Liberty

Paul pointed out that Christians, as members of the Body of Christ have liberty.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

What is liberty? Freedom. Liberty is freedom from a life penalized by everlasting punishment, and death for our sins. Freedom to live our lives for God, without fear, or apology, freedom to be a peculiar people set apart from the world.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Freedom to follow God with all our being, the freedom to do three things. Christians have the freedom to take up the responsibility of following two Commandments and a Great Commission.

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Look at the first and great commandment "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.", what does it say to you, how does it make you feel?

Do you love the Lord you God with all your heart? How about all your soul, or mind?

Think about that, how do we even begin to do that?

Christians have to put God first in everything we do, When we wake up, when we go to sleep, and all times in between.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Praise God, thank Him, giving God the glory for your life, sanctifying yourself to be holy even as He is holy.

1 Peter 1:16

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

This is our acceptable sacrifice, giving praise to God continually. Christians put God first.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

It took a little while for that second commandment to sink in, I mean really sink in. The ramifications of what it really means to love your neighbor as yourself, and just how simplistically hard it really is.

The first and foremost love, is that of eternal life! Aren't you glad that someone cared enough for you, to have shared the Gospel with you? You have received the greatest gift, salvation, you have the joy, promise, and hope of eternal life. Don't you want your neighbor to have the same promise?

Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

To take it further, think of this, I would never lie, cheat, steal, or cause injury to myself, I would never do something to hurt myself. So, if I love my neighbor as myself, certainly I would not do anything that would cause him harm.

Think of that, how nice it would be, literally peace on earth...

That is surely utopian thinking but it does not release us from the responsibility presented in the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 5:38-48

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We are to be the example, a living example of God's love to our fellowman. No matter the cost, we have the freedom to love our God, and show it by loving our neighbor as ourselves.

The Great Commission to Christians: Go in to all the world and teach and preach the gospel, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching what God has commanded.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Build the Body of Christ, strengthen the Body of Christ.

Christians, if we strive for these three things...

Two commandments of love, and the commission to spread that love...

The fruits of the harvest would be such we can not even imagine, God promises us such joy and satisfaction in living for Him.