus explains, “Particular to the freedom that befit the times of the New Testament is the release from the dispensationary slavery to the ceremonial law” (Disp. 35.20). The Book of Hebrews explains that Christ fulfills the priestly sacrifices and activities. Hence, we no longer sacrifice animals or have a levitical priesthood as the law of Moses requires.

A bit later on, Rivetus also affirms that the civil or judicial laws of Moses no longer have force: “From the things that have been stated about the ceremonial law given to the Israelites we should judge Christian freedom concerning the judicial laws of Moses, which, because they were given by Moses and to such a nation, they neither affect nor bind Christians” (35.28).

But that does not evacuate Mosaic law of authority and use. Far from it. Aspects of that law remain permanent. What remains permanent are those laws that the reformed called moral law. Moral law basically refers to God’s abiding character, which he has inscribed into the created order (also discerned as natural law).

The Mosaic Law, as Rivetus explains, republished natural law since human sin had deceived the heart and made discerning such law difficult. And finally, when governments legislate laws that correspond to natural or moral law, then such laws bind the conscience. For practical purposes, such laws include the Ten Commandments.

By contrast, laws that are civic (and ceremonial) include burying a hanged body on the same day so as not to pollute the land of Israel (Deut 21:22–23). Since that particular law applies to a civil and ceremonial arrangement in Israel and since Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law, it no longer has force over the Christian.

These laws, however, have massive doctrinal important, since as Rivetus explains, the Levitical rites define the theological logic and typological signs for Christ’s satisfaction of sin and atonement. They are the theological map, as it were, to understanding the cross. Hence, the Reformed established even the ceremonial law for Christian use.

The point here is that we must obey the law of God lawfully or fall into grievous error. We must avoid antinomianism (anti-law) and fanaticism (to use Rivetus’s language).

Christian freedom does not mean we Deconstruct Human Civil law and use Biblical law Excusively

During the 16 th century, the Netherlands had revolted against Spain. Desiring to follow the Bible, they asked Franciscus Junius (1545–1602) to help them govern according to biblical law. But that required careful thinking because one must obey the law lawfully and not rebuild what Christ has torn down.

Junius, for his part, argued that the Mosaic law republishes moral law which all people must follow. Junius also speaks of the levitical rites and sacrifices. People must not follow these laws. Lastly, Junius also speaks of civil laws. Governments must only follow civil laws if and when moral laws obviously mix into them. Some civil principles have an abiding application to modern states when mixed with moral law because moral law represents God’s universal law for mankind.

No person, no doubt, and no earthy power can condemn us if God has declared us free in Christ.

However, this did not mean the deconstruction of any use of common law or enacted human laws. Junius like all the reformers affirmed natural law. God made the world this way. To deny natural law or moral law is antinomianism.

The reformed also affirmed that human laws were not to be forbidden. About thirty years after Junius wrote The Mosaic Polity , Rivetus spoke of people who “have constructed to eliminate Roman laws or any other laws whatsoever from Christian states, in order to foist upon judges the requirement of passing judgment in civil cases according to the forensic laws of Moses. The experts rightly consider this idea not only dangerous and confusing but also wrong and foolish” (Disp. 35.31).

The point is that nations need to create laws in their particular time and place. Today, we might have laws surrounding cryptocurrency or VPNs, which only make sense in the twenty-first century. Such laws should correspond to God’s law as expressed in natural law and republished in the Decalogue. In other words, in the words of Rivetus, it dangerous, confusing, wrong, and foolish to work for the destruction of all human law and to attempt to enforce exclusively mosaic civil or forensic law upon society. Rivetus calls that fanaticism.

Free at last

Christian Freedom points to that blessed reality that by faith God frees from everything that the law of Moses could not free us from. As Paul says, “everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39). And in particular, only the Gospel can free us from slavery to sin, to the devil, and to a guilty conscience for all time, because God alone justifies us (Disp. 35.7).

The freedom of the Christian is the freedom of the conscience. It means no power on earth can bind our conscience. It means no ceremonial law of Moses can bind our conscience to its observances of rights. Christian liberty means no forensic law of Moses can condemn us because “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

But that does not mean we fall into antinomianism. God’s eternal character marks the created order , which we recognize as natural law. And the Law of Moses republishes natural law in what theologians have called moral law. That law remains eternal because it reflects a universal law for all people.

In the end, the freedom of the Christian means that no person can condemn us if Christ is for us. It means we can have the confidence of our justification before God even when our doubts condemn us. God justifies us by an alien righteousness outside of us. His declares us free. No person, no doubt, and no earthy power can condemn us if God has declared us free in Christ.

This is Christian freedom.

Wyatt Graham (PhD., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the Executive Director of TGC Canada. You can follow him on Twitter at @ wagraham .

Into Theology 82: Persons in God (ST I.Q29)

Into Theology 81: Relations in God (ST I.Q28)

Into Theology 80: Divine Procession of the Will, the Love of the Spirit (ST I.Q27)

Into theology 79: divine processions (st i.q27), why do christians use words like “trinity” that are not in the bible.

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Why We All Need to Remember "Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is Freedom"

All of us have been in bondage to sin, to brokenness, to addictions, and the like. All are things that threaten to destroy our bodies, lives, and relationships. We struggle, even as believers, to live fully holy and pure lives. If you know the weight of bondage, of what it’s like to be held down by chains, then this idea of freedom in the Spirit of the Lord may seem either incredibly enticing or downright unimaginable.

Let’s take a look at this familiar phrase. Perhaps you’ve heard someone say it, or learned it in a song; it’s actually found in God’s word.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” ( 2 Corinthians 3:17 ).

What seems impossible to us is always possible with God. If freedom seems unattainable, then surely, with God it is not only possible, but accessible! As we take a deeper look at what this verse conveys, we come to learn that freedom in the Spirit means we are no longer held to unrealistic expectations in the laws of the old covenant, that we are free under the new covenant ushered in by Jesus, and that each of our individual lives are deeply impacted by freedom found in the Spirit of the Lord.

What Does This Verse Mean?

We have freedom in the Spirit because Jesus came and paid the debt. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus died and rose from the grave. Thus, he conquered sin and death and made salvation possible to all humankind. No longer was connection to God formed by being Jewish, converting to Judaism, and following the laws of the old covenant. The old covenant essentially led to death. It was impossible for any person, even the Israelites who were God’s chosen people, to live fully according to the old covenant. But God had a plan - a beautiful plan of redemption for his beloved children. He would send the Messiah to save the world.

When Jesus entered humanity as God incarnate, everything changed. A new covenant between God and humanity was established. When Jesus ascended to heaven, the Spirit came, and with the Spirit we have freedom. When the Spirit lives in us as believers, we are free. We are free to believe, accept the gift of salvation, and live our days as devoted followers of Christ, made holy and acceptable in the sight of God.

bible study friends holding hands praying for a hedge of protection

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What Is Happening in 2 Corinthians 3 ?

