No, Christians cannot do anything they want; freedom from law does not mean license to sin.
Les Feldick clarifies that while believers are no longer under the legalistic system of the law, they are under grace, which is not permission to live selfishly. The Bible teaches that all things are lawful but not all are expedient or edifying, and believers must avoid causing weaker brothers to stumble. The Holy Spirit now controls the believer's life, leading to obedience from the heart.
1 Corinthians 6:12 — This verse directly addresses the question by stating that while all things are lawful, not all things are expedient, and believers should not be brought under the power of anything.
Romans 6:14-15 — This passage explains that being under grace rather than law does not give license to sin; Paul asks 'Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid.'
The Bible makes clear that believers are no longer under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). However, this freedom is not a license to sin. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul writes, 'All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.' Similarly, 1 Corinthians 10:23 states, 'All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.' Thus, while the law's restrictions are lifted, the believer's conduct must still be governed by what is beneficial and edifying. Furthermore, Romans 6:15 asks, 'What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.' This indicates that the abolition of the law does not mean an endorsement of sin. Instead, the believer's freedom is to be used responsibly, not as an occasion for the flesh.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Christians are free from the law's legalistic system, but this freedom is not a license to do anything they want. He points out that while all things are lawful for the believer because they are not under the law, they are not to be brought under the power of any forbidden thing (1 Corinthians 6:12). He also notes that grace operates differently from law: instead of external commandments, the believer responds out of a heart of love, automatically adhering to the moral principles of the law without being legally bound to it. Les also stresses the importance of not causing others to stumble. He gives the example of eating meat offered to idols: a believer might have liberty to eat, but if it offends a weaker brother or an unbeliever, they should abstain for their sake. He adds that the unbelieving world is often more critical of believers than God is, so believers must be careful in their conduct.
Les Feldick directly addresses this in the context of Romans 6:15, where Paul poses the question, 'Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?' He answers emphatically, 'God forbid,' and clarifies that a better translation would be 'banish the thought.' He teaches that while we are not under the legalistic system of the law, we are under grace, which is totally different in our response to God. Grace does not give permission to sin; rather, the believer's life is now controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Les Feldick explains that Christians are not under the Ten Commandments as a legalistic system, but the commandments' moral principles still apply. He notes that Paul reiterates all the Ten Commandments except one (the Sabbath) in the New Testament epistles. For example, he says that the believer is not going to steal, commit adultery, or have pagan idols. The believer adheres to these from the heart, not out of legal obligation.
Les Feldick teaches that even if an action is permissible for the believer, it may not be expedient or edifying. He points out that believers must consider how their actions affect others, especially weaker believers and unbelievers. In the context of eating meat offered to idols, he says that if a weaker believer would be caused to stumble, the believer should abstain from that liberty. This principle applies to many areas not specifically delineated in Scripture, such as diet, alcoholic beverages, and other personal choices.
Les Feldick warns against participating in anything that would involve fellowship with demons, such as pagan idol worship. In the context of 1 Corinthians 10, he says that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice are sacrificed to demons, and believers should not have fellowship with demons. This implies that Christians cannot mix the worship of God with anything associated with evil.
Fellowship with Demons
Les teaches that believers cannot have fellowship with demons, showing that grace does not allow participation in idolatry or anything contrary to God.
Grace vs. Law
Les contrasts grace and law, explaining that under grace, believers are not under the threat of legalistic punishment but have liberty, yet they are still responsible to follow God.
Liberty and Offense
Les emphasizes that even if an action is permissible for the believer, they should abstain if it would cause a weaker believer or an unbeliever to stumble, showing that Christian liberty is not absolute.
Legalism vs. Finished Work
Les warns against legalism, which attempts to subjugate believers to law-keeping, and stresses that grace is based on faith in the finished work of the cross.
All Things Lawful
Les explains that 'all things are lawful' means freedom from the law's burden, but he emphasizes that believers should not be brought under the power of anything, and the Holy Spirit controls their lives.
Personal Liberty and Weak Believers
Les teaches that in areas not specifically addressed in Scripture, the individual believer has liberty before God, but must be careful not to cause a weak believer to stumble.
Law Written on Hearts
Les clarifies that the moral principles of the law are not abolished; believers automatically adhere to them from the heart because of their love for God.
Under Grace, Not Law
Les directly addresses the question by affirming that we are not under the law but under grace, and then emphatically rejects the idea that this permits sin: 'God forbid'.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This verse establishes that believers are no longer under the law but under grace, setting the stage for the question of whether they can sin freely.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
This verse directly answers the question by rejecting the idea that grace gives license to sin.
1 Corinthians 6:12: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
This verse shows that while believers have liberty, not everything is beneficial, and they should not become enslaved to anything.
1 Corinthians 10:23: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
This verse parallels 1 Corinthians 6:12, emphasizing that liberty must be guided by what builds up.
No. While believers are not under the law, Paul says 'God forbid' to the idea that grace permits sin. Grace deals with sin in love, but God will discipline believers when they fail, moving from one level of discipline to another.
The moral principles of the Ten Commandments still apply, but not as a legalistic system. Believers adhere to them from the heart because of their love for God, not out of legal obligation.
Even if an action is not explicitly forbidden, it may not be expedient or edifying. Believers should consider whether it builds up others and whether it might cause a weaker believer to stumble.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Lord's Table — 1 Corinthians 10:16