1 Corinthians 8-9
A.W. Tozer said Jesus is God, “limited deliberately.” He never ceased being God. But He chose to limit Himself when He put on human flesh. In a sense, Jesus went into the ring with one hand tied behind his back… deliberately.
Paul apparently believes that is the model for living this Christian life. In Christ we have freedom, rights. We are “children of the King,” “joint heirs with Jesus,” “chosen.” We are not bound by a list of do’s and don’ts because Jesus fulfilled the Law on our behalf.
Free at last!
But Paul tells us to limit deliberately our rights and freedoms for the sake of others. For instance, I have the freedom to attend the wedding of a homosexual couple. Yet because my going can be interpreted as approval, or a celebration of that sin, I choose to decline the invitation. Being at that wedding wouldn’t effect my going to heaven. It might, however, effect that of someone else who looks at my example and reads “homosexuality is not a big deal,” “sin is no big deal.”
I want to limit deliberately what I do, where I go, what I say in order to represent Jesus the way He deserves. The pleasures of this world aren’t worth it. What is permissible is not always profitable. May I choose holiness, absolute truth, and the inerrant Word of God to be my standard of living, no matter what freedoms I have in Christ.
Those freedoms cost Jesus a great deal. Deliberately limiting myself for His sake is a no-brainer.
alighttomyway 