Monday: Freedom in Christ
“For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error” (2 Pet. 2:18, NIV). What is Peter warning about in this verse? What does he say in 2 Peter 2:19 that helps explain his concern? What is the importance of the word “freedom” (NIV) or “liberty” (NKJV) in verse 19?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
In the strongest possible language, Peter was giving his readers a warning against the dangers of false teachers. In 2 Peter 2:18-21 he warned that these false teachers, while promising liberty and freedom, would actually lead people into bondage.
What a complete perversion of the gospel! Freedom in Christ should mean freedom from the slavery of sin (Rom. 6:4-6). Any concept of freedom in Christ that leaves a person in the bondage of sin is the kind of error that Peter is warning about. Though scholars have debated the precise heresy that he was dealing with here, it’s clearly linked to the whole question of sin and one’s being a slave to it.
Read John 8:34-36. How do Christ’s words here help us to understand what Peter is saying?
Whatever these false teachers were presenting, they were leading their victims-people who had recently found the Lord Jesus-back to their old sinful way of life. It’s easy to imagine some kind of cheap grace gospel that downplayed the need for purity and holiness, something that caused them to be caught up again in the very “corruption” (2 Pet. 2:19) of the world they had just escaped from. No wonder Peter spoke so sharply and strongly against these teachings and warned about what the result of following them would be.
| What do you understand freedom in Christ to be? What has Christ freed you from? |
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Hi, Freedom makes people to have free mind, able to make decisions, doing things they really love not something being forced of doing. Christ Jesus freed us from all manner of sin, we are not slaves of sin anymore for carried away our burden at the cross of Calvary.
Waking up in the UK this morning after experiencing another terror attack,makes this lesson so real - the danger of following false teachers- the bondage and evil this brings. Let us by faith do the work we are called to do to bring men out of darkness into Jehovah God's marvelous light whilst we thank God for the liberty we have through Christ Jesus
When we say "Pride and Prejudice" many will think of an old classic. But Pride and Prejudice are two very active problems in the church where I live. Pride leading to not admitting failures or that anyone else is good enough to take leadership in a church where the pastor is a visitor with eight or nine other congregations to take care of. Prejudice to such an extent that only people of the same cultural and language are welcome. Recently I received a post written by a "prodigal daughter" in which she expressed her concern at what is found in many churches nowadays - immodest dress and worldly ornaments. We have new members who have embraced the truth wholeheartedly but never been 'warned' that such outer display is not the kind of 'look' a child of God should have. When the pastor and elder's wives don't set the example, how can our fledglings know what the Bible teaches about ornaments and modest dress code? Isn't that also part of heresy as the door is opened chink by chink until the world comes pouring in? Lack of integrity and pride which gets in the way of admitting faults is something tearing our church part! PRIDE and PREJUDICE - two enemies of God's end time church! Should we stand by and accept it or move on?
Maureen, I understand what you are talking about. Dressing codes are important. Regarding this, we normally show what matters to ourselves, the way we would like to be seen by others. But in the other hand, we are living days of "social freedom", thus it is commom for people to relate to clothes in an individual manner. Do I agree with it? I'm not saying this here. I just pray to God so as a church we can be full of the Spirit in order to help finish the work. Remember "what overcomes you is the same that brings you to bondage"... May we all be overcome by Jesus' love with totally captive hearts! The change of hearts is really what we need!
I'm confused, so are you saying we should allow people to come into our church 1/2 dresses? I disagree we are dealing with this in our church. I don't know how to approach this person, for she is some what new in the faith. I've spoken to her about modest dress, yet she want to justify how she dresses. I've told her to dress so a man would not look at you and sin in church.
Ouch!! Kristina, are you really saying that you spoke to a someone "new in the faith" and criticized the way she dressed? So you effectively suggested to her that being a Seventh-day Adventist Christian is all about how we dress/look?
Are you also suggesting that women are responsible for how men sin? Do men not have the power to choose what to think?
What did Jesus say He would be looking for in the judgment? (Hint: It's not about how we dress our bodies.)
If you don't know how to approach a woman new in the faith, I have a suggestion: Love her and show that you love her by not criticizing her. Figure out ways you can serve her, as Jesus served His disciples.
I don't think Jesus gave us the responsibility of judging who may or may not come to church. In fact, He clearly said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them." (Matt 19:14 NKJV) Although He was referring to "little children" I believe the same counsel applies to children of God who are "little" in the faith. Let's rejoice when new people come to our church - whether they are dressed in rags, mini skirts, bedecked with jewelry or tattoos. God is drawing them to Himself. Let us not get in their way. And if we see they need light on some subject, we can pray and trust the Holy Spirit to talk to them. If we try to "educate" them, we might be getting in the way of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, if we pray for them and ask the Holy Spirit to make an opening and give us needed wisdom, we will know that He has answered our prayer when they ask us for counsel. If they don't, we probably are not the ones to give it.
