Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Savoy Declaration · 21.1–21.3
21.1. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and curse of the law; and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love and willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law, for the substance of them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, the whole legal administration of the covenant of grace, to which the Jewish church was subjected; and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
Proof texts
- Tit. 2:14
- 1 Thess. 1:10 — [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
- Gal. 3:13 — [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” —
- Gal. 1:4 — [4] who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
- Col. 1:13 — [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
- Acts 26:18 — [18] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- Rom. 6:14 — [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
- Rom. 8:28 — [28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
- Ps. 119:71 — [71] It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
- 1 Cor. 15:54, 55, 56, 57 — [54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” [55] “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Rom. 8:1 — [1] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Rom. 5:1, 2 — [1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- Rom. 8:14, 15 — [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- 1 John 4:18 — [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
- Gal. 3:9, 14 — [9] So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. [14] so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
- Gal. 4:1, 2, 3, 6, 7 — [1] I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, [2] but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. [3] In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
- Gal. 5:1 — [1] For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- Acts 15:10, 11 — [10] Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? [11] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
- Heb. 4:14, 16 — [14] Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Heb. 10:19, 20, 21, 22 — [19] Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- John 7:38, 39 — [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” [39] Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- 2 Cor. 3:13, 17, 18 — [13] not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Tit. 2:14 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 22 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?
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21.2. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
God alone is lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his Word, or not contained in it; so that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.
Proof texts
- Jam. 4:12
- Rom. 14:4 — [4] Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
- Acts 4:19 — [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
- Acts 5:29 — [29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
- 1 Cor. 7:23 — [23] You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.
- Matt. 23:8, 9, 10 — [8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
- 2 Cor. 1:24 — [24] Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
- Matt. 15:9 — [9] in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
- Col. 2:20, 22, 23 — [20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations — [22] (referring to things that all perish as they are used) — according to human precepts and teachings? [23] These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
- Gal. 1:10 — [10] For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
- Gal. 2:4, 5 — [4] Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in — who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery — [5] to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
- Gal. 5:1 — [1] For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- Rom. 10:17 — [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
- Rom. 14:23 — [23] But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
- Isa. 8:20 — [20] To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
- Acts 17:11 — [11] Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
- John 4:22 — [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
- Hos. 5:11 — [11] Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.
- Rev. 13:12, 16, 17 — [12] It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. [16] Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, [17] so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
- Jer. 8:9 — [9] The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Jam. 4:12 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 20 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?
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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?