Spiritual Liberty (1)
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.—John 16:8
The Spirit of God sets us at liberty, in the whole course of salvation, from the beginning to the end, when he calls us, justifies us, sanctifies us, and fully glorifies us.
(1) The Spirit of God calls us powerfully and effectually. Living in the church does not set us at liberty unless the Spirit stirs us up to answer a divine call. 'For many are called but few are chosen' (Matt. 22:14). In the church there are hypocrites as well as sound Christians. A man may have all the outward privileges, and still be a spiritual slave in the very heart of the church.
The beginning of spiritual liberty is when the Spirit of God stirs up the heart to answer God's call to salvation. When we are exhorted to believe and repent, the Spirit gives power to respond to God, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief' (Mark 9:24). When the Spirit of God in the ordinance says, 'Seek my face,' the soul replies, 'your face, Lord, will I seek' (Psa. 27:8). Now this answer of the soul, by the power of the Spirit subduing our corruptions, goes together with the obedience of the inward man. For man answers the call, not only by the speech of the heart, 'Lord, I do it'; but he indeed does it. When by the power of the Spirit we come out of the world and out of our corruptions, and walk more freely in the ways of God, we are set at spiritual liberty. Now it is the Spirit who does all this. For if it were not the Spirit that persuaded the soul when the minister speaks, alas! all ministerial persuasions are to no purpose. It is enough for the soul to be convinced of his misery and bondage, of what he is by nature; for let him be convinced of that once, and all the rest of the links of the golden chain of salvation will follow. The first work of the Spirit in spiritual liberty is to convince us of sin and misery; and then to work an answer of the soul and an obedience of the whole man.
(1) The Spirit of God calls us powerfully and effectually. Living in the church does not set us at liberty unless the Spirit stirs us up to answer a divine call. 'For many are called but few are chosen' (Matt. 22:14). In the church there are hypocrites as well as sound Christians. A man may have all the outward privileges, and still be a spiritual slave in the very heart of the church.
The beginning of spiritual liberty is when the Spirit of God stirs up the heart to answer God's call to salvation. When we are exhorted to believe and repent, the Spirit gives power to respond to God, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief' (Mark 9:24). When the Spirit of God in the ordinance says, 'Seek my face,' the soul replies, 'your face, Lord, will I seek' (Psa. 27:8). Now this answer of the soul, by the power of the Spirit subduing our corruptions, goes together with the obedience of the inward man. For man answers the call, not only by the speech of the heart, 'Lord, I do it'; but he indeed does it. When by the power of the Spirit we come out of the world and out of our corruptions, and walk more freely in the ways of God, we are set at spiritual liberty. Now it is the Spirit who does all this. For if it were not the Spirit that persuaded the soul when the minister speaks, alas! all ministerial persuasions are to no purpose. It is enough for the soul to be convinced of his misery and bondage, of what he is by nature; for let him be convinced of that once, and all the rest of the links of the golden chain of salvation will follow. The first work of the Spirit in spiritual liberty is to convince us of sin and misery; and then to work an answer of the soul and an obedience of the whole man.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 32-33 [36-38]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Glorious Freedom, pp. 32-33 [36-38]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Categories
Recent
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 22
December 22nd, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 21
December 21st, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 20
December 20th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 19
December 19th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 18
December 18th, 2024
2024
January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
No Comments