She's like my sister. We are very close. I'm telling her in a loving way, don't get me wrong, I'm trying to couch her into modest dress in a loving way, but she's not hearing me. I'm not being rude to her, believe me she would let me know if I'm rude. I'm trying to deal with this situation and I fell like I'm losing.
I don't know what else to tell her. It's like she is drifting back to her life style as a teenager and she's 53.just pray for me.
Truly she is my best friend. And it is breaking my heart. Thanks Inge I just read your post. I will pray
Thanks, I needed that encouragement.
Dear Kristina, Thank you for providing more detail. Let me just suggest that if you truly fear your friend is "drifting back," then address the root of the problem - her relationship with Jesus. Talk about Him and His love and what He has done for you and what He wants to do for her. Do things together that will draw you closer to Jesus. If her mind is filled with Jesus and she talks to Jesus regularly, that's all that's the important. Don't worry about the way she dresses. If she's listening to Jesus, He'll take care of it in His time.
Isn't it much easier to love people as Jesus does when we recognize that it's not our job to convict them of sin? (That's the Holy Spirit's job.) He just wants us to witness for Him .. to share what good things He has done and is doing for us and wants to do for them too. 🙂
May you be blessed in your friendship as you share the joy of the Lord with her. 🙂
My grandson wears a "Rabbitoh!" (football club) shirt to church. To be honest I wish he didn't, but on the other hand I am glad he comes to church and takes part in it. (He was even invited up the front by the Division President as part of an illustration one Sabbath!) Our grandson will tell you that church is boring, yet when asked about something spiritual he will come out with the most amazing "out of the box" answer. He is a thinker. When he says grace for a meal, it is not one of those little verses that kids recite for grace. It is something relevant and thought out by himself.
I want kids like him to be our leaders in the future, I will put up with his "Rabbitoh!" shirt because I can see the potential this youngster has. We adults could tell him off at the risk of letting the notion of church being boring overtake his wonderful spiritual creativity. It is easy to be negative; nurturing is a whole new ball game (excuse the metaphor!).
Sometimes we aren't the one God is using to reach a particular person in a particular situation. I know the feeling of clearly seeing a problem and wanting to help. I also know the feeling of being shut down because I went about it the wrong way. Or because I'm not the person or now is not the time to address it. It is a hard lesson to learn, but God does have many ways that we don't know about.
I'm a bit curious, what does the Bible teach "about ornaments and modest dress code"?
Rebekah definitely wore some expensive ornaments. They were given to her by her future father-in-law.
Peter does say that women's ornaments should not be external, but internal qualities of character. But he does not condemn any specific ornaments. And it also seems to me that some clothing can be expensive and ostentatious without any extra "ornaments" or jewelry. (In my day, expensive watches, often set with diamonds, were given as engagement presents, instead of engagement rings. Does God consider watches more modest than rings. Does He care?)
The Bible talks about modesty and modest clothing, but it does not specify what this clothing should be like. In Bible times, men wore dresses. Should they also wear dresses today? Why or why not? And if men can do away with the dresses and wear pants, what about women? Who made up the current standards of modesty?
Oh, yes, I do remember a bit about the biblical dress code. All dresses - for both men and women (remember that they were called "robes" in those days) - were to have a fringe with a ribbon of blue as borders for their dresses. Should we all wear dresses with blue fringes and ribbons today? (Nu 15:38) If not, why not?
I've known new children of God dress more modestly all on their own - without anyone ever speaking to them. I suspect the Holy Spirit spoke to them. And if the Holy Spirit has more important things of which to convict new believers, maybe we should leave it to Him to decide what to tell them when?
I believe it's very dangerous to play "Holy Spirit." Dangerous for us and dangerous for others.
Thanks
Some are under a grave delusion that real freedom is the freedom to "anything" they want, whenever and wherever they please but the bible disagrees in 1Peter 2:16, "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves."
Much like misguided and rebellious children who get into trouble and sometimes suffer harm when they disobey their parents, we do the same with God, our Father. 1Cor 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.
God has the best plans for us and He wants us to experience TRUE liberation in Jesus, who alone can make us really FREE and right now.