The church of Corinth which was made up of Gentiles and some Jews. Paul founded this church during one of the missionary journeys he took after his conversion. The Corinthians had a reputation as an immoral people group. Surely, Paul faced an uphill battle sharing the Gospel to these people. The epistles Paul wrote to this church were indicative of the troubles they had and the struggles they faced to turn from their sinful ways and follow Jesus.

In this particular section of the second letter to the church of Corinth, Paul contrasted the old covenant given through Moses to the Israelites, and the new covenant which came through turning one’s heart to Jesus. Paul asserted the primacy of the new covenant. He addressed the old covenant and insisted that unless one turns to the Lord, they have a veil covering their hearts and their minds are made dull, not able to fully understand God’s glory.

Paul drew the connection that the Spirit of the Lord removes that veil, freeing us, and allows believers who have turned to Jesus to understand and be part of the new covenant. Therefore, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there we find freedom from the veil and freedom from the old covenant that leads only to death. Paul made it clear that believers in Jesus were no longer bound to the yoke of the old covenant. We are free through the Spirit of the Lord.

What Is the Spirit of the Lord?

When Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into heaven, the Father sent the Spirit. Jesus spoke of the coming helper, the Holy Spirit, during his earthly ministry (see: John 14:16-18 ).

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” ( Acts 2:1-4 ).

The Spirit made a grandiose entrance, barely describable with words. We can only imagine what that moment must have been like for the followers of Jesus to encounter the Holy Spirit for the first time!

The Spirit of the Lord was sent to be with us, to remind us of God’s truth, and through the Spirit we all have been equipped with gifts. The Spirit dwells in believers, just as Christ does. The Spirit of the Lord is our helper, is present with us, and ministers to us and through us. It is the Spirit that empowers us to freely pursue righteousness and a personal relationship with Jesus.

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What Kind of Freedom Do We Have in Christ?

The freedom we have in Christ is profound. It’s life-changing, life-giving, and life-altering. There is nothing that compares to the freedom we have in Christ. Perhaps you live in a free country, or work for an employer that respects your autonomy, or you are single, free to make decisions as you please without consulting anyone else. We feel free under circumstances such as these. But truly, they pale in comparison to the freedom found in Christ Jesus.

Christ offers freedom from sin, destruction, and death, freedom from bondages and sinful strongholds. We are free to love, and be kind, and at peace with others. We are free from internal struggles and burdens because we get to lay it all at the feet of Jesus. We are free to bear the fruit of the Spirit. We are free to share the Gospel. We are in debt to no one because Jesus paid it all on the cross .

We can embrace this freedom by entering into a close relationship with God. We live in freedom by walking in spirit and truth. We attain this freedom by surrendering our lives to God’s righteous and good ways. When we turn our hearts to Christ Jesus, we have freedom from the old covenant that leads to death. The new covenant ushered in through Jesus frees believers from the burden of the Mosaic law (See Acts 15:10 ). In Christ, we have been set free and given eternal life through salvation in him.

The next time you hear this phrase, or perhaps read it for yourself in the Bible, may you be reminded of the power of the Spirit and that you have been set free by God. This verse doesn’t just sound good, it’s a promise - a promise we can stand on, and believe in, and trust. It’s a promise to us believers that we have been freed from death, and can live our lives now for Jesus, anticipating an eternity with the Lord.

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This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today.

Do Unto Others
The Truth Will Set You Free
Guard Your Heart
Love One Another
Blessed Are the Meek

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12 Examples of Freedom in the Bible (And Lessons to Learn)

The notion of freedom is deeply ingrained in the human experience, a concept that transcends time and culture.

In exploring the examples of freedom found within the pages of the Bible, we delve into a rich tapestry of narratives that speak to the essence of liberation and empowerment.

From tales of enslaved peoples breaking free from chains to individuals finding redemption and renewal through divine grace, the Bible offers a plethora of stories that resonate with our innate desire for autonomy and liberty.

Before we begin, let’s take a quick look at …

The Meaning of Freedom in the Bible

Freedom in the Bible is not just about physical liberation, but also about spiritual emancipation. It is a concept deeply rooted in the idea of deliverance from sin and bondage.

Galatians 5:1 reminds us that It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. This verse highlights the ultimate purpose of freedom in Christianity as a means to live a life free from the power of sin.

Moreover, the Bible teaches that true freedom comes through obedience to God’s commandments.

In John 8:32 , Jesus says, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. This suggests that true freedom is found in knowing and following God’s truth.

As believers strive to walk in righteousness and align their lives with God’s word, they experience a profound sense of liberation from the chains of worldly desires and temptations.

Ultimately, freedom in the Bible is not just about autonomy or independence but about finding true freedom through faith and devotion to God.

✅ 12 Examples of Freedom in the Bible

Freedom, in various forms, is a recurring theme in the Bible, often tied to liberation from bondage or sin.

These examples showcase various forms of freedom in the Bible, including physical deliverance from oppression, liberation from sin, and the freedom found in a relationship with God through faith.

Here are some examples of freedom in the Bible related to different characters in the scripture:

1. Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt

The Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt exemplifies a powerful display of freedom in the Bible.

As they crossed the parted Red Sea, God’s miraculous intervention granted them physical freedom from their oppressors.

However, this moment also symbolizes a deeper spiritual liberation, as it marked their journey towards the Promised Land. In this land, they could worship and serve God freely without fear or bondage.

Moreover, the Exodus narrative highlights how true freedom often requires faith and obedience.

The Israelites faced numerous challenges and uncertainties along their journey, yet by trusting in God’s guidance and following His instructions, they were ultimately able to experience the fullness of freedom that comes from living in alignment with divine purpose.

This story serves as a timeless reminder that genuine freedom is not merely about breaking physical chains but also about embracing a life rooted in faith and righteousness.

2. Gideon – Deliverance from the Midianites

Gideon’s story in the Bible is a powerful example of freedom and deliverance. As a timid farmer, he was called by God to lead Israel against the oppressive Midianites.

Despite his doubts and fears, Gideon trusted in God and followed His instructions with courage.

Through a series of miraculous events, Gideon gathered an army but was ultimately directed to reduce its size drastically to demonstrate the power of God’s deliverance.

This strategic reduction emphasized that victory came not from human strength but from divine intervention.

As Gideon led his small band of warriors into battle, they witnessed God’s mighty hand at work, defeating the Midianite forces without needing to lift a sword.

This remarkable victory showcased how true freedom and liberation come not through earthly might or numbers but through obedience to God’s calling.

3. David – Freedom from Saul’s Pursuit

David’s escape from Saul’s pursuit in the Bible serves as a powerful example of freedom.

