25 Bible Verses about Abuse, Of Christian Freedom
Most Relevant Verses
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, by making you slaves to the lusts thereof.
for then sin shall have no dominion over you: because you are not under the legal, but under the gospel dispensation.
Wherefore, since we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every incumbrance, and the sin which does so easily embarrass us, and let us pursue with constancy the course that is proposed to us: having Jesus in our view, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God.
If any man see his brother commit a sin, which is not a mortal sin, let him pray to God, who will grant him life, for such as do not commit a mortal sin. there is a sin unto death: in which case I do not enjoin any prayer to be made. every thing that is contrary to virtue, is a sin: but every sin is not a mortal sin: we know that a true christian will not commit such a sin, for he that is the child of God keeps upon his guard, so that the wicked spirit does not approach him.
Do we then conclude thus, let us continue in sin, that the divine favour may be more fully display'd? God forbid, that we who have died to sin should live any longer therein.
but say you, "if our unfaithfulness displays the veracity of God, what shall we say? is it not injustice in God to inflict punishment?" not at all: for then how could God judge the world? "but, say you, if the veracity of God hath appeared more illustrious thro' my unfaithfulness, why then am I condemned as a sinner?read more.
and why may we not do evil, that good may come?" which is slanderously reported to be our maxim, by some, whose condemnation is just.
Now if it be a sin to seek for justification by Christ, then is Christ the minister of sin, which cannot be. on the contrary, if I re-establish what I have demolish'd, I show myself a prevaricator. for by one law, I am dead to the other law, that I might live unto God:read more.
I am crucified with Christ, it is not I that now live, but Christ that liveth in me; the life I have in this body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if justification be by the law, Christ died to no purpose.
but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak. for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion? so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died.read more.
but when you thus offend against the brethren, by wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
for, brethren, you have been called to liberty. only abuse not this freedom as a pretext to vice, but in offices of love be as servants one to another.
men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants
we have it from all quarters, that incest is practis'd among you, and such as is not among the Gentiles, that of a man's having his father's wife. this you have made a matter of levity, instead of being concern'd in discarding him that has done such an action.
Are all things lawful for me? however, all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? however, I will not be a slave to any. "meat is design'd for the belly, and the belly for meat:" true, yet God has design'd both for destruction. now the body is not design'd for licentiousness, but for the glory of the Lord; since the Lord died for the glorification of the body: for as God hath raised up the Lord, so will he likewise raise us up to partake of his own power.read more.
Don't you know, that your bodies are parts of Christ's mystical body? now, how can that which is Christ's, be made the property of a very creature? it cannot be. why, don't you perceive, that where there is such an attachment, they are but as one person? for the scripture says, "they two shall be as one." but he that is attach'd to the Lord, is united to him by one and the same spirit. flee licentiousness. no other sin that a man commits does affect the church as a body: but the licentious commits a fraud against the whole body to which he belongs. what! know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the holy spirit, which is in you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? for you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel, who stiles herself a prophetess, and teaches and seduces my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her space to repent of her fornication, but she repented not. behold, I will confine her to her bed, and those that commit adultery with her I will severely afflict, except they repent of their actions.
Now there was a certain man named Ananias who with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought the rest which he laid at the apostles feet.
when you thus assemble therefore, this is not eating the Lord's supper. for in eating every one strives to take his own supper first, and while one is hungry, another is surfeited. what, have you no houses to eat and drink in? or have ye a contempt for the church of God, or is it to insult those who are in want? what shall I say to you? shall I commend such behaviour? I do not approve of it.
Wherefore, since we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every incumbrance, and the sin which does so easily embarrass us, and let us pursue with constancy the course that is proposed to us:
If we say that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and have no regard to truth. if we confess our sins, as he is faithful and just, he will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all iniquity. if we say that we have not sinned, we impeach his veracity, and discredit his word.
let no man mislead you by vain reasonings: for it is for these vices, that the wrath of God lights upon the incredulous.
and which the architects rejected, will be an occasion to the incredulous of their stumbling, and bruising themselves thereby:
if we keep his commandments, that is a proof that we know him. he that says, he knows him, and does not keep his commandments, is a lyar, and an enemy to the truth:
Cultivate social virtue; then desire spiritual gifts, but chiefly that of explaining the prophetical writings. for he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men, but to God: for no man can understand the mysteries he delivers by the spirit. but he that expounds, speaks to the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men.read more.
he that speaks in an unknown tongue, edifies himself alone: but he that expounds, edifies the church. I wish you all had the gift of languages, but rather that you expounded: for greater is he that expounds, than he that speaks unknown languages, except he interpret what he says, that the church may be edified by it. for instance, brethren, if I deliver myself to you in an unknown tongue, what good shall I do you, except I deliver to you the meaning of what is said, whether it relate to revelation, to mystical knowledge, to prophecy, or to doctrine. And even inanimate instruments of sound, whether pipe or harp, except they have a distinct variety of notes, how can they express any significant tune? for if the trumpet give an undistinguish'd sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? in like manner, if you express yourselves in words of obscure signification, you may as well talk to the wind, for how shall any comprehend you? there are, it may be, as many different languages in the world as there are people, and none of them without signification. therefore if I don't know the meaning of the language, with respect to him that speaks, I shall be a barbarian; and he that speaks shall be a barbarian to me. But since there is emulation among you concerning spiritual gifts, seek to abound in the exercise of such gifts as tend most to the edification of the church. wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation. for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prays, but my meaning is of no benefit to others. what then is to be done? why, I will pray by the spirit, but my prayer shall be intelligible: I will sing by the spirit, but my hymn shall be intelligible. otherwise if you should give thanks by the spirit in an unknown tongue, the hearer cannot but appear unlearned upon this occasion; how then can he say Amen to thy thanksgiving? since he does not conceive what you say. thy thanksgiving indeed is right, but the other is not all edified by it. I thank God, I speak more languages than you all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words that convey my meaning to the instruction of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not childish in understanding: be as innocent as babes, but use your understanding like men.
Now as to things offered to idols, 'tis certain that the knowledge you all pretend to have, swells you with pride, but 'tis charity that edifieth. and if any man be conceited of his own knowledge, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it. but if a man love God, the same is taught by him.read more.
As to the eating therefore of what is offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that the heathen deities have no real existence, and that there is but one God. for tho' there are several titular deities, both in heaven and on earth: such as the whole crowd of gods, and lords among the Gentiles; yet to us there is but one God, the father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. But every one has not this knowledge: for some still imagine the idol represents a deity: and eat the meat under the notion of an offering to such a being: by which erroneous opinion they are infected with idolatry. meat does not recommend us to God: if we eat, we are not the better men; if we don't eat, we are not the worse. but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak. for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion? so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died. but when you thus offend against the brethren, by wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. wherefore if my eating makes my brother offend, I will never eat flesh rather than make my brother offend.
but I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there those that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who counselled Balac to ensnare the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
