Yes — Christian liberty, as Paul defines it, is the freedom Christ gives believers from the yoke of legalism, and it is not a license to sin.
Paul's Christian liberty is the freedom Christ has already secured for believers — freedom from the yoke of legalism and bondage. In Galatians 5:1 he tells believers to stand fast in that liberty and not become entangled again in bondage. Les Feldick emphasizes that this liberty is not a license to live as we please; it is a true freedom that is too often misunderstood in Christendom.
Galatians 5:1 — Paul's central command to stand fast in Christ-made liberty and avoid the yoke of bondage directly defines Christian liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17 — Paul locates liberty in the Spirit's presence, showing Christian liberty is freedom from the heavy hand of legalism.
In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he commands believers: 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' (Galatians 5:1). This defines Christian liberty as something Christ has already secured and something believers must actively keep. The same letter warns that anyone depending on circumcision in the flesh for salvation will find that Christ profits them nothing (Galatians 5:2). Paul also writes that 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty' (2 Corinthians 3:17), tying true liberty to the Spirit's presence rather than to outward law. In Galatians 2:4, Paul describes false brethren who came in privily to spy out 'our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.'
Les Feldick teaches that Christian liberty is the freedom believers have in Christ, especially freedom from the yoke of legalism. He explains that Galatians was written because Jewish believers were pressuring Gentile believers to come under the Law, practicing circumcision and Judaism to the fullest extent. Paul's response was: stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). Les also notes that Paul refused to give in to those who wanted to bring believers back under bondage, not even for an hour.
The yoke of bondage Paul warns against is legalism — the law and Judaism. Les explains that the Galatians were being hammered by Jewish believers to return to circumcision and Judaism, and that false brethren tried to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus to bring them into bondage (Galatians 2:4). Paul's answer was to give no place to subjection, not even for an hour, and to tell believers to stand fast in Christ's liberty (Galatians 5:1).
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that liberty is not license. He says believers are not given the freedom to live as we please simply because God has saved us by His grace. True freedom is exercised when we become a believer, but the grace that saves us never gives us permission to do whatever we want.
Les says believers have an intense liberty that very few in Christendom understand. We are under the full exercise of our free will, and if we sin or fail, God does not respond as the law did with stoning or casting out, but deals with us in love and, when needed, discipline. He also applies this liberty to our thinking: the veil is removed when we turn to the Lord, and every believer has liberty to search the Scriptures and come to their own conclusions.
Paul's Tender Handling of Corinth
Les explains Paul delayed visiting Corinth so his personal reproof would not be more stringent; a letter was the kindlier way, reflecting the gentle, non-legalistic spirit of his liberty-based ministry.
Spying Out Our Liberty
Les shows that false brethren tried to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus in order to bring them into bondage under the law.
Stand Fast in Liberty
Les roots Christian liberty in Galatians 5:1, where Paul tells believers to stand immovable in the freedom Christ made and not be entangled again with the yoke of legalism.
The Yoke of Bondage Is Legalism
Les describes legalism and Judaism as the yoke of bondage and notes Paul's warning that depending on fleshly circumcision for salvation leaves Christ profiting you nothing.
Liberty That Is Not License
Les teaches that becoming a believer is when true freedom is understood, but that freedom is not a license to live as we please simply because we are saved by grace.
Not a License, but Full Free Will
Les says we are not free to do as we please, but we are under the full exercise of our free will and must never accept false teaching that adds requirements for being a child of God.
Liberty to Search the Scriptures
Les applies Christian liberty to the believer's mind: the veil is removed when the heart turns to the Lord, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty to search Scripture and come to your own conclusions.
Under Grace, Not Law
Les contrasts law and grace: law punished Sabbath stick-gathering with stoning, but under grace God deals with failing believers in love and discipline, giving believers an intense liberty most of Christendom does not understand.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Paul's clearest command defining Christian liberty and the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Shows that depending on circumcision in the flesh for salvation cancels the profit of Christ.
Galatians 2:4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Paul's description of false brethren trying to steal the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 3:17: Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Connects the Spirit's presence with liberty, a truth Les ties to the removal of the veil when a heart turns to the Lord.
No. Les Feldick says we are not given the freedom to live as we please simply because God has saved us by His grace. True liberty is freedom from legalism, not freedom to disobey.
The yoke of bondage is legalism — the law, Judaism, and any religious requirement added to salvation. Paul tells believers in Galatians 5:1 not to become entangled with that yoke again.
Yes. Les teaches that every believer has liberty to search the Scriptures and come to their own conclusions. He even says he does not mind if people write or call to say they disagree with him.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22