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1. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the Gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and curse of the law,

Galatians 3:13

Galatians 3:13 KJV Read in context

¹³Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

and in their being delivered from this present evil world,

Galatians 1:4

Galatians 1:4 KJV Read in context

⁴Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

bondage to Satan,

Acts 26:18

Acts 26:18 KJV Read in context

¹⁸To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

and dominion of sin,

Romans 8:3

Romans 8:3 KJV Read in context

³For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

from the evil of afflictions,

Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 KJV Read in context

²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave,

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 KJV Read in context

⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

and everlasting damnation:

2 Thessalonians 1:10

2 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV Read in context

¹⁰When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear,

Romans 8:15

Romans 8:15 KJV Read in context

¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

but a child-like love and willing mind.

Luke 1:73-75 1 John 4:18

Luke 1:73-75 KJV Read in context

⁷³The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, ⁷⁴That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

1 John 4:18 KJV Read in context

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them;

Galatians 3:9 Galatians 3:14

Galatians 3:9 KJV Read in context

⁹So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Galatians 3:14 KJV Read in context

¹⁴That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.

John 7:38-39 Hebrews 10:19-21

John 7:38-39 KJV Read in context

³⁸He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ³⁹(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Hebrews 10:19-21 KJV Read in context

¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ²¹And having an high priest over the house of God;

2. God alone is Lord of the conscience,

James 4:12 Romans 14:4

James 4:12 KJV Read in context

¹²There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Romans 14:4 KJV Read in context

⁴Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to His word, or not contained in it.

Acts 4:19 Acts 4:29 1 Corinthians 7:23 Matthew 15:9

Acts 4:19 KJV Read in context

¹⁹But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

Acts 4:29 KJV Read in context

²⁹And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

1 Corinthians 7:23 KJV Read in context

²³Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Matthew 15:9 KJV Read in context

⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience;

Colossians 2:20 Colossians 2:22-23

Colossians 2:20 KJV Read in context

²⁰Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Colossians 2:22-23 KJV Read in context

²²Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

and the requiring of an implicit faith, and absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.

1 Corinthians 3:5 2 Corinthians 1:24

1 Corinthians 3:5 KJV Read in context

⁵Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

2 Corinthians 1:24 KJV Read in context

²⁴Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

3. They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the Gospel to their own destruction,

Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1-2 KJV Read in context

¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our lives.

Galatians 5:13 2 Peter 2:18 2 Peter 2:21

Galatians 5:13 KJV Read in context

¹³For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

2 Peter 2:18 KJV Read in context

¹⁸For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2 Peter 2:21 KJV Read in context

²¹For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.