Despite being relentlessly chased by King Saul, who sought to kill him out of jealousy and insecurity, David never lost faith in God’s protection and guidance.

Through his cunning strategy and trust in God, David was able to evade capture and stay one step ahead of his enemy.

This story demonstrates how true freedom is not just the absence of physical restraints but also the liberation of one’s spirit from fear and despair.

In the face of danger, David remained steadfast in his belief that God had a plan for him, leading him to eventual victory over Saul.

This narrative inspires us to seek freedom not only from external threats but also from internal doubts and limitations, trusting that with faith and perseverance, we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our way.

4. Esther – Deliverance of the Jews

The story of Esther in the Bible is a powerful example of freedom and deliverance. Despite being a young Jewish woman living in a foreign land under the rule of King Xerxes, Esther courageously stood up for her people.

Through her bravery and wisdom, Esther was able to influence the king’s decision to save the Jews from destruction.

Esther’s journey showcases how one individual can make a significant impact on behalf of others.

Her willingness to take risks and trust in God’s plan ultimately led to the freedom and deliverance of her people.

This story serves as a reminder that freedom often requires courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in divine providence.

As we reflect on Esther’s story, we are encouraged to stand up for justice and fight against oppression wherever we may encounter it.

Just as Esther used her position of influence for the greater good, we too can use our voices and actions to bring about freedom and deliverance for those who are marginalized or oppressed.

The story of Esther serves as an inspiration for all believers to be bold advocates for justice and champions for freedom in our world today.

5. Daniel’s Three Friends – Deliverance from the Fiery Furnace

The story of Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego facing the fiery furnace is a powerful example of freedom in the Bible.

These men refused to bow down to the golden statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, choosing instead to stay faithful to their beliefs even in the face of death.

When thrown into the blazing furnace for defying the king’s order, they were miraculously protected by an angel, emerging unharmed from the intense heat.

Their unwavering faith and courage show us that true freedom comes from standing firm in our convictions, even when facing immense pressure or danger.

Despite knowing the consequences of their actions, Daniel’s three friends chose obedience to God over earthly rulers.

Their deliverance from the fiery furnace serves as a reminder that God is able to rescue those who trust in Him completely, showcasing His power over all earthly forces and establishing His ultimate authority.

6. Paul and Silas – Liberation from Prison

When we think of freedom in the Bible, one powerful example that comes to mind is the story of Paul and Silas being liberated from prison.

Despite being unjustly imprisoned for their faith, they chose to praise God through their suffering.

Their unwavering faith and devotion not only led to a miraculous earthquake that opened the prison doors but also inspired those around them.

This story illustrates how true freedom can be found even in the darkest moments, through unshakeable faith and trust in God’s plan.

The liberation of Paul and Silas serves as a reminder that physical confinement does not necessarily equate to spiritual bondage.

Their imprisonment became an opportunity for them to spread the message of salvation and ultimately lead their jailer and his household to believe in Christ.

Through their ordeal, they demonstrated that true freedom lies in surrendering to God’s will wholeheartedly, regardless of circumstances.

This story challenges us to seek liberation from our prisons of fear, doubt, or sin by persistently relying on God’s power and promises for deliverance.

7. Jesus – Liberation from Sin and Death

Jesus’ role in the Bible as a liberator from sin and death is arguably one of the most profound examples of freedom.

His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of humanity symbolizes liberation from the chains of sin and eternal separation from God.

Through his resurrection, Jesus conquered death itself, offering believers the hope of eternal life and freedom from the fear of mortality.

Moreover, Jesus’ teachings also emphasize true spiritual freedom beyond earthly constraints.

He taught that genuine liberation comes not through material possessions or worldly power, but through love, compassion, and humility.

By embodying these qualities in his own life and ministry, Jesus showed that true freedom lies in living a life dedicated to serving others and following God’s will with unwavering faith.

Ultimately, Jesus exemplified a revolutionary kind of freedom that goes beyond physical boundaries to transform hearts and souls for eternity.

8. Peter’s Release from Prison

The account of Peter’s release from prison in the Bible is a powerful example of freedom granted through faith and miraculous intervention.

In Acts 12 , we see Peter imprisoned by King Herod, yet the prayers of the early church lead to an angel appearing to him in his cell.

The chains were miraculously loosened, the guards were unaware, and Peter was led out to safety.

This story exemplifies how true freedom can come from trust in God’s power and provision. Despite being heavily guarded and facing imminent execution, Peter’s faith remained steadfast, resulting in his eventual release.

This event showcases that when we place our trust in God’s sovereignty, even seemingly impossible situations can be transformed into moments of liberation and triumph.

9. Paul – Deliverance from Chains in Philippi

In the book of Acts, we are introduced to a powerful example of freedom in the life of the Apostle Paul.

While on a missionary journey in Philippi, Paul and Silas were unjustly arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison.

Despite their circumstances, they chose to worship God through prayer and singing hymns.

Suddenly, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison and loosed their chains, setting them free from physical confinement.

This miraculous event showcases not only deliverance from physical chains but also spiritual freedom. It serves as a reminder that true freedom is found in faith and trust in God even in adversity.

Through this experience, Paul demonstrates unwavering courage and faith as he continues to spread the message of salvation despite facing persecution and imprisonment.

This story exemplifies how God can intervene in our lives to grant us liberation from bondage, both literal and metaphorical.

10. Freedom in Christ – Galatians

In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul emphasizes a profound understanding of freedom in Christ.

This freedom is not just about breaking free from external constraints or societal norms, but it goes deeper into freedom from sin and reconciliation with God.

It is a transformative liberation that allows believers to live out their true identity as children of God, no longer bound by legalistic regulations or human efforts for salvation.

Paul’s message in Galatians challenges us to embrace this freedom with gratitude and reverence, recognizing that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone.

This freedom empowers us to walk in love, serve others selflessly, and boldly proclaim the good news without fear of condemnation or judgment.

It is a liberating call to live out our faith authentically and passionately, reflecting the unconditional love and mercy that we have received from our Savior.

11. Zacchaeus – Freedom through Repentance

Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who encountered Jesus, experienced freedom through repentance in a profound way.

Despite his societal status and wealth, Zacchaeus felt the weight of his sins and sought redemption through genuine repentance.

When he encountered Jesus and repented of his dishonest practices, Zacchaeus found true freedom from the guilt and shame that had burdened him.

This story highlights how freedom in the Bible is often intertwined with repentance and forgiveness. Zacchaeus’ willingness to acknowledge his wrongdoings and make amends symbolizes a powerful form of liberation from sin and bondage.

By embracing repentance, he not only received forgiveness but also experienced a transformative freedom that impacted every aspect of his life.

