14- FREEDOM & DISCIPLINE

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen.  

Lesson No. 14

FREEDOM & DISCIPLINE

References:     

Notes For Servants:

Objectives:

General:       

Specific:       

Instructions:

 

Bible Verse:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Lesson:

FREEDOM & DISCIPLINE

THE TWO TERMS ARE COMPLEMENTARY:

The word “freedom” has been greatly misunderstood. Many evils have been committed in the name of freedom, for freedom has been taken to mean rebellion against all restraints.  In fact, true  freedom and discipline are complementary.  St. Paul, writing about Christian freedom, were called to freedom, brethren, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole Law is flilfilled in one word, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”  (Gal. 5 :13-15)

From these words, we learn that a Christian has been ca11ed to a life of freedom.  In fact, freedom is one of the characteristics of God, and when God created man “in His image”, He gave him the gift of freedom. Man lost this freedom when he listened to Satan and became enslaved to sin.  But Our Lord Jesus Christ broke the power of sin by taking it upon Himself on the Cross. And now through union with Him, true freedom is available to us.  If we sincerely repent and ask Him to take over control of our lives, He gives us freedom from the dominion of sin so that we are no longer enslaved to sin.  “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

Every Christian who has experienced true repentance, is conscious of two natures within him: the old nature likes sin, and the new nature which hates sin.  The Bible calls these two natures the “flesh” and the Spirit” or the “old man” and the “new man”.  As St. Paul says in (Gal 5:17) “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

The Christian attains freedom when, through the power of the Holy Spirit, his spiritual nature overcomes his sinful inclinations.  This is what St. Paul meant when he said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  (Gal 2:20)

He also said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”  (Gal 6:14)

This can be applied to re1ationships between the sexes.

REPRESSION AND FEAR:

+ In the some circles, young people are taught to shun the opposite sex to such an extent, that they become suspicious of each other.  In extreme cases, the mere sight of a person of the opposite sex becomes a threat and a danger to spiritual life.  This is not freedom, but slavery.  The true Christian has pure eyes, and therefore regards people of the other sex in pure 1ight.  Christ said, “if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”  (Matt 6:22)

LUST:

• The opposite is also slavery, just as it is wrong for boys and girls to regard each other with fear and suspicion, so also is it wrong for them to encourage sexual passion. Any kind of sexual union which has not been sanctified by Holy flatrimony has the worst possible results, and always leads to hatred and enmity. The story of Amnon and Tamar is a typical example of what happens in such cases. After Arnnon had given full reins to his passion for Tamar, the Bible says, “Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her.”  (2 Sam 13:15)

In holy matrimony, sexual union increases the love between usband and Wife, because their love is characterized by faithfulness, and by a sense of responsibility.  Adultery, on the other hand, is mere slavery to the passions of the flesh, and therefore can only end in misery.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS:

The other is a person and not a thing. If I remember this, I will not treat anyone as a tool to satisfy my own lust.

As a Christian, II must not be a stumbling-block to others. If my heart is filled with the love of Christ, I shall naturally respect my companions of the opposite sex, and I should do anything which will cause them to stumble.

CHRISTIAN RESTRAINT AND DISCIPLINE:

(Read Gal. 5:16-25)

The true Christian lives according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh.  He is conscious of the existence of his old sinful nature and, therefor, he daily yields his instinct and passions to Christ. Without the new nature which Christ gives, man finds himself a victim of sexual sins.

St. Paul says, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  (2 Tim. 2:22)

A true Christian does this, realizing, as Paul did, that “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal 5:24‑25)

Conclusion: