Sometimes we must step into waters that swirl and roil about us. Peter did it briefly, but failed for lack of faith. He turned his focus from the Lord to the earth, and sank beneath the waves. In this issue of Christian Chronicles, we will delve into the sweet waters of Christian liberty, aware that there are sharks in those waters who would devour our freedom, replacing it with dread and fear. This they would do in the name of holiness. This they would do because they do not understand that only genuine and complete freedom leads a sinner to become a bondservant.

Rarely, very rarely, do we hear preachers speak of Christian liberty in any terms other than as our freedom not to sin. What God intended to be a glorious and gracious doctrine has degenerated into a subtle attack made by faithless men and women against saints with whom they ought to be rejoicing. They fear that liberty leads to licentiousness, and so they diminish this great gift of freedom in the name of regulating the behavior of the saints. The spirit of bondage is not the spirit of the bondservant. The spirit of bondage is the spirit of one held against his will, in captivity to that which he resents; whereas the spirit of the bondservant is one of loving submission and service to a Master who is a blessing, and not a slave master with a heavy whip.

We have frequently touched upon this theme in Christian Chronicles, but this is the first time that we have approached it as the general message of any issue of this publication. We do not believe that liberty, properly understood, leads to sin or license to sin, but in our own lives we see that the liberty we have in Christ leads to a more devoted service, without fear of sin or preoccupation with it. Where liberty is denied, sin becomes the immediate preoccupation, leading to less service, not more.

    Almost everyone who quotes these verses says that the truth shall “set” you free. But the Scriptures say that the truth “makes” us free. If one should open the door to a cage in which a bird lives, he has “set” that bird free. The bird may come and go as it pleases. But if that person should reach into the cage, gently removing the bird, and then should take the bird outside and toss it into the air, he has “made” the bird free. It matters not its lack of familiarity with its new environment; it is free, and must come to know and understand what the world is like outside of its cage. Whereas before, it had only a strictly limited diet, and could go nowhere at all, now all of a sudden the whole world has opened up to it. At first, the bird will find as safe a spot as it can find, and will sit and watch and learn. It knows not its enemies, nor in which direction security lies. The poor bird does not even know what it can or cannot eat, nor how to hunt for it. For safety’s sake, it might even prefer the close confines of its cage. Set free, it might never leave its cage, nor even venture near the door. Made free, it experiences open flight and nature’s wonders. Gradually, its territory enlarges and it returns to the nature into which it was born.

There is an unspoken understanding in the heart that tells us what the Bible means when it says to us that we have been made free. The spirit soars to think of it! Oh, how that new man would love to grasp this great freedom and to fly unbound through the spiritual realms of heaven and earth, unrestricted by cords of convention, tradition and the Law. There is that spirit in each of us that groans with the desire to shake loose the bonds of prohibitions and demands, to return to the new nature into which it was born when first we were illuminated by the unmatched grace of God. That new man is as free as the bird who is made free. At first, he enters upon his new life with all sorts of trepidations concerning those things which he believes are expected of him, or which things he is told are prohibited. He has a zeal for the Word, and for God. His desire to serve is visceral, virulent, and he eats of the Word constantly, like a baby bird constantly watches for its mother to bring food.

   The editor of Christian Chronicles received an email from a Palestinian Christian bemoaning the fact that Palestinian Christians are leaving their “homeland.” He blames the American religious right and the Israeli right wing for driving them from the land, in the categorizing of Palestinian Christians as “non-persons.”  It is not that they are non-persons, but that they are non-Jews.   This fellow questions the dispensational approach to the Scriptures, and complains that those who wish to protect Israel want the Palestinians gone.

Whether or not that is so on a political level, on a theological level non-Jews have no right to be there. Perhaps many genuine, born again  Palestinian Christians are leaving the region because they understand that the Scriptures give Israel the land presently occupied by Palestinians. Such an action would be consistent with the times and the seasons in which we find ourselves. Here in the latter days, he true Church ought to have her skirts straightened and be awaiting His arrival. Mankind will do as the Scriptures declare; Christians everywhere ought also to do so.  It should also be noted that the area called Palestine is not the only part of the globe where Christians are being persecuted, not only in that way, but in many other ways as well.  It would be wise for many, many Jews and non-Jews to leave that part of the world forthwith, for great darkness and tribulation are to cover it shortly.  "Gentlemen may cry, "Peace!  Peace!" but there is no peace" ( - Patrick Henry's " Give me liberty or give me death" speech).

Whether American, Irish, German or Palestinian, Christians should have such a heart for Israel that they would be, not only willing, but grateful, to surrender that which God has given to another.  God, who made the heavens and the earth, has given His word on the matter, and it is not for man to abrogate a treaty over which he has no authority.  If God is sovereign, then He is sovereign.

As Christians, it is incumbent upon us to honor our God and His promise. That applies to every nation and man on earth, including Israel, who also is yet at odds with Him. Christians should do so with a right heart and spirit. Whether the letter-writer were Palestinian or some other breed of Gentile, whether he were Christian or Hindu or Buddhist, he has no claim to land that God set apart for the Jews.

During the Kingdom Age, Gentile Christians will rule Gentile nations; but Jews, specifically the Lord Himself, will rule the land that God gave to Abraham, Isaac and David.  Gentiles will not live in Israel in the Kingdom Age, though they will have access to the throne of God in Jerusalem.  They will bring their treasures into the Lord's house.   But Israel is Israel, no matter what any group of Gentiles determines concerning that region of the world. Every nation on the earth will honor Israel and Her King, and they will each and all be subjects of the King of kings, our Groom!  May He come for His bride today!

How should Christians feel about Israel?  There are those who complain that the Jews had Jesus crucifed.  Well, that’s right, they did.  If they had not, we would not be Christians today.  Some feel that God has stopped the clock on His dealings with Israel as a nation, never to restart that clock, and that the promises to Israel now pertain to the Church.

Some believe that God will restart the clock with the onset of the Tribulation period, and that the Church and Israel are on separate prophetic paths. This is the view of Dispensationalists.

The Bible is very clear on the matter. If it means what it says, then the Dispensationalists have it right. We believe that Israel is still God’s chosen people, and that He will yet fulfill all His covenants with her. We believe that Christians are to recognize Israel’s apostasy, but also to understand that God still loves them and will restore them to heights of glory that they have not yet attained. He will be their King.  Our will for Israel ought to be God's will for Israel.

No Palestinian, Christian or Moslem or otherwise, has any claim to the land that God promised Abraham and his seed Isaac.  David has a perpetual right to sit on the throne of Israel, and his heirs after him.  Israel will not always be a democracy.  The time will come when that nation, like all nations on the earth, will be a monarchy, each nation having its own king and princes and governors and local officials; but with Jesus ruling as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Thus, while we do not agree with Israel’s current theology, we acknowledge that they will again be chastened and corrected and restored. Therefore, we love Israel as God’s chosen people.

After a lull of about five months, violence has flared again between Israel and the Palestinians.  This time, the bulk of the fighting is between the various militant groups (primarily Hamas and Islamic Jihad) and the Palestinian Authority.  Islamic Jihad sent a suicide bomber into Netanya, Israel.  This prompted the Palestinian Authority to begin to seriously combat terrorism and, as of this writing, gun battles continue between the militants and the Palestinian Authority.  At the same time, Israel has resumed its practice of targeting militant leaders with missiles. This only serves to raise the temperature in the region, but Israel cannot sit idle while terrorists blow up themselves and Israeli citizens. Blood flows once again. 

Attention is diverted from the violence and bloodshed by the vocal and public debate as to whether Israel should pull out of Gaza sooner rather than later, or later rather than sooner.  Thus, it is a foregone conclusion that Israel is going to give up more land for peace.  The issue being played up by the government and the press is not whether, but when.  God used Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to chasten Israel, and it seems probable that the current violence and discord ought to be ample warning to the Israelis that they should trust in their God, and not in the reasonings of man.  No place on earth has the depth of vitriol and seething anger as does the Middle East. 

At some point, the wrong element is going to be thrown into the pot, and the mixture will be explosive.  And that ingredient will not be violence, but peace.  What man believes will usher in an age of peace on earth will actually ring the bell that starts the tribulation period.  Seven years later, Jesus, our King, will inaugurate what will prove to be a thousand years of the peace and equity and righteousness that man has sought to create for himself, but never could. 

The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of sin. He pricks their consciences with the guilt of their behavior, and then causes them to seek relief from their troubled state. That relief comes only in the form of good news concerning the grace of God and the remedy He freely provides. When the sinner comes to understand that God loves him just as he is, and that by His love He has paid for his sins completely, the fear falls away, and the guilt dissipates, freeing the sinner to love God in return.