Ps. 118:5 "When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place." I like the sound of that coming from David, a man who was in hot pursuit by a jealous king who was seeking his life for many years. David was literally imprisoned by circumstances and suffered emotional oppression, having to be on the constant run for his life. But the Lord of heaven intervened and rescued him.
I just remembered this little old gospel song from childhood:
O what a wonderful thing,a very wonderful thing;
To be free from sin and have Christ within.
To be made a joint heir with Jesus, my Lord;
What a wonderful, wonderful thing!
John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free , ye shall be free indeed."
I came from an era when going to church means no jeans, slippers, T-shirts or polo shirts. You got to dress your best because you are meeting God.
Although certain level of decorum is important, to draw the line is based on the societies we come from. Dressing up to some shows a level of respect with whom you are meeting. To some, it is just a practical and personal choice.
As a church, should we have a standard dress code? Should we encourage neat, clean and smart attire? Or should we abandon all standards?
As for me, I dress according to the occasion. What does going to church mean to you and your dress code will reflect that motive.
Dear Kelvin, I hear your concerns.
Yes, of course, we should "encourage neat, clean and smart attire." But the question to ask ourselves is what is the best way to encourage this. Is it to tell new members what the "dress code" is? (I personally think that is most likely to take their eyes off Jesus to focus on "looking right.") Or is the best way to set a good example? And I suggest that the "good example" should not be showy or expensive clothes, but just what you suggest: "neat, clean and smart attire." That could certainly include neat jeans for some. (Consider that jeans are acceptable business wear in some places - but not the torn, messy look.)
Cultural values and dress standards change from time to time and place to place. We should certainly dress the best we can afford in the context of our culture. We should not dress "down" from what is acceptable business attire.
BUT, that should be *our* standard, not a standard we impose on others. It is human nature to want to "fit in." So new members will take their cues from current members. I believe we should not make it hard for them by setting standards of expensive dress, nor should we look down on them for the way they dress. Like Jesus, we should practice seeing the possibilities in people. 🙂
Fellow believers ,we should not and must not judge others of their dress code. I myself is guilty of the same sometimes, when I see someone who is Baptize in jewels , mini dress, but the Holy said to pray for such a person and that's what I am learning to do now. The Holy Spirit have a work to do, let us pray ask him let these His people see what is wrong and develop a change of heart. We can change people the Holy Spirit who is going to get the job done. We are the ones to deliver the message in truth and love just as Jesus did. Lets pray for each other more..
I begin to read some of these comments and it brought back something to my mind. Being a young Christian in Jesus I worked a job where women came to make a career for themselves. One day I got into a conversation with one of the women about the Sabbath and how important it was. We actually had a little confrontation, she said she studied with some people in their home on Sunday and Sunday was the Sabbath! The nerve of her, I'm sure I thought. She is being so mislead, so I continued to argue with her about the true Sabbath, this went on for a little while and I think she even said, she was going to continue to do what she was doing, I didn't know what I was talking about. Then I heard Him, that small still voice..."This is not your job, leave her alone, pray for her and with her, and let me do MY job!" Whoa, that stopped me right there. She left and some years later an evangelistic meeting came into our town, called the Big Red Tent, and a preacher there began to teach from God's Word. This meeting lasting some time and in the end many people got baptized and accepted God's (not mine) Sabbath message, and guess what. This young lady that had come to my job was there and got baptized and she is still a member of the church today. Lesson for me, sometimes I major in minors and minor in majors but the job of the Holy Spirit reaches so much further than anything I could ever say or do. My job is to be a witness for Jesus, and I am still learning that, especially when you have grown children you want so badly to see come to know Him. God's timing then and now is not my timing, but His plans are always fulfilled. Criticizing and mis-judging are tricks from the devil to discourage and turn around those whose flame is beginning to glow. When God calls us to speak He has promised He will give us what to say, all we have to do is wait on the Lord, isn't that much better than running ahead of Him. I am so glad I don't have the final say so, how many would I have missed going by my guidelines who did not dress like I thought they should or act or speak like I think a Christian should. Let's use the power God has given us, the Holy Spirit, and pray for those who we see need it and for ourselves to be open and submissive to the power or the Holy Spirit, and watch God work. He knows what He is doing.
SS lesson quote:"What a complete perversion of the gospel! Freedom in Christ should mean freedom from the slavery of sin (Rom. 6:4-6). Any concept of freedom in Christ that leaves a person in the bondage of sin is the kind of error that Peter is warning about."
I challenge any reader to ask pastors or conference officials what the gospel is and then keep track of the various responses and see the variety.
