The liberty which Christ has purchased for believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; from the evil of afflictions, the 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 child-like love and willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law. But, under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, 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.
Liberty is neither license nor autonomy. As Christians, we do not have an absolute liberty to do as we choose no matter what, but a regulated liberty to obey God without hindrance from man. We are freed from usurped, unlawful authority in order that we might serve the only legitimate authority (God) and perform our duties to one another.
The believer under the old covenant certainly enjoyed a greater degree of freedom than any unbeliever, but this freedom is broader still under the new covenant. No longer are we subject to the ceremonial law. We are also afforded a "greater boldness of access" to God and enjoy a more full communication of God's Spirit.
Tomorrow: The liberty of the Christian's conscience.
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