Having been crucified with Christ, the saint is freed from the bondage of the law that made him the enemy of God all his life. Having died to sin, he becomes immediately free to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God, which he does with a great eagerness. It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance, and it is the message of the word of reconciliation that we are to bring to the lost. Haranguing sinners about their sin will not change their behavior or their priorities one whit. It will only drive them into deeper rebellion. The same is true of saints. If one would lead a sinner to the Lord, or a saint to service, the paths he must walk are the pathways of the grace and ineffable goodness of God toward His children.

Knowing that God loved him as intensely before he was illuminated as He does afterward makes a sinner desire to draw near to God. The word of reconciliation lifts the heavy burden of guilt and fear, and a true understanding of Christian liberty assures the new saint that God is able to use him fruitfully just as he is.

Adultery?  That is offensive both to the spouse and the lover’s spouse.  We may not engage in it.  Theft or cheating?  That is contrary to the law of love under which we serve in Christ.  Bearing false witness harms him against whom we testify.  That is not love.  All the commandments are summed up in this one saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you find yourself with an old and very cultured lady, then you become old and cultured in your own mind, so that she will trust you to bring her good news and not troubles.  If you find yourself sitting around some wandering hoboes’ campfire, then pull up a log and sit down with them, sharing your can of beans along with the gospel.  If you walk into that camp with your white shoes and sense of self-righteousness, looking down your nose at those to whom you would bring the Word of God, not a single soul in the encampment will hear you.  Paul said, “I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.”  Paul was able to minister to kings and princes and fishermen and thieves.  He was not required to become a fisherman, and he was no king or prince (He will be one day!).  He did not have to become a thief in order to witness to thieves (tax collectors).  He was in the world, and he moved freely in it, but he was careful not to get any of it on him.  To the blue-haired old ladies, he would become as they were.  To the motorcycle gang, he would sit amongst them and be like them, though he would not engage in drunkenness and revelry.  He would simply be their friend.  Of course, there were no motorcycle gangs in Paul’s day, but had there been, he would have moved amongst them just as he did among other Jews and Gentiles.  Maybe there were donkey gangs.  Matthew loved Jesus because Jesus did not judge him for his tax-collecting methods.  Jesus did not make his rounds with him, cheating the Jews out of their money, but He was certainly Matthew’s friend.  That is the essence of Christian love.  All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful.  All things are lawful, but not all things edify, or build up.  More often than not, Christian love demands that we set aside our exalted opinions of ourselves and sit down beside the gutter-dwellers in life, for that is where many are saved.  Love is selfless; we ought not be too proud to associate with the poor and the troubled.

There is a story that makes its way around the Internet every few months, differing sometimes in detail, but the same in principle.  It is a story about a man who is apparently on hard times who goes to church, and is made to sit in the back, and is snubbed by the congregation and looked at with bitter disdain.  Of course the fellow turns out to be a great minister and when he begins to dress “properly,” he becomes accepted.  It is a cliché, to be sure, but clichés are clichés because they are true.  We want those who come to our churches to dress as we dress, like the things that we like, do the things that we do, and avoid the things that we avoid.  Everyone wants everyone to act and think alike.  Those who do not “fit in” we ostracize, effectively if not overtly.  In many congregations there is no genuine love at all except perhaps within the various cliques.  And in this, most churches do indeed think alike.  There is a unity of spirit and mind, but it is not of God, who is love.  And in those churches there is little or no liberty.  God loves those churches who love one another unabashedly, sincerely, no matter the differences in personality or even in character.

One cannot be a disciple of Christ without a genuine heart of Christian love.  One can be a believer and not be a disciple.  This is the state of many, many Christians.  Discipleship involves more than mere belief.  All saved people are believers, but not all are disciples.  A disciple is one who learns in a disciplined way, and who truly loves the saints of God.  A disciple is a learner.  He grows by what he learns, and his focus is upon the Savior, not his own flesh or anyone else’s.  His liberty is not used as an opportunity for the flesh, but he serves God humbly, knowing from what he was saved and why.  A liberated Christian is not double-minded, but the things he does he does to the glory of God, giving God thanks.  A Christian who spends his life in a set of social cages and temporal aims will wind up self righteous and unfruitful.  The Christian, on the other hand, who sees and deplores his sin daily, will serve with a sense of humility, knowing that he is not worthy to serve such a God as we serve so poorly, and God will reward his service openly with much fruit (Mt 6:6).

Far from fearing the doctrine of Christian liberty, the Church ought to embrace and proclaim it fully, not worrying that a saint might fall into sin.  Young Christians probably will do so for a time, but the Holy Spirit is an able Helper, who will remove from their lives those things that He cannot use.  He does not need our help in that regard.  Mature Christians will not abuse their liberty for the sake of fleshly lusts, but will serve God all the more carefully for the depth and extent of their liberty.  To deny Christian liberty, or to use it as a cliché and deny its fullness, is an affront to the truth of the Gospel.  We must teach liberty fully, and we must also teach the responsibility that accompanies it, recognizing that the responsibility of liberty is not reformation of the flesh, but the well-run race to the finish line of fruitfulness and the fulfillment of our ministries.

The decision can be summed up in the words of Acts 15:11,

This was the teaching which these legalistic Judaizers had brought to the Galatian churches after Paul had preached salvation by grace – plus nothing. It caused no end of confusion, and in response to the news of their defection from his teaching of grace, the Epistle to the Galatians was written. In the days of Paul there were three errors concerning Law and Grace, errors which have continued until this day, although the truth is so clearly taught in the Scriptures. These errors are:

1. LEGALISM. It is the teaching that we are saved by works, by observing rituals and ceremonies, and keeping the Law. One entire book of the New Testament is devoted to an answer to this soul-damning error. It is the Epistles to the Romans, summed up in Romans 3:28:

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

2. The second error is ANTINOMIANISM. It teaches that because we are saved by grace, it makes no difference how we live and behave. One book of the New Testament is devoted to answering this Satanic error. It is the Book of James, summed up in James 2:17:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

3. GALATIANISM. This is the false doctrine, which teaches that we are saved by grace, and then after that we are kept by the Law, making our ultimate salvation dependent on our works instead of the grace of God. To combat this error, the Holy Spirit chose Paul to write the Epistle to the Galatians. It is the strongest argument that we are saved, kept, and finally redeemed by grace, without the works of the law.

Salvation is not a matter of LAW and GRACE, but is a matter of LAW or GRACE, for it cannot be both (See Romans 11:6).

Christ has made us free. Free from sin are we. Free to serve the Lord of glory, not in our strength but by His. One verse definitively describes this in its entirety.

“But now.” Paul uses this phrase 28 times, eight times in Romans alone. This is the biggest little statement in the entire Bible. But now stands to contrast the previous verse.

The sins we worked were to be paid in full by death. We have been forgiven these sins but are still ashamed of the thought of them. Then comes verse 22.

“But now.” All has changed presently. This is the quintessential Pauline dispensational statement. The past is over. God has made all things new in Christ! Adam’s race is no longer in slavery to sin. In Christ, men are no longer sinners, but saints. No longer are men under a death sentence for sins, but are granted the gift of life.

“Being made free from sin.” We could not make ourselves free from sin (notice the power of sin, not the deeds of sins, is stated here). Christ had to become sin for us to take away our sin when we were crucified with Him. When we died with Him and were raised with Him, our old man of sin was put out of business.

We needed to be made free from sin, our evil slave master. Sin controlled us and paid us wages of death as shown by the next verse:

Christ redeemed us (bought us out of slavery) from the dominion of sin and became our new Master. He also wiped out the old law of sin and death and became our Husband in grace.

Freed from sin and made free to serve God in the Spirit.

“And having become slaves to God.” “Having become” denotes a transformation having taken place. Translated from our old life and born again into the new. For what purpose? Not so that we could go about running our lives our way, but to become God’s slaves. Freed from sin we have been redeemed by a new Master and are now God’s slaves. The benefits of this new master-slave relationship are not shame and death but holiness and everlasting life!

“You have your fruit to holiness.” There you have it! Not earn it or grow it, but have it. But now, Paul declares, you are holy! Sanctified, set apart for God’s purpose right now. By believing in Christ you have been declared a saint.

The benefits derived from being enslaved to God are holiness, resulting in sanctification (one time justification and progressive growth in Christ, which culminates in eternal glorification). There is no shame here, only a life set apart for God.

“And the end.” Under sin the sentence of the judge is death. Now the end or verdict of the evidence of holiness requires a new sentence passed: everlasting life! What a contrast is entailed in the statement “but now.”

