1689 21.3

21.3. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience

They who upon pretence of Christian Liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinfull lust; as they do thereby pervert the main design of the Grace of the Gospel, to their own Destruction; so they wholy 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 Life.

Proof texts

• Romans 6:1, 2 — [1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
• Galatians 5:13 — [13] For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• 2 Peter 2:18, 21 — [18] For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. [21] For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Romans 6:1, 2 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WCF 20.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WCF 20.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WCF 20.1 · WCF 20.2 · WCF 20.3 · WCF 20.4 · SD 21.1 · SD 21.2 · SD 21.3