I haven’t yet seen Bruce Willis’ new action movie although I’m a fan of his John McClean character. But I love the title for this latest installment, “Live Free or Die Hard”. That’s a pretty good summary of what it really means to be a Christian. Either live free in Christ or die hard. The problem is that many don’t really understand what it truly means to live free in Christ.

Some may erroneously think it means no constraints. Wrong. Freedom without responsibility is “license” which the New Testament repeatedly condemns. “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude 1:14, NIV) We’re currently studying through Galatians in our Journey Group and wrestling with what legalism really means versus the freedom of the true gospel.

Virtually every culture understands that enforced constraints are necessary for the collective good of society. Otherwise it’s a quick descent into anarchy and chaos. And just why are these universal cultural constraints needed? Because of sin. ”The more corrupt the state, the more numerous laws.” –Tacitus (55-130).

In addition to the all-important role of “tutor” leading us to Christ (Gal 3:23-25, NASB), external law also serves a good and necessary function – that of “restraint”. But when we make the deadly mistake of thinking that external constraints can produce permanent internal change, we are on the slippery road to legalism and dying hard.

I would argue that legalism is not just mandated rules, but ultimately when we make the lethal mistake of thinking that any external effect other than a direct supernatural act of God (not just “rules” but external effect or change in whatever form) can achieve true lasting internal transformation in the human heart. If we begin to believe this we cross the line from living free to dying hard. But in addition to the commonly understood form of rules-bases legalism, this can also happen in a myriad of other subtle ways.

For example, I can do all the right things … but with the wrong motives. If I do everything “right” but with wrong motives, I am no longer living free. “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor 13:3). It’s ironically ultimately a deadly form of legalism.

Another example is a social gospel (i.e., liberation theology) which incorrectly believes that the external alleviation of suffering is sufficient to precipitate internal transformation. Wrong. It’s ironically yet another form of deadly legalism. Only the true gospel has the power to genuinely change us. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16)

Freedom in Christ doesn’t mean freedom to do anything one desires or wants. Such freedom requires omnipotent power and only God alone has that kind of freedom. Every creature without exception is subject to rule or constraint by someone or something. Freedom in Christ means replacing sin as our cruel destructive taskmaster with the all-powerful, all-loving, life-giving Christ. Paul starts off his powerful declaration of freedom in his letter to the Galatians in verse 10 of chapter 1 with the remarkable assertion that he is a slave of Christ. (Though the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. The most accurate translation is “bondservant” in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another.) Ironically it is in serving Jesus Christ that Paul is now truly free. It is only in Christ that one is truly free … to reach their full potential.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal 5:1)

Live free or die hard.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
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Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)