Faith and Freedom

Christian Freedom is the least understood concept today, because you have probably never met anyone who is “free." Jesus said, "Know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Of course, he is the truth. But what is free? It is certainly not free from guilt, free to sin; as Paul says, shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid! Rom 6:15. So, is it just freedom from sin, or is it more?

First, when we begin our walk, we are under the Law. And, because we are under the Law, we are cursed; for no mere man can fulfill the law. Christ fulfilled the Law, but he was no mere man. While we are under the law, all we can do is try to avoid breaking it. Of course we continually fail. As Paul said, ‘Oh wretch that I am. For what I would [do] I do not. But what I hate, that I do. Our humanity prevents us from being successful. Until we are led by the Spirit of God, the law is our schoolmaster. It reminds of us our failings. Our failings are supposed to motivate us to seek the changing grace of God, available to us through our faith in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. How to access that changing grace of God is explained below.

Faith

But the Law did not always exist. Before the Law, Abraham was blessed by God because of his faith — he obeyed the Voice of the Lord. Now we have the opportunity to be blessed by God because of our belief in the name of Christ; to be blessed far beyond our fondest expectations, even while living on the earth and then forever.

Your hope must be in a Christ that not only forgives, but is able and eager to purify you through repentance to Truth. The concept of repentance has been forgotten. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:5
Jesus told the adulteress: I do not condemn you either.
Go on your way and sin no more, least a worse thing come upon you. John 8:11.
The worse thing is to be banned from heaven for still sinning, and sent to Hell, until you have paid the last penny .
He would not have commanded her to sin no more, unless it were possible. Repentance is the way.
Jesus warned us several times: Unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3,5
Repentance results in Him changing us by the power of his grace to become - holy, pure, and perfect.

Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
In the original Greek, the word for remission could mean forgiveness, remission, or release from the bondage of sin. That is why many New Testament translations (NIV, and AMP) use the word forgiveness instead of remission. Remission, (as in, the cancer is in remission - a shrinking, a dying), better than just forginess, but release from the bondage is best, and perfectly describes the purification necessary to avoid being banned from heaven. The cleansing of the Word, the cleansing in the Light, both attained by waiting on the Lord, listening, hearing, watching, and obeying - such cleansing is a remission of sin. But the poor souls, who were trying to translate the Bible, had not experienced remission of sin within themselves, and so obviously chose to emphasize forgiveness instead.

Look at how Jesus' ministry is described by the Amplified's translation of Luke 1:77: To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.

If you believe you don't need to do anything while on earth to get rid of your flesh, you won't get rid of it. You will try to please God in your flesh. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. For if you live according to the flesh (the sinful nature), you will surely die. But if through the power of the Spirit you are putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the deeds prompted by the body, you shall live forever. Rom 8:13. As long as we live in our selfish, sinful nature, we are unruly and incapable of being ruled, governed, or led by a Lord or King. So, if you want Jesus to be your Lord and King, through the power of the Spirit, you must put to death the sinful nature by repentance to purity - becoming able to be led. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom 8:14. Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires [lusts and affections]. Gal 5:24.

Jesus came so he could destroy the devil and his works [sin] in us.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, [in us] that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

Some insist that Jesus' blood shed on the cross makes us holy in God's eyes. Yes, his blood does give us an imputed righteousness, but that only allows us to approach God, weighted down with our sins of unrighteousness; we approach God with the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, so that we can receive his teaching, cleansing, purifying grace - his power to change us, ridding us of our desire to sin, by changing our heart. In our hearts of flesh are the roots of sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, hatred, lying, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, etc., and they that do such things cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Galatians 5,:19-21. These are what Christ has to cleanse us of. He promises to destroy these and replace them with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We don't deny the blood of Christ; we attribute it to grant even more power: this blood of Jesus Christ, the heavenly man, is felt and witnessed in the hearts and consciences of people; by which blood they are sanctified and are cleansed from all their dead works. So your faith needs to have a focus of hope to being rid of the flesh and producing good fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said: Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Mat 7:19

Jesus said: When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified,
and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. John 15:8

Jesus said: The seed is the Word of God [Living Word of God, Jesus' spoken words to us personally]. And that [seed] which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to PERFECTION. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:14-15

