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.
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