A couple years ago an SDA seminary professor guest spoke at the church I usually attend. He presented that Adventists can not stop sinning only subdue it. This is being taught to SDA students, some of who will become pastors.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Is 1:18
Shall we just interpret this verse to mean that God allows sins as long as they are white or like wool??
We need to have the mind of Christ ....who loved righteousness & hated iniquity.
Humans inherited a subtle , subconscious death drive from Adam & Eve.
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!" Deut 30:19
I often wonder how the early church felt about Mary Magalene. I am sure "God's saints, who were jealous of his reputation" wanted to straighten her out. Afterall didn't she lapse back into her "bad behaviors" multiple times. Interestingly God's son, who knew him best, was not so concerned about how she reflected on the church or his own reputation. Is it just possible at times we engage in judging others because of a false and over developed sense of our understanding of God's will? Might I even suggest that God will hold us accountable for "our instruction" and its consequences much more than the actions of the person we wish to enlighten. You can never really see the plank in your own eye as well as the speck in someone else's. You can NEVER be too loving and accepting toward another fellow traveler who is on the journey with us. Perhaps the 1000 years of the millennium is needed for us to unlearn things WE THINK are important and for God to teach us what HE KNOWS is important. Just musing....
I have read most of the comments and as expected it is a broad spectrum. Having seen most of the examples over a substantial number of years, proper dress in church should be for one purpose, to glorify God. The popular trends of society will never be a standard acceptable, no matter what excuse is used to do what appeals to human nature. There are examples from church leadership, nearly every Sabbath morning that come dressed in T shirt and, or shorts, ready to go to some other type activity for Sabbath afternoon. 1Corinthias 10:31 is a guide for everyone. Respect and reverence in Gods' house should be our first choice. I site only one that I observe. An individual near the front with dyed green hair. Appropriate ? Hm.
Paul, I too have seen most of it over the years, and I have shaken my head and "tut-tutted" behind my hands about appearances and all that goes with it. But last year I was sitting behind this big guy dressed in leathers, who was sitting next to his tattooed wife in a church that I was visiting. What happened next blew my sanctimonious complacency out of the water. The Pastor invited them up the front of the church. This guy and his wife were recently baptized. They had come out of the Bikkie Gang culture and have come to love Jesus. But their testimony was not about where they had come from; it was about what they were doing now. They had to be coaxed to talk by the pastor because they were not used to standing up in front of genteel folks sitting in church, but they were working among people sharing the Gospel in a practical way that I would never dream of helping. I could not begin to tell you what they were doing. I forgot about their crude tattoos, and their rough leathers. I was moved to tears and saw Jesus at work in their lives and the lives of those they touched. Since then I have never thought of church as a place to dress up. Its a place to share. Look beyond the clothes and tattoos and you will see Jesus standing there.
I grew up wearing a suit and tie to church. I also used to wear a suit and tie to important business meetings. But in the last 15 years, the few times I've tried it, I've been the only one so attired, and made other feel uncomfortable. Culture changes. And no, that change has nothing to do with Biblical principles. We must change with it, or become irrelevant. I'm not talking about Biblical principles. But too often we confuse personal preferences with Biblical principles. I haven't worn a suit or tie to church in over 15 years. To do so would create barriers. Nowhere in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy does it say to do so. All of the churches I have been a member of in the last 15 years have people ranging from suit and tie to blue jeans. No, I'm not fond of green hair. But green hair is NOT a sin. Judging is.
I would like to suggest and remind us, that a book can not be judge by its cover! the bible is not exception to it and much less as we gain the knowledge written with blood and suffering and in the concepts so vividly narrated by all---including Jesus! judgement is only applicable to Jesus- He is in charge and none of us has had nor will have that tough job to do. I said tough! and when we make it so easy to pass judgment, we do not have nor will ever have the qualifications to do so, perfection is something we are not born with--Adam and Eva were the perfect image and they disqualify themselves by cause and effect of the their choice. Jesus led by example and even though He was perfect! He never passed judgement on anyone even though he was qualify to do so! the moral of the story is that as genuine christians and with the help of the Holy Spirit and by allowing us to be guide and totally submerge and engulf by His Power, Love will be the precursor of how we see and perceive others.
I enjoyed all your contribution. One thing is sure for us all is that we should pray for all those who are weak in faith that the Holy Spirit should open their spiritual eye of understanding towards things of the Spirit. When we are on our own study, this holy book called Bible, dear friend, no one will tell you to start changing everything that is not of God even in our dressing. Remember change is not automatic. We Adventist should not be told to dress decent because it is part of our reform. We should try and be reading some of our Spirit of Prophecy it will help us alot. Is a battle we need to pray for one another. thank.