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cors 7:1

If you believe that God exists and he is the rewarder of those who seek him through Christ, you have the necessary faith of which he is the author to begin. But "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God." Jesus is the Word of God. John 1:1, Rev 19:13. When you go to the Teacher, Christ, and you hear Christ's voice, the word of God, speaking to you, your faith grows by leaps and bounds; and it will keep on growing as long as you keep on listening and being obedient to his commands to you.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is a critical scripture for understanding what is faith. The word of God is the name of Christ, John 1:1, Rev 19:13-16; and Paul tells us in Rom 10:8 that he preached the word of faith that is in your heart. So faith is hearing the word of Christ from within your heart, and recognizing it as the Spirit of God speaking to you, or Christ speaking to you; and believing it enough to obey. Thus to believe is: to believe, [trust, depend on, obey] on the word, Christ, heard in your heart. Blessed are those who hear the word of God [from within their hearts] and keep [practice, obey] it. Christendom would have you believe that hearing someone read the words of the Bible is hearing the word of God, and if you believe them, you are a "believer." But this only results in belief in a book and faith in the words in a book. Yet Paul has just told us that faith comes from hearing the word, which word is in our heart; so to have real faith, you must hear Christ from within your heart and believe whom you hear, to be the Son of God; and believe enough to completely obey him.

Paul clearly states that we must be taught by hearing Jesus speak to us:

you must not walk as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
Who being past feeling [pangs of conscience], have given themselves over to fleshly indulgences, to work all impurities with greediness.
But you have learned differently from Christ;
Assuming you have actually heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus. Eph 4:17-21.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
He will guide the humble in what is right and teach them his way. Psalm 25:8-9

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you shall go; I will guide you with my eye. Psalm 32:8

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20.

If you don't yet have the hope that Christ can lead you out of darkness to a sinless state and the Kingdom of Heaven within, this web site is dedicated to giving you that hope. Read the section at the top of sidebar on Perfection and Purity; read the first part of George Fox's Journal, Early Conversion. Once you have the hope, now all you need is the formula for the cross which is:

■seeking the Kingdom of God, as your first priority, is an act of repentance and a cross to your selfish will
■turning away from evil, as you understand it, is an act of repentance and a cross to your selfish will
■you don't want to sit quietly every day to listen and watch, but if you do - it is a cross to your selfish will
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20

■you don't want to obey his commands that you hear, but if you repent- it is a cross to your selfish will
■you don't want to forgive injustices done to you, but you repent and forgive - a cross to your angry self
■you don't want to admit and regret what the Light shows your condition to be, but if you repent - it is a cross to your will
(this is the place where you get changed, where your peace increases; in the Light)

■you don't want to give to others from your excess, but if you repent from your selfishness and give- it is a cross to your will
■you don't want to defer (deny self) to others, rather than insist on your way, but if you repent and defer - it is a cross to your will
This is the Inward Cross of Self-Denial

If any will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

(see How to Receive the Changing Grace of God and Being Silent for more details)

Belief in the true gospel, and the cross to realize the promise, releases the power of God to purify you and make you one with Him. As you pick up your cross daily, you are dying to self. When he trusts you, after testing you, he will give you more of Himself, more spirit and love. When you see the work that your Savior is doing for you, and when you see the results of the changes within you, and when you hear and see his Spirit guiding you; your faith grows even more. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, (the Living Word of God, not someone reading out of the Bible). You are sure of being purified because of the changes that have already happened; and although you don’t yet see Christ, you are certain he is in you as your Savior, helper, friend, comforter, and guide. Now you have the faith that you know is growing and will grow until finished; you are experientially sure of what you hope for and certain of what you don't see. Now he will start directing you in tasks of love. He will command you to love that neighbor(s) you have always had a conflict with, and he will even bring them in your path. He will show you how he is in everyone and how to love everyone. He will fill your life with love and acts of love, by Christ, the author of and finisher of your faith, who gives to every man and woman according to measure.

For more understanding on the necessity of learning in silence, see George Fox's writing on Why Silence?

Freedom

From A Guide to True Peace:

The love of liberty is one of the most dangerous passions of the heart. If we follow this propensity, instead of true liberty, it reduces us to slavery. As our passions are the worst of tyrants, if we obey them partially, we must always be in a perpetual strife and contest within; and if we entirely give ourselves up to them, it is horrid to think to what extremities they will lead; they will torment the heart, and, like a torrent, sweep all before them, and yet never be satisfied. True liberty is to be found only in him, whose truth shall set us free, and who shall make us experience that to serve him is to reign.

Before we can enjoy the freedom of a Son of God, we must pass through the Ministry of Condemnation, suffering on the cross to be to arrive at obedience to the moral law of God.

When man decided to eat from the tree of knowledge so he could judge good and evil like God, he became a selfish spirit removed from the image, direction, and presence of God. Each of us makes our own decisions with our mind as to what is good for us and what is bad for us. We all make different decisions based on what we think we want. Different people have different standards of conduct and behavior. We are selfish creatures looking for ways to increase our pleasures and comforts; we are like beasts on the prowl looking for their next meal. The Holy Spirit must show us how captive we are to our lusts, pleasures, habits, anger, pride, and self-gratification - and how this self-centered behavior is at the expense of others around us. The word and light show us the defects in our heart, one at a time, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. With our regret and sorrow for conditions exposed by the Holy Spirit, we receive help from the Holy Spirit to change. This conviction and condemnation of our beastly nature is the Ministry of Condemnation. When we have been sufficiently purged or purified of our selfish, sinful nature, then we receive the Ministry of Life or additional spirit from Christ; until finally we are restored to the image, direction, and presence of God.

So first learn the ministry of condemnation in yourselves,
that life may arise, before ministry in the spirit is known,
which preaches peace by Jesus Christ, where there is no strife.
Therefore wait to know the time of silence and mind that which condemns you.
From Fox's Letter 145.

From Letter 58: The teachers without exalt the carnal mind, but the teacher within destroys it.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Rom 8:7

From Letter 245

And as your ears are attentive to the Lord's voice, that speaks from heaven,
iniquity's mouth is stopped in you, the throne of iniquity is thrown down in you;
that is, the wicked spirit and power, where iniquity sits;
and the chambers of imagery are thrown down in you,
where all thoughts and imaginations are.

So that we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), 2 Cor 10:5. So that we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart, 1 Cor 2:16. We must put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness, Eph 4:22-24. This does not mean we continue to think with a new set of rules we have learned from the Bible. No; the carnal mind, which is inimical to God, must be destroyed so that we do not think for ourselves any longer. Instead as a new creature, we rely on the promptings received from God, just like Christ did when he walked the earth; as he said:

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true;
and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. John 8:26

the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
And I know that His command is everlasting life.
Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak. John 12:49-50

the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord);
but He [the son] is able to do only what He sees the Father doing,
for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way. John 5:19

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous,
because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 5:30

So, even Christ did not make his own decisions. Notice, Jesus said he only did the will of the Father, not his own. In Mat. 7:21, Jesus said: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. So here Jesus tells us what is necessary to go to heaven - to do nothing of ourselves - to only say what we hear the father tell us to say- to only do what the Father shows us to do - to only judge how we are told to judge by the Father. So, we are not to think for ourselves - we are to only follow the promptings of the Father. We must have our carnal mind destroyed to the point that we speak and act from the promptings of the Spirit of God; this is the end of obedience - to think, speak, and act according to God's promptings.

If Christ did nothing except as he was prompted by the Father, how could we possibly think we could act independently, when we are far less than Christ? We also must have our carnal minds destroyed to the point that we only speak and act from the promptings of the Spirit of God. Perhaps now you are beginning to see the wisdom of not even speaking of Christ or God, unless you are specifically ordered by the Holy Spirit what to say, to whom to say it, and when to say it.

A wise man once said, "all thought is worry, which is lack of faith." All thought is worry or plan for the future, still worry; and worry is lack of faith. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Mat 6:27

Man, who originally followed his creator in obedient love, became a rebel to decide his own way, taking thought, judging what is good and bad for himself. When man is restored into the image of God, he ceases to make his own decisions; instead returning to reverent, loving obedience to his creator, of him and of the universe. Part of this restoration is to destroy the rebellious, self-seeking, self-gratifying mind. This is a lengthy process for most. And as the mind is destroyed, the Lord's guidance fills the void.

To repeat: when our selfish nature is slain, we will receive the Spirit of Christ, so that we will be obedient in our love for God - and our obedience is by choice, God not having taken away our free will. Love never insists on its own way. But our love for God will make our obedience to his wishes to be the joy of our life. We become free of the selfish slavery to sin - free to be guided, led, directed, prompted, and loved by our creator - God; free be what we were created to be.

