25 Bible Verses about Abuse, Of Christian Freedom
Most Relevant Verses
A great cloud of witnesses surround us. Therefore let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that easily entangles us. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Look to (consider without distractions) Jesus, the Leader (Predecessor) and Finisher (Perfecter) of our faith. He despised the shame. He endured the stake for the joy that was set before him. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If any man see his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he will ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not leading to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I do not say that he should make request concerning this. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not leading to death. We know that no one who is born of God practices sin. He who was born from God watches over himself, and the evil one does not touch him.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We died to sin! How could we any longer live in it?
If our unrighteousness defines God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his anger is he? I speak in human terms. Not at all! For how will God judge the world? But what if my untruth serves God's glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I be condemned as a sinner?read more.
Why not say, Let us do evil so that good may come? Some people have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They should be condemned and they will be.
We sought to be righteous in Christ. And we were found to be sinners. Is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. If I build up again the things that I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. I, through the law, died to the law that I might live to (for) God.read more.
I have been impaled with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I now live in the flesh (physical body) I live by faith. This is the faith that is in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself up for me. I do not reject the grace (totally undeserved gift) of God: for if righteousness is [gained] through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Be careful that this freedom does not become a stumbling block to those who are weak. If any man with knowledge sees you having a meal from an idol's temple, will the conscience of the weak one be emboldened (encouraged) to eat food offered to idols? And because of your knowledge the weak brother will perish. Christ died for him!read more.
When you sin against your brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
For you brothers, were called for freedom; only do not use your freedom for an occasion to the flesh. Serve one another through love!
Be free, and yet do not use your freedom for a covering for evil, but as servants of God.
It is reported that there is sexual immorality among you. This type of fornication is not even found among the people of the nations (who do not know God). There is a man who has his father's wife. And you are proud! You should have been filled with sadness that he did this deed. And you should have ejected (expelled) (excommunicated) (disfellowshiped) him from your congregation.
All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient (profitable) (good). All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the authority (power) (control) of anything. Foods are for the belly, and the belly for foods, but God will destroy both of them. Now the body is not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. God has resurrected the Lord, and will also resurrect us by his own power.read more.
Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and unite them with (turn them into) the members of a prostitute? God forbid! What? Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one (united with her) body? For he said: Two will be one flesh. He who is joined to the Lord is one (united with him in) spirit. Flee from fornication! Every sin that a man does is outside his body. But he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? That one (Greek: hos he ho which, that one) is in you. You received it from God. You are not your own. You are bought with a price! Therefore glorify God in your body.
But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads my servants astray so that they commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Watch this! I am going to throw her into a sickbed. Those who commit sexual sins with her will also suffer much trouble, unless they repent and turn away from what she is doing.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. They kept back part of the money. His wife was also knowledgeable of the transaction. They brought part of the funds to the apostles.
When you come together to one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating every one goes ahead with out waiting for everybody else. One is hungry and another is drunk. Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the congregation of God, and shame them that have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I will not praise you!
A great cloud of witnesses surround us. Therefore let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that easily entangles us. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Let no one deceive you with empty words. It is because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
It is a stone that people stumble over, and a large rock that people find offensive. They stumble because they are disobedient to the word. To this end they were appointed.
We know that we know him, when we obey his commandments. He who says: I know him, and does not obey his commandments is a liar! The truth is not in him.
Everyone who practices (exercises) sin also commits lawlessness, because sin is lawlessness.
Pursue love, yet zealously desire spiritual gifts, especially prophesy (proclaiming God's Word). For the person who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to men, but to God. No man understands him. He speaks secrets by the spirit. But the person who prophesies (proclaims God's Word openly) speaks to men to build up, encourage and comfort.read more.
The person who speaks in an unknown tongue enlightens himself; but he who declares God's Word enlightens the entire congregation! I would like it that you all speak with tongues, but I prefer that you prophesy. The person who announces (teaches) (preaches) God's Word is greater than the person who speaks with tongues. The person who speaks with tongues should have an interpreter so the congregation may receive understanding and knowledge. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? Inanimate objects that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? If the trumpet gives an unclear sound, who will prepare himself for the battle? The same for you unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will speak into the air. There are many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. Therefore if I do not know the meaning of what someone is saying I will be a foreigner to him that speaks. And he that speaks will be a foreigner to me too. As much as you are zealous for spiritual gifts, strive to build-up (increase) the enlightenment (understanding) of the congregation. Let the one who speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding (mind) is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding (Greek: nous: mind) also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding (mind) also. When you bless with the spirit, how will the audience of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you said? For you give thanks well, but the other is not given understanding. I thank God that I speak with tongues more then all of you. Yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brothers, do not be like children in understanding. When it comes to evil be innocent children but in your thinking be mature adults.
Concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If any man thinks he knows any thing, he really knows nothing, according to what he ought to know. But if any man loves God, God knows him.read more.
Concerning the eating of food offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. There are those called gods in heaven or on earth. There are many gods and many lords. But to us there is but one God, the Father. All things come from him and we live for him. And there is one Lord Jesus Christ. All things were made through him and we were made through him. Not all people know this. Some eat food offered to idols and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not recommend us to God. If we do not eat we are not worse. If we eat we are not better. Be careful that this freedom does not become a stumbling block to those who are weak. If any man with knowledge sees you having a meal from an idol's temple, will the conscience of the weak one be emboldened (encouraged) to eat food offered to idols? And because of your knowledge the weak brother will perish. Christ died for him! When you sin against your brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. If food makes my brother stumble I will eat no food at all so I do not make my brother stumble.
I have a few things against you: you have people there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to present a snare to the sons of Israel, to eat of idol sacrifices and commit fornication.
