“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
In the same passage where we are brought face to face with the ministry of the Spirit, as it applies to the liberty of the believer, we are confronted with the attitude which the believer must have concerning the Spirit. He is Lord. Why does Paul write specifically concerning this? The point of “contact,” or rather of the moving of the Spirit, is when faith stretches out the hand to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. This was the case with the woman, mentioned in Matthew’s gospel, who was “diseased with an issue of blood twelve years.” (9:20) Her faith in Christ had brought her to the point of saying within herself: “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” (v.21) At the point of contact by faith, in touching the border, or hem, of Christ’s garment, the power of God was revealed in her. She was healed. Scripture tells us that, Jesus knew immediately that “…virtue had gone forth out of Him.” (Mk.5:30) Though there was a multitude surrounding him at the time, the touch of faith by a single woman in the crowd, was noticed, acknowledged, and made an illustration for all to see. God’s way is that of faith, singular, specific faith in Christ, according to His word.
What then can be said of this “liberty” which the Spirit reveals, and communicates to the one who believes? We can say first of all that the Spirit’s liberty is as vast, and great, and unlimited, as the creation of God. God is not limited, or held captive by any power or force with respect to the will of God. The Spirit of God is at liberty, regardless of the opposition and human impossibility, to accomplish the will of the Father, for the glory of the Son. With regard to the believer, the liberty of the Spirit is revealed in him as he believes the truth of God, according to the gospel, relying wholly upon the Spirit’s resources and ministry to demonstrate Christ’s victory over sin, death, the world, and the devil. Herein is liberty, when the believer is free to live by the power of the Spirit, according to the will of God, for the glory and honor of Christ. How great then is this liberty? And how is it to be known and lived?
In the letter of Paul to the Romans, chapter eight, he writes: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (v.2) What does this mean, and how is it so? First of all, we find that the apostle speaks of the knowledge of the Spirit, and His work, as being represented as a “law.” Not only is the Spirit’s work and ministry a principle, by which God accomplishes His will in this world, but a law, immutable and never diminishing. It has its realization, and application, in the lives of men, because of the testimony of the Spirit in the life of the perfect Man, Christ Jesus. The subject of this law is “the Spirit of life.” It is not just the knowledge of the existence of the person of the Holy Spirit, but also of the very LIFE which He communicates to, and through the believer. The Spirit of God is that one who reveals the very life of God, that of Christ, in the life of the believer. So that, we are not just dealing with a principle, or law, that God has established to give to man liberty, freedom from his enemies. We are dealing more importantly with a Life principle, by which the very life of Christ is revealed in and through the life. In that revelation is the unveiling of Christ’s victory over sin, death, Satan, the world, and sin. This is true liberty, living by the power of the Spirit, walking by faith in this absolute reality of the Spirit’s presence, and work.
Dear Father, We thank Thee for the Lord Jesus, our liberator from sin, and for His Spirit of liberty in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.