Christian Freedom

Passing through this Ministry of Condemnation results in a filling with His spirit and love, the ministry of the Spirit of Life. This is the ministry of righteousness. This is completely changing you from a person living to self, to a person living to please God and others. Now, you joyously go through life looking to give; you are free from the Law. You don’t have time to worry about doing something wrong, and you don’t even judge yourself. Instead, you are running through life in a love feast, because you have God to love, you have him helping you, you have him leading you, and you have his image all around you; everywhere you look, there is your fellow man with a piece of Christ in prison within, waiting for you love them, (for he is the light that lights every man that comes into the world and the Spirit of God is poured out on all mankind).

Now you are “in Christ.” Now He will tell you that you are “in his name.” Until you and he together complete your purification, you may still occasionally, (less and less), commit a sin, but you are working together with Him to finish the job, and you know he will do it. Now you are at Paul’s state where he said, “It is no longer I that sin, but the sin that remains in me." Now you begin to know what it means to be free. Free from the distress of sin. Free from self. Free from the law. Free from forms of religion. Free from the concerns of time. Free from worry. Free from doubt. Free from judging. Free from listening to others judging you. Free from condemnation. Freedom from fear, because such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. Now you have complete trust and faith in God to bring you to union. Now you see the world moving towards you rather than you going out to hack your way through the jungle. Now you no longer labor for survival, but you labor for love with perfect confidence that your creator and savior, who owns and controls the whole universe, is providing for you while you serve Him.

You are not a robot: doing, saying, and thinking only what he tells you to do. No, God will never take away his gift of free will; you can always choose. But because you have his Spirit, you love God and joyfully choose obedience to all of his directions on a continual basis. You are free from the invisible bonds of selfish lust and pride; free to choose to Love. So, by his Spirit in Love, you speak words from his Spirit and your actions are controlled by Love; Love is your total motivation; Love for God and your fellow man. You choose to Love because it is good; it is right; it is pure; it is clean; it is kind; it is peaceful; it is holy. We still have thoughts, even impure thoughts; but we don't act on them, because we choose the way of Love. Jesus said to his disciples that they would be taken before kings and rulers to testify of Him, and to not rehearse what to say, but rather speak extemporaneously so the Spirit can control their words; this shows that we still think, but that our past thoughts should not govern our present speaking; for Love needs the freedom to react to every circumstance, which cannot be anticipated.

Now you are free to eat and drink whatever you want. Now you are free to enjoy life as you celebrate the creation and your creator. Because you are giving the thanks and glory, even the enjoyment, to Him. Now you are free from marking special days, free from cultural customs, free from special rules, free from taboos, etc. All the things that are essential to life are even better than they were before you became free, because now when you enjoy them, you are not just consuming them on your lusts, but you are enjoying them with love for the creator who made them and arranged for you to have them.

Regarding observing special days, Paul was tolerant, allowing that one man entertaining and regarding one day above another, and another man's days are every day alike, and about meats, and not to judge one another; "But let him, said he, be fully persuaded in his own mind;” yet he condemns the Jewish and customs and observation of days, meats, and drink. While observation of a day is a matter of individual conscience, in which one should be fully persuaded. For a group of believers to observe a special day is definitely wrong, and a form of religion, which is condemned by Paul: But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. Gal 4:9-11. And if your church leader says you should observe certain days, or certain foods, you are listening to a false prophet; as Paul says: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days, Col 2:16. So an individual can choose to celebrate certain days; but the church, as policy or rule, cannot for it is a form of law.

(This freedom from the Law of Sin and Death does not mean your disobey the laws of your government, See Submitting to Government for more on this subject).

All things are permissible if accepted with thanks, but not all things are profitable. For example, you can flirt with other women around you, but you will pay the price of your lust being aroused which quenches the Spirit; so you don't do it, for it not only hurts you, but your love for your neighbor stops you from being a party to anything that hurts anyone else. For another example, tobacco is permissible, but not profitable; we all know tobacco is bad for your health and offensive to anyone around you. So you stay healthy because you love God and want to serve him; and because you love your neighbor, you don't offend them; love controls you. See, you're not saying no to sin; you're saying yes to love. You have become love and you don't want to do anything to hurt anyone.

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom. 13:8-10. Christ fulfilled the Law in his life on earth, and Christ fulfills the law in each of his followers that he completes to His resurrection within them. Because you are controlled by love, you are above the law. You fulfill the law; the love in you causes you to fulfill the law. You don't violate the law, but you don't run from the law; you run with love. You're not reactive, you're proactive. You're not trying to avoid the negative, you're grasