Freedom of the Gospel in Christ's Teachings
The concept of the "freedom of the Gospel" in Christ's teachings refers to the liberation from various forms of bondage, including the law, sin, and death, which is offered through the message of Jesus Christ [1]. This freedom is not merely an absence of constraint but an active state conferred by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit [1].
The Gospel itself is understood as "good tidings of great joy for all people" [4], a message that brings life and immortality to light [4]. It is described as the "power of God to salvation" and is characterized as glorious and everlasting [4]. Christ's teachings proclaim this freedom, as foretold in Isaiah 61:1 and reiterated by Jesus in Luke 4:18 [1]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:18, speaks of making the Gospel "free" by not abusing his authority, implying that the Gospel should be accessible and unburdened by human imposition [3]. John Chrysostom interprets this as doing something beyond mere command, a good deed of free will that brings greater reward [9].
The freedom offered by the Gospel encompasses several key areas:
- Freedom from the Law: Believers are freed from the demands of the Mosaic Law and its curse [1]. This is not an abolition of righteousness but a fulfillment through Christ, who is the "end of the law for righteousness" [5]. The Gospel reveals God's righteousness apart from the law, a righteousness received through faith in Christ [5]. The Christian's freedom from the law as a means of justification and sanctification is "according to the glorious gospel" [7].
- Freedom from Sin: The Gospel liberates individuals from the dominion of sin [1]. This freedom is a core aspect of the new life in Christ.
- Freedom from the Fear of Death: Through Christ, believers are freed from the fear of death [1].
- Freedom from Corruption: The Gospel promises freedom from corruption, leading to the "glorious liberty of the children of God" [1].
The Gospel is also referred to as "the perfect law of liberty" [10], suggesting that while it provides freedom, it also guides believers in a new way of living. The preaching of the Gospel is to be done "with all freedom unhinderedly," as seen in Acts 28:31, emphasizing its open and unrestricted proclamation [2]. The doctrine of grace, which is the subject matter of the Gospel, is a declaration of God's free grace in salvation [11]. This message is not of deceit but is the "word of truth" [8]. The liberality demonstrated by believers, such as giving to the poor, is a testament to their subjection to the Gospel of Christ, causing others to glorify God [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberty, Christian — Foretold -- Isa 42:7; 61:1. Conferred By God. -- Col 1:13. By Christ. -- Ga 4:3-5; 5:1. By the Holy Spirit. -- Ro 8:15; 2Co 3:17. Through the gospel. -- Joh 8:32. Confirmed by Christ -- Joh 8:36. Proclaimed by Christ -- Isa 61:1; Lu 4:18. The service of Christ is -- 1Co 7:22. Is freedom from The law. -- Ro 7:6; 8:2. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The fear of death. -- Heb 2:15. Sin. -- Ro 6:7,18. Corruption. -- Ro 8:21. Bondage of man. -- 1Co 9:19. Jewish ordinances. -- Ga 4:3; Col 2:20. Called the glorious liberty of the children of God -- Ro”
- Acts “Acts 28:31 (Darby) — preaching the kingdom ofGod, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom unhinderedly.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 9:18 (Geneva1599) — What is my reward then? verely that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authoritie in ye Gospel.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness Imputed — Predicted -- Isa 56:1; Eze 16:14. Revealed in the gospel -- Ro 1:17. Is of the Lord -- Isa 54:17. Described as The righteousness of faith. -- Ro 4:13; 9:30; 10:6. The righteousness of God, without the law. -- Ro 3:21. The righteousness of God by faith in Christ. -- Ro 3:22. Christ being made righteousness to us. -- 1Co 1:30. Our being made the righteousness of God, in Christ. -- 2Co 5:21. Christ is the end of the law for -- Ro 10:4. Christ called THE LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:6. Christ brings in an everlasting righteousness -- Da 9:2”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 1:11: According to the glorious gospel--The Christian's freedom from the law as a sanctifier, as well as a justifier, implied in the previous, Ti1 1:9-10, is what this Ti1 1:11 is connected with. This exemption of the righteous from the law, and assignment of it to the lawless as its true object, is "according to the Gospel of the glory (so the Greek, compare Note, see on Co2 4:4) of the blessed God." The Gospel manifests God's glory (Eph 1:17; Eph 3:16) in accounting "righteous" the believer, through the righteousness of Christ, without "the law" (Ti1 1:”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 2:3: For our exhortation,.... Or "consolation"; for the ministry of the Gospel, which is here meant, consists of doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice; as well as of exhortations to the exercise of grace and discharge of duty: and this was not of deceit; or "error", was not "fallacious", as the Ethiopic version renders it; it consisted of nothing but truth, it was the word of truth, and the truth as it is in Jesus; nor did it pr”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: Christ without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the Gospel.” What sayest thou? tell me. “If thou preach the Gospel, it is nothing for thee to glory of, but it is, if thou make the Gospel of Christ without charge?” Is this therefore greater than that? By no means; but in another point of view it hath some advantage, inasmuch as the one is a command, but the other is a good deed of my own free-will: for what things are done beyond the commandment, have a great reward in this respect: but such as are in pursuance of a commandment, no”
- James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 1:25: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,.... By which is meant, not the moral law, but the Gospel; for only of that is the apostle speaking in the context: this is no other than the word of truth, with which God begets men of his own will; and is the ingrafted word which is able to save, and of which men should be doers, as well as hearers, Jam 1:18, and this is compared to a glass by the Apostle Paul, Co2 3:18, and the word here used for looking into it is the same word the Apostle Peter uses of the angels, who desired to look into the mysteries of the Gospe”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:2: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God,.... Not the free love and favour of God in his heart towards his people; nor internal grace wrought in the heart of the apostle; but either the gift of grace, as in Eph 3:7 qualifying him for the work of the ministry; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "if ye have heard the gift of the grace of God"; or rather the doctrine of grace, the Gospel, the subject matter of which is the grace of God; it is a declaration of the free grace of God in the salvation of men; and it is the means of conveying the grace ”