God’s plan of eternity was to free us from sin, claim us for Himself, make us His holy slaves. There is an outcome to all this. God has a goal for us. He has made us free (past tense). He has made us holy (now, in the present). He, the Judge, is in charge, producing the fruit and the holiness and judging its worth. The end or goal (future) is this:

“Everlasting life.” For eternity, we will enjoy the fruits of our service to God. The quality of our everlasting life is determined by our service to God in our bodies right now. That is the goal or end that God has purposed for us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Our old lives were wiped away. But now, in our present temporal lives in these bodies, we work out our service to God as His slaves. We enjoy right now and forever the fruit of holiness. When our earthly service has ended, we will be richly rewarded with everlasting life.

This is the process of being saved, sanctified, and glorified: being utterly released from the dominion of sin and placed under a new master, God Himself. Insight we have to His game plan for our lives; the eradicated past, the transformed present and the glorious future. Paul declares the entire embodiment of essential doctrine for the Christian life; not by our power, but by His. This is Romans 6:22.

Grace, sweet grace, Christ Jesus died
For all our guilt and sin.
He rose again to justify
All who believe in Him.

Grace, sweet grace, is my plea,
No matter what may come.
His Holy Cross has made me free;
I’m washed in His Blood.

Grace, sweet grace, I take my stand,
Though every mountain fall.
My faith is in the great I Am,
Christ is my all in all!

Grace, sweet grace, is my prayer;
He upholds my every breath,
I trust my Savior’s tender care,
And by His grace I’m kept.

Grace, sweet grace, is my song,
No matter how rough the road.
Though tribulations continue on,
Christ carries every load.

Grace, sweet grace, is the only Way
That sinners can come to Christ.
For all who come to Him by faith
Are given eternal life.

Grace sweet grace, O glorious grace,
His praise the saints will sing.
When by His grace, we see His face:
Hallelujah, to our King!

Dear Christian Chronicles,

I’m a 42 year old three-time loser who as a boy of 12 years came to trust in Christ on a street corner in Brooklyn, NY. Someone put a New Testament in my hand and though unawares of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, I knew I was reading the Word of God.

Without guidance, and literally on my own, my youth was a testament to the keeping power of God and the surety of His covenant. It was also around this same time that I was introduced to narcotics, and there began an indoctrination to everything that was contrary to life and peace.

In ‘84, I was introduced to the Grace doctrine and the Finished Work, by a young lady who is gloriously saved. She became my wife and the mother of our three children, and endured many a day of sadness as her husband gave way to the arm of his flesh and the ingrained mental attitudes adopted since the age of 12 on the streets of NYC.

When I came to prison in ‘98 for bank robbery, my wife finally divorced me, and anything I sought to accomplish inside prison outside of fellowship with our Lord Jesus failed greatly.

About fifteen months ago the Lord Jesus brought me to the end of myself and I began and still am walking in a faithful manner empowered by His Holy Spirit through grace.

In April of this year a brother in Christ put me on your mailing list and I became the recipient of not only a monthly portion of sound doctrine, but what I consider pertinent to my own inward growth and very much in harmony with 2 Cor 3:5-6. I’m very reluctant to forward any doctrinal literature to family members I’m witnessing to, but sent your May issue to my sister.

In March, someone sent me a well-worn KJV reference edition by Scofield. It’s got a lot of mileage but the work of grace done by Scofield is timeless.

My intent for writing you is two-fold.  The first is to let you know that Christian Chronicles is greatly appreciated and highly esteemed by a saint like I, who not only utilizes it for personal growth and accountability toward our loving God, but that I may with soundness and surety introduce the Word of Life to others.  I enjoy study and retaining the Word, but I’m a terrible student who lacks discipline and all the “natural” qualities...  But I remain available, and believe our God for all the grace to be effective as a minister of reconciliation.

After 3+ years in lock down, I’m about to be released back into the open population which will be quite a test since I’ve spent since ‘92 trusting in the arm of my flesh… I’ve 8 years left and, although from an Adamic point of view, they'd be “easier” if I neglected or ran from God’s perfect will, I’d rather be found in Him not only in my position but in my experience. God’s patience and severe chastening in love toward me will not be in vain.

Because of Him,
Unnamed Inmate

Should this gentleman have lived differently from the time that he was first introduced to God thirty years ago? He will tell you that he should have spent his time in study of God’s Word and in service to Him. At the same time, what lessons he has learned throughout his journey in life. Today, he probably would not change anything in his past life, seeing that God has brought him to this very point for purposes of service. There are temporal penalties that we must sometimes pay for our misdeeds, but the love of God is over-arching, and He is even able to make all things work for our good. This gentleman, this saint, will almost surely lead other prison inmates to the Lord in the upcoming years if the Lord should tarry.