SD 21.3
Savoy Declaration
21.3. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practise any sin, or cherish any lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction; so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
Proof texts
- Gal. 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.
- 1 Pet. 2:16 — [16] Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
- 2 Pet. 2:19 — [19] They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
- John 8:34 — [34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
- Luke 1:74, 75 — [74] that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, [75] in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Gal. 5:13 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 20.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WCF 20.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?