A Study in
the flesh. We have an obligation to exer cise restraint (I Corinthians 6:12). Paul pointed out to the church at Corinth, "All things are lawful un to me, but all things are not ex pedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." Does this mean that we can do anything we want? While we have all freedom, we do not approach it this way. Unfortun ately the "Vanity Fair" Christians of that day thought they could be cause they were suing one another, pride filled them completely and the fellowship was marked by cov- eteousness, fornication, and spirit ual divisions. We realize that when we accept the Lord by faith we are a new creature in Christ. On the positive side, it is true that "all things are lawful," meaning that
It is a tremendous thing to real ize that the Christian is completely free in Christ. He has neither an obligation nor the ability to do anything that would improve his standing before God. One of the principle passages of Scripture dealing with this is Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage." There is not the re sponsibility to live under the Old Testament law. Salvation is com plete in every respect. At the same time we must realize that the be liever is still expected to live dif ferently before others of the world. We are to walk in the Spirit as a positive act of demonstrating the character of the Saviour in a trans formed life. We are not to go on seeking only to satisfy the lust of
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