This narrative challenges us to reflect on the liberating power of repentance in our own spiritual journeys, reminding us that true freedom comes from humility, confession, and reconciliation with God.

12. The Woman with the Issue of Blood – Healing and Freedom

In the Bible, one powerful example of freedom is seen in the story of the woman with the issue of blood.

This courageous woman had suffered for 12 years and spent all her money on failed treatments, but she refused to give up hope.

When she heard about Jesus, she believed that even just touching the hem of his garment would bring her healing. In an act of faith, she pushed through the crowd and touched his cloak, instantly feeling healed.

This story highlights not only physical healing but also spiritual freedom. The woman’s boldness to reach out to Jesus showcased her unwavering faith and determination to break free from suffering.

Through this miraculous encounter, she not only found physical healing but also experienced a profound sense of liberation from her affliction.

This narrative serves as a reminder that true freedom can be found in surrendering to faith and trusting in God’s power to bring about transformation in our lives.

Examples of Freedom in the Bible (Summary)

The Bible offers numerous examples of freedom that serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for believers.

From the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt to the teachings of Jesus Christ on spiritual emancipation, the concept of freedom is central to the faith.

These stories remind us of the importance of seeking freedom not only from physical bondage but also from sin and spiritual oppression.

Through these examples, we are encouraged to embrace our freedom in Christ and live lives that reflect the values of love, justice, and liberation.

Let us heed these lessons and strive to embody the true essence of freedom in our daily lives.

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Openness Theology and Divine Omniscience

Other essays.

Openness theology, a modern theological movement that is essentially a resurgence of the Socinian heresy condemned by the church in the 16th century, denies the orthodox doctrine of God’s omniscience, the belief that God knows all things exhaustively before they happen.

Scripture teaches God’s omniscience, that is, that God knows himself and all things in creation exhaustively and from eternity past. This is a function of God’s lordship over all things. God’s knowledge of all things extends to the past, present, and future, encompassing even the actions of free agents. This does not destroy the freedom of humanity, but instead defines it more carefully as a compatibilist freedom rather than a libertarian freedom. Humans are not free to do anything without constraint but are constrained by their desires, circumstances, natures, and, ultimately, God. Openness theology denies all of this; where Arminian theology only denies that we have compatibilist freedom in favor of libertarian freedom, Openness theology denies that God even knows what we will do. Openness theologians argue that it is logically inconsistent to say that God knows in advance what someone would freely do in a libertarian sense. Openness theology is not new but is essentially a relabeled Socianism, a heresy that was condemned in the 16th century.

Scripture affirms that God’s knowledge of himself and of the world is exhaustive:

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (Ps. 147:5)

(Peter) said to (Jesus), “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:12–13)

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:20)

God knows all about the starry heavens (Gen. 15:5; Ps. 147:4; Isa. 40:26; Jer. 33:22) and the tiniest details of the natural world (Pss. 50:10–11; 56:8; Matt. 10:30). God’s knowledge is absolute knowledge, and so it elicits religious praise (Ps. 139:17–18; Isa. 40:28; Rom. 11:33–36). Wicked people often think that God will not notice what they do, but they will find that God does know, and that he will certainly condemn their sin (Ps. 10:11; 11:4; 73:11; 94:7; Isa. 29:15, 40:27; 47:10; Jer. 16:17–18; Ezek. 8:12). To the righteous, however, God’s knowledge is a blessing of the covenant (Exod. 2:23–25; 3:7–9; 1 Kgs. 18:27; 2 Chron. 16:9; Pss. 33:18–20; 34:15–16; 38:9; 145:20; Matt. 6:32). He knows what is happening to them, he hears their prayer, and he will certainly answer.

God knows everything because he is the Lord of all. He made the heavens and the earth, and he knows his own plan for its history (Eph. 1:11). He has control over all things (Rom. 11:36), his judgments of truth have ultimate authority (John 17:17), and he is present everywhere to observe what is happening (Ps. 139). The theological term omniscience refers to God’s exhaustive knowledge of himself and of the creation.

God’s Knowledge of the Future

His omniscience includes knowledge of the past, present, and future. His knowledge of the past and present is clear from the texts cited above. Scripture is equally clear in teaching God’s knowledge of the future. Note, for example, this part of the definition of prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:21–22:

And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’ – when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

In this passage, part of the work of the prophet (appointed by God to bring his word to the people) is to foretell the future. If he claims to foretell the future, and that prophecy fails, then the people may conclude that he is a false prophet. The assumption behind this provision is that God knows the future, and therefore any true prophet will predict the future accurately.

Knowledge of the future is not only the test of a true prophet. It is also the test of a true God. In the contest between Yahweh, Israel’s lord, and the false gods of the ancient Near East, a major issue is which God knows the future. This is a frequent theme in Isaiah 40–49, a passage that focuses on the sovereignty of Yahweh over against the absurd pretensions of the false gods:

Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. (Isa. 41:– 23)

True prophets announce the future: not only momentous events like the coming of the Messiah (Isa. 9:6–7; 11:1-9), but also very concrete and specific events of the near future (1 Sam. 10:1–11). These passages indicate that God has a knowledge in advance, even of free human decisions. That is also true of prophecies that indicate the broad structure of human history. An example is God’s promise to Abraham:

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (Gen. 15:13–16)

This general prediction presupposes an indefinite number of more specific future facts: that Abraham will have many descendants, that they will migrate to lands with unfriendly rulers, that the rulers of the nations will afflict them, that these afflictions will end after four hundred years, and so on. These events result from many free human decisions: by the rulers, by Abraham’s offspring, by the Amorites, and so on. This prophecy of great redemptive-historical events is also a prediction of many free actions by many people. The biblical picture here is that God knows the future exhaustively, meticulously, in every detail.

The prophetic prediction of free human actions is found in many other passages (see Gen. 27:27–29, 39–40; 49:11; Num. 23–24; Deut. 32:1–43; 33:1-29; 1 Sam. 23:11; 1 Kings 13:1–4; 2 Kings 8:12). God knows everything we will say or do, before we say or do it (Ps 139:4, 16). He knew the prophet Jeremiah before his conception (Jer. 1:5). That implies that he knew in advance who would marry whom in Israel, and all the various combinations of sperm and egg that would lead to the conception of this one individual. Many free human decisions led to Jeremiah’s conception, and the lord knew them all.

In the New Testament, Jesus teaches that his Father knows the day and hour of his return (Mark 13:32). But that day will not come until after other events have taken place—events that depend on free human decisions (13:1–30). Jesus also predicted that Judas would betray him (John 6:64; 13:18–19), though Judas certainly made his wicked decision freely and responsibly.

Openness Theology

The view of divine omniscience summarized above has been the traditional view of orthodox Christianity—Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. But some within the church have questioned it. Among these were Lelio (1525-62) and Fausto (1539-1604) Socinus. Robert Strimple describes their view as follows, contrasting it with Arminianism:

Arminianism denies that God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass but wishes nevertheless to affirm God’s foreknowledge of whatever comes to pass. Against the Arminians, the Socinians insisted that logically the Calvinists were quite correct in insisting that the only real basis for believing that God knows what you are going to do next is to believe that he has foreordained what you are going to do next. How else could God know ahead of time what your decision will be? Like the Arminians, however, the Socinians insisted that it was a contradiction of human freedom to believe in the sovereign foreordination of God. So they went “all the way” (logically) and denied not only that God had foreordained the free decisions of free agents but also that God foreknows what those decisions will be (see “What Does God Know?” in The Coming Evangelical Crisis , 140-41).

In the later part of the twentieth century, a movement sprung up, associated with Clark Pinnock, Richard Rice, Gregory Boyd, John Sanders and others, called by such names as “open theism,” “free will theism,” and “openness theology.” Strimple compares their teaching to that of the Socinians:

(The Socinian doctrine) is precisely the teaching of the “free will theism” of Pinnock, Rice, and other like-minded “new model evangelicals.” They want their doctrine of God to sound very “new,” very modern, by dressing it up with references to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle in physics and to the insights of process theology (although they reject process theology as a whole…). But it is just the old Socinian heresy rejected by the church centuries ago.

As Strimple suggests, openness theology sees itself primarily as a defense of human free will. There are various understandings of human freedom in theological discussion. One view, called “compatibilism,” asserts that we are free whenever we can do what we want to do. To be free is to act according to what you desire. On this view, it doesn’t matter whether your decision is caused or necessitated. The term “compatibilism,” in fact, indicates that freedom is compatible with causes and constraints. As long as you can choose to do what you want to do, your choice is free.

The other meaning of freedom commonly discussed in theology is “libertarian” freedom. On a libertarian basis, your decisions are free only insofar as they are not caused or constrained by anything at all. If your choice is made necessary—by your own desire, your nature, your inclinations, someone else’s power over you, or even God—your decision is not free. Libertarian freedom is sometimes called “incompatibilism,” because it is incompatible with any kind of causation.

Now in ordinary life, our usual concept of freedom is compatibilist. As long as we can do what we want to do, we believe that we are free. It would never occur to us to think that being compelled by our own desires removes our freedom (except, perhaps, in cases where our desires are obsessive). That is also the concept of freedom taught in Calvinist theology and, as this author believes, in Scripture. In Scripture, we can be free even when our actions are determined by our own desires, our nature (significantly, our heart: Matt. 15:18–20; Luke 6:45), our circumstances, or by God. God’s sovereign determinations are, of course, all important. According to the Bible, God controls everything that happens (Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:11), but that fact does not detract from our freedom and responsibility. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to oppress the Israelites (Rom. 9:17–18), but that divine judgment did not take away Pharaoh’s freedom and responsibility.

Openness theology, however, denies that compatibilist freedom is “real” freedom. It insists that libertarian freedom, freedom from all causation, is the only freedom worthy of the name, and therefore the only possible basis of moral responsibility. Arminian theology also champions libertarian freedom. But Arminianism tries to combine libertarian freedom with a strong view of God’s omniscience. In particular, Arminians, like Calvinists, believe that God knows the future exhaustively.

But open theists, like the Socinians, point out that if God knows the future in all its details, then the future is certain. And if the future is certain, then there can be no libertarian freedom. All of our actions are constrained, if God knows them in advance. So openness theology takes a step beyond Arminianism. It not only affirms libertarian freedom as Arminianism does, but it denies that God knows in advance all the details of the future. In open theism, the (libertarian) free actions of human beings are inherently unknowable, because nothing makes them happen, not even God. So God cannot be omniscient in the traditional orthodox sense. He is ignorant of what any free agent will do in the future.

This is a startling view in a Christian context. Open theists try to relieve some of the sharpness of it by emphasizing that God, like human pundits, has the ability to project present trends in the future, so as to make a good guess as to what will happen next week, or years from now. But it is hard to imagine how such celestial punditry could explain the detailed predictions of biblical prophets, centuries before their fulfillment. And it is hard to imagine how we can fully trust a God who is ignorant of the course of our lives. A God who is ignorant of the world he has made is certainly less than the Lord of the Bible.

Biblical Literacy, Academic Freedom and Christian Liberty — An Excerpt from "The Bible and the University"

jeremy-bouma
February 25, 2015
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Over the years, there has been something of an identity crisis in the disciplines of biblical studies and theology. Where universities once were the anchor for theological thought, these disciplines are now often marginalized and confused as to meaning and purpose. The Bible and the University addresses this crisis by offering a series of essays, which consider: the historic role of the Bible in the university the status of theological reflection regarding Scripture among the disciplines today the special role of Scripture in the development of law, the humanities and social sciences, the way the Bible speaks to issues of academic freedom, intellectual tolerance, and religious liberty. Today, David Lyle Jeffrey shares a problem common to professors: Biblical ignorance and academic freedom: “The assumption of many, tacitly or explicitly, seems to be that a biblical worldview and intellectual or academic freedom are terminally at odds.” Read his excerpt and engage this book yourself to see how the Bible and university can coexist. Also, check out the Scripture & Hermeneutics Pack (Just $150 | Retail Value $300).

By David Lyle Jeffrey

In Whit Stilman’s film Metropolitan , one of the characters defends his obtuseness by saying: ‘Just because you haven’t read a book, doesn’t mean you can’t have an opinion on it. I haven’t read the Bible, and I have an opinion on it.’ This sort of cheerful yet opinionated ignorance can be shared by some you might not suspect of it. I am concerned that not only the wider culture, but increasingly the subculture we call the church, has opinions on a book which, for practical intellectual purposes, it hasn’t really read.

Ignorance of the Bible problematizes the work we are still pleased to call Christian education in a number of ways. One of these pertains to a great and generally celebrated ideal of all education – in respect of which it is often assumed nowadays that Christians, both individually and institutionally, are notably deficient. I refer to intellectual freedom. The assumption of many, tacitly or explicitly, seems to be that a biblical worldview and intellectual or academic freedom are terminally at odds.

I wish to register my dissent to this prejudice, on the grounds that I have read the book. I propose, in fact, an alternative hypothesis in the form of a question: Are there in fact biblical resources that may help us to clarify current debates over the meaning and application of the principle of academic freedom? My answer to this question will be ‘yes’. A second question also prompts my excursus: Do those of us who claim a special interest in the Bible make adequate use of these resources? Here my answer will be, ‘Not often enough, or well enough.’ To the first question I will come last, offering less an argument than one brief textual exposition. Regarding the second question I will argue here that we make poor use of our biblical resources, indeed that neither in our church-related institutions of higher learning nor in our churches are we now teaching the Scriptures sufficiently well that they rise to the level of becoming a true intellectual resource. Whether the current level of scriptural teaching allows them to become even a satisfactory spiritual resource is a question for others to answer.

Eclipse of Biblical Narrative

George Barna has recently concluded that only nine percent of the self-described ‘born again’ in America and only half of all Protestant pastors have anything that could be credibly described as a biblical worldview. Barna’s surveys, howsoever adequately, attempt to reckon with a more widely remarked and embarrassing reality; namely, that the Bible has apparently lost authority in some churches once ostensibly most identified with the Bible. His research shows that ‘even in churches where the pastor has a biblical worldview, most members of the congregation do not. More than six out of every seven congregants in the typical church do not share the biblical worldview of their pastor even when he or she has one.’

We must not be content merely to understand why even the evangelical community in North America has – at least in significant sectors – apparently lost its appetite for coherent biblical teaching. We who work in Christian higher education may well need to discover a remedy for one of the consequences, for the decline has gone on long enough that biblical illiteracy can, on occasion, seem to be nearly as extensive among evangelical college students as within the general populace. This is a fact with pedagogical consequences. In noticing this phenomenon I do not, of course, mean to suggest that evangelicals are uniquely apostate. Apostasy in North America is remarkably ecumenical. According to a recent issue of the journal Current Issues in Catholic Higher Education ,

Thirty two percent of lay presidents and 40 percent of religious [i.e.,ordained] presidents [in Catholic colleges and universities in the USA] report contending with faculty and staff who are tradition illiterate,hostile toward,or simply disinterested in the Catholic mission and identity of the institutions in which they serve.

I fear that at universities like my own, much the same sort of thing could be said. Even among regular church-going faculty, biblical literacy and theological competence is at a far lower ebb than might have been found a generation ago amongst rural Baptists and other evangelicals who never saw the inside of a college classroom. What they knew, and knew by heart, their college educated children and grandchildren have largely forgotten. When Bruce Cole, Director of the NEH, speaks about ‘American Amnesia,’ he describes a cultural disorder that has infected ‘People of the Book’ as much as it has the great unwashed.

Cole and I team-taught a course in medieval and Renaissance art history three decades ago at the University of Rochester. As a Jewish professor in a university with a large cohort of Jewish students, Cole once remarked to me on his disappointment at their typical lack of textual knowledge of their religious tradition. Biblical iconography in Renaissance painting which ought to have been obvious to reasonably taught Jewish students, was almost as opaque to them as to the majority of our shared students who were more or less cheerful pagans. I could relate to his frustration: teaching Chaucer’s Miller’s Tale, which depends for much of its humor on ironic misunderstanding of the Noah narrative in Genesis, I was getting blank stares at the mention of Noah. Only three of more than thirty students could say for sure they knew about the flood story and none could remember that ‘God promised to Noah never to flood the earth again’ – something Chaucer depends on for his laugh at the ignorance of the old carpenter who, you may remember, builds local churches, but is duped and even cuckolded by a ‘seminary’ student imposter because he has no knowledge of the foundation upon which the Church universal is built.

That was thirty years ago, and our faculty club grousing about biblical illiteracy in our students, to some of our peers, may well have seemed quaintly antiquarian. But, particularly for teaching Western art and literature in the secular university, the deficit has only grown more acute. Cole’s thesis now is explicitly directed to political competence: he believes that amnesia (how we lost our story) is evidently culture-wide and a threat to American democracy.

The Bible and the University

Edited by craig bartholomew, anthony c. thiselton, david lyle jeffrey, c. stephen evans.

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The Biblical View of Freedom

Dr. Art Lindsley July 27, 2015

A Universal Thirst for Freedom

Throughout human history, people of all cultures have sought freedom. Some have emphasized inner spiritual or emotional freedom, and others freedom from external restraints (such as slavery or political freedom). Hindus seek an experience of oneness with the universe that frees them from the illusion of this world of distinction. Buddhists seek enlightenment that involves a detachment from desiring anything in this world. Atheists want to be free from the constraints of any objective moral rules. In the political arena, there are a variety of liberation theologies. Gustavo Gutiérrez wrote his Theology of Liberation with a focus on the political and economic situation in Latin America. James Cone wrote A Black Theology of Liberation to develop a black theology that identified with the oppressed. Others have developed feminist liberation theology that focuses on cultural problems that have limited women’s freedom. Most of the above perspectives involve a freedom from constraints, but are not clear about what the liberated situation would look like. This “freedom from” is at the heart of our secular culture. In this article we will discuss the biblical view of freedom, first contrasting it with other views so we can see its significance more clearly.

Download and print full PDF here .

Art Lindsley, Ph.D., is Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics.

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Biden takes heat over gaffe urging Americans to 'choose freedom over democracy:' 'Get this man out of office!'

C ritics of President Biden slammed him on social media for making a puzzling statement encouraging voters to "choose freedom over democracy" by re-electing him to the presidency.

Conservatives expressed confusion over Biden’s message, and others insisted it was yet another gaffe showing his cognitive decline.

Biden made the claim while accepting the formal presidential endorsement of the Kennedy family in Pennsylvania on Thursday. During the political rally, half a dozen Kennedy family members appeared alongside President Biden to publicly back him over Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running as an independent candidate for president in 2024.

TRUMP THREATENED WITH JAIL IF HE MISSES HUSH MONEY TRIAL AS BIDEN CAMPAIGNS IN PENNSYLVANIA

Kennedy Jr.’s own sister Kerry Kennedy spoke at the event, stating, "President Biden has been a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for."

After being introduced by the Kennedys , Biden addressed the crowd. Towards the end of his speech, he asked "Are you ready to choose unity over division? Dignity over demolition? Truth over lies? Are you ready to choose freedom over democracy? Because that's America."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The last stanza turned heads with its seemingly contradictory message.

Author and Canary CEO Dan K. Eberhart commented, "He's fine. Everything's fine. Biden is definitely not in severe mental decline. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

Commentator Ian Miles Cheong appeared confused by Biden’s statement, posting, "What did he mean by this?"

Conservative journalist Nick Sortor also asked, "What the hell is this guy saying?"

Journalist Marlo Nawfal posted, "Dems really need to upgrade his [operating system] or something..."

2 KENNEDY CHILDREN ENDORSE OPPONENT OF PROGRESSIVE LOS ANGELES DA, CITE PAROLE HEARING FOR RFK'S KILLER

Conservative political influencer "Bad Hombre" remarked, "Biden says he wants you to ‘choose freedom OVER democracy.’ Joe’s DOJ, state prosecutors, and Secretaries of State have been working tirelessly to get rid of democracy. Just another Freudian slip."

The account for outlet "The Conservative Brief" posted about the gaffe, stating, "When people were concerned about Ronald Reagan having cognitive decline near the end of his second term, it was nothing like this. When Dan Quayle couldn't spell 'potato' correctly, people lost their minds. But it was nothing like this. When George W. Bush was in the Oval Office, and people said Dick Cheney was running the country because he couldn't, it was nothing like this.

"Look in the mirror and ask yourself, truthfully, if this is the man you want in charge of our security, our economy, and our country for another four years?" the post added.

Conservative podcast host Rob Coates urged voters, "Dear lord, get this man out of office!"

Original article source: Biden takes heat over gaffe urging Americans to 'choose freedom over democracy:' 'Get this man out of office!'

Critics of Biden blasted his recent speech, which featured him urging voters to choose "freedom over democracy." AP Newsroom

Israelis Prepare to Mark Passover, a Festival of Freedom, With Hostages Still in Gaza

Many Jews say they will adapt their Passover rituals around the Seder table this year to fit the somber mood of a country at war.

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Orthodox men in dark hats and coats stand by a controlled fire; behind them are stone buildings.

By Isabel Kershner

reporting from Jerusalem

April 22, 2024

Many Israelis were in a somber mood on Monday as they prepared to usher in Passover, the Jewish festival of freedom, saying they would mark the holiday rather than celebrate it, with more than 130 hostages remaining in Gaza.

The number of hostages believed to be alive is unclear, and with negotiations with Hamas captors at an impasse, there is little prospect of their imminent release.

The holiday is to start after sundown on Monday with the traditional Seder meal. By tradition, this is a joyful gathering of family and friends who follow a ritual order of blessings over symbolic foods as they retell the biblical story of the bondage and suffering of the ancient Israelites in Egypt and their exodus and liberation.

Israelis are still jittery after an exchange of fire with Iran this month, the first time Tehran had directly attacked Israel from Iranian territory. And the country continues to mourn the roughly 1,200 people the Israeli authorities say were killed in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, which prompted six months of deadly fighting in Gaza so far. More than 250 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel’s ground invasion in late October, the military says. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza health officials.

Daily tit-for-tat attacks over the northern border with Lebanon have turned a portion of Israel into a no-go zone . Tens of thousands of residents of northern and southern Israel remain in temporary accommodations, having been evacuated from their homes.

“We will mark the Seder night for the children,” said Irit Feingold, 35, a pedagogic instructor for preschoolers who was attending a rally for the hostages in Jerusalem on Saturday night, and was planning to spend Monday night with about 25 members of her extended family.

“We will talk about leadership, freedom and staying free, and everybody can share what they feel,” she said.

Many families like Ms. Feingold’s have been holding emotionally charged conversations about how to commemorate the holiday, with some saying they preferred not to conduct a Seder at all.

“Every festival is another milestone showing how we aren’t whole,” Ms. Feingold said, adding that it was imperative to resist sliding back into normalcy and routine. Her husband, a soldier in the reserves, is to return to Gaza after the holiday.

The organization representing most of the families of the hostages is urging families to place an empty chair at their table with a portrait of a hostage or a yellow ribbon. Traditionally, Jews leave an empty chair at the Seder for Elijah, the biblical prophet revered as the harbinger of hope and redemption.

“All of the symbolic things we do at the Seder will take on a much more profound and deep meaning this year,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, was taken captive into Gaza after his arm was blown off during an assault on a roadside bomb shelter . He had taken refuge there after fleeing the Tribe of Nova music festival.

Mentioning the salt water that is part of the Seder ritual to represent the tears of the Israelites while they were in bondage in Egypt, Ms. Goldberg-Polin told reporters she would be participating in a Seder with close friends and family, “and they have been very clear that if 15 minutes in we just can’t do it, and we need to cry, then we will cry.”

Hundreds of survivors from Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the border villages that was attacked on Oct. 7, were planning to hold a communal Seder in a Tel Aviv square that has become a focal point for the campaign to free the hostages.

A quarter of the residents of another border village, Nir Oz, were either killed or kidnapped. Avner Goren, a son of founders of the communal village, wrote a poem comparing the Israeli people to a fruit salad — some sour, some sweet — to celebrate the country’s multicultural mix for a version of the Haggadah that Nir Oz produced in the late 1990s.

Mr. Goren was killed on Oct. 7. His wife, Maya Goren, was kidnapped and taken to Gaza and has been declared dead. Addressing the rally in Jerusalem on Saturday night, Rabbi Binyamin Lau said he intended to sit at the Seder table with his family, an empty chair with a picture of his friend Alex Dancyg, a Holocaust expert from Nir Oz who remains a hostage, and a fruit salad.

Rabbi Lau, himself the son of a Holocaust survivor, said, “We are a people that tells a story at any time, under any conditions.”

Myra Noveck contributed reporting from Jerusalem, and Gabby Sobelman from Rehovot, Israel.

Isabel Kershner , a Times correspondent in Jerusalem, has been reporting on Israeli and Palestinian affairs since 1990. More about Isabel Kershner

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

Israel has not provided evidence to support its accusations that many employees of the main U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees are members of terrorist organizations, according to an independent review commissioned by the United Nations.

The United Nations says famine is likely to set in by May in Gaza. For those living under Israel’s attacks and a crippling blockade, every day is a race against time. Here’s how two Palestinian families try to keep their children alive.

Israel has failed to achieve its two primary goals of the war, while the suffering of Palestinians erodes support even among its allies. Here’s a look inside the stark reality of Israel’s fight in Gaza.

The United States is considering imposing sanctions on one or more Israeli battalions accused of human rights violations during operations in the occupied West Bank , according to a person familiar with the deliberations.

PEN America’s Fallout: The free expression group PEN America has canceled its 2024 literary awards ceremony following months of escalating protests over the organization’s response to the war in Gaza , which has been criticized as overly sympathetic to Israel.

Fears Over Iran Buoy Netanyahu: The Israeli prime minister lost considerable support after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. Tensions with Iran have helped him claw some of it back.

A Surprising Rift: The Israel-Hamas war, which has roiled cultural and political institutions far beyond the Middle East, is causing divisions in a prominent Japanese American group .

Mobilizing the American Left: As the death toll in Gaza climbed, the pro-Palestinian movement grew into a powerful, if disjointed, political force in the United States . Democrats are feeling the pressure.

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COMMENTS

4 Things the Bible Says About Freedom
Here are some key ideas from the Bible about freedom—including how to find true freedom in your life. 1. People have been searching for it for thousands of years. The quest for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Just three chapters into the story of God's creation, humanity gave up its freedom by ...
What Is The Biblical Perspective On Freedom?
Here are three truths to help us develop a biblical understanding of freedom. 1. Christians experience freedom from sin. When we're talking about freedom, it's important to understand what we're free from. Here's what Paul has to say about it in Romans. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the ...
What is Christian freedom?
Christian freedom is one of the many paradoxes of the Christian faith. True freedom means willingly becoming a slave to Christ, and this happens through relationship with Him ( Colossians 2:16-17 ). In Romans 6, Paul explains that, when a believer accepts Christ, he or she is baptized by the Spirit into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom
This is because humans have the freedom to do whatever it is that they want, while their desires are in turn decided by their natures, situations, and, ultimately, God. The term sovereignty is rarely found in recent translations of Scripture, but it represents an important biblical concept. A sovereign is a ruler, a king, a lord, and Scripture ...
What Jesus Teaches About Freedom in John 8
1. The freedom of a royal inheritance. Even if a slave is brought up in the house, he can't expect to live there long term; a son, however, is different (John 8:35). Jesus is the Son—the prince of heaven's kingdom with a permanent place in the Father's royal family. Yet the perfect Son came to earth and died for us.
What Does Biblical Freedom Really Mean?
Biblical freedom allows us to reclaim what the Enemy has robbed from us so we can live the story of who God created us to be. By contrast, worldly freedom is the ability to do what we want, when we want. When Adam and Eve were in Eden, they were free to choose whether to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
What Is Christian Freedom?
When Jesus makes us free, he makes us free at every single level. He has given us the freedom of opportunity: he died for us. The freedom of ability: he gave us the gift of faith. The freedom of desire: he put a new heart in us and wrote his law on it, causing us to have new desires and new loves.
What does "freedom" mean?
I recently asked a group of high school students this question. After some discussion and reflection, they agreed on this definition: "Freedom is being able to do what you want without restraint.". In other words, the free person does whatever he or she wants without any person or law standing in their way. Let's break this down a bit.
What Is 'Freedom in Christ'?
It is an active (not lazy) faith, a lively (not dead) faith, a Spirit-empowered (not self-mustered) faith. And this love (for others) is a freedom, not a burden. In Christ, we have been freed to love. Which means, third and finally, Christian freedom is not only freedom from, and not only freedom for, but also freedom with. Jump down to ...
Christianity and Freedom
Christianity and Freedom. Christianity was born demanding religious freedom. Early Christians were faced with the necessity of proving their loyalty to the Roman Emperor. In a society of many beliefs, they refused to take part in formal ceremonies of the civil religion, which treated the Emperor as divine. They often faced martyrdom as a result.
Seven Ways the Biblical View of Freedom Impacts Our Lives
5. Inner renewal often leads to outer consequences and renewal of the land. 6. The Bible doesn't prescribe one type of government but freedom (political, economic, and religious) is consistent with (not contradictory to) the Bible. 7. Inner freedom inevitably drives toward outer freedom.
What Does Freedom Look Like in the Christian Life?
This death is an eternal separation from God. Here is where your freedom in Christ comes in. First, you are free because you no longer stand condemned under the law. You have been tried and found not guilty, because you have put your faith in Christ. He has fulfilled all the requirements of the law on your behalf.
What is Christian Freedom (and What It's not)
John Calvin called Christian freedom or liberty a summary of evangelical doctrine ( Inst. 3.19). Since God has justified us, no earthly power can directly bind the conscience of a believer. Certainly, God grants a certain authority to parents and governors (Eph 6:5; Rom 13). In this sense, our consciences are bound to God's general command to ...
Lesson 48: True Freedom (John 8:30-36)
True freedom comes from knowing Christ through genuine faith, which means to continue in His word. 3. Christ's word is the truth that truly sets us free when we abide in it. Rather than being a slave of sin (8:34), "you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (8:32).
The Freedom and Bondage of the Will
Four Biblical Principles. Although there are various ways that Christians understand the relationship between God's sovereignty and human freedom, there are several biblical principles that must be upheld by everyone. First, there can be no denial of the fact that the Bible teaches that God is fully sovereign.
Here's What the Biblical View of Freedom Means for Your Life
Here are some implications from what we have observed. 1. Freedom is not autonomy or doing what you feel like doing without any constraints. 2. Freedom involves structure. Bondage to Christ allows us to be free to be what we are created to be. 3. Freedom is within the context of Law.
PDF THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF FREEDOM
Freedom, for Plato and Aristotle, is essential to a state. The best constitution guarantees the greatest freedom (Thucydides). This freedom is freedom within the law which establishes and secures it….Law protects freedom against the caprice of the tyrant or the mass….Democracy achieves this best by allowing the same rights to all citizens
Freedom Meaning
Freedom. The theme of freedom rings loudly in one of the most crucial sections of Scripture, namely the narrative of the exodus. Already when establishing his covenant with Abraham, God had predicted the bondage and suffering of the Hebrews in a foreign land ( Gen 15:13).That long period of Egyptian slavery became a powerful symbol of oppression, and so the deliverance of the Israelites ...
Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is Freedom! Meaning and Biblical
A new covenant between God and humanity was established. When Jesus ascended to heaven, the Spirit came, and with the Spirit we have freedom. When the Spirit lives in us as believers, we are free. We are free to believe, accept the gift of salvation, and live our days as devoted followers of Christ, made holy and acceptable in the sight of God.
12 Examples of Freedom in the Bible (And Lessons to Learn)
Here are some examples of freedom in the Bible related to different characters in the scripture: 1. Israelites' Exodus from Egypt. The Israelites' Exodus from Egypt exemplifies a powerful display of freedom in the Bible. As they crossed the parted Red Sea, God's miraculous intervention granted them physical freedom from their oppressors.
Openness Theology and Divine Omniscience
The other meaning of freedom commonly discussed in theology is "libertarian" freedom. ... According to the Bible, God controls everything that happens (Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:11), but that fact does not detract from our freedom and responsibility. God hardened Pharaoh's heart to oppress the Israelites (Rom. 9:17-18), but that divine ...
Biblical Literacy, Academic Freedom and…
The Bible and the University addresses this crisis by offering a series of essays, which consider: the historic role of the Bible in the university the… Request an Exam Copy Search...
The Biblical View of Freedom
This "freedom from" is at the heart of our secular culture. In this article we will discuss the biblical view of freedom, first contrasting it with other views so we can see its significance more clearly. Download and print full PDF here. Art Lindsley, Ph.D., is Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work ...
Biden takes heat over gaffe urging Americans to 'choose freedom over
C ritics of President Biden slammed him on social media for making a puzzling statement encouraging voters to "choose freedom over democracy" by re-electing him to the presidency.
Israelis Prepare to Mark Passover, a Festival of Freedom, With Hostages
April 22, 2024. Many Israelis were in a somber mood on Monday as they prepared to usher in Passover, the Jewish festival of freedom, saying they would mark the holiday rather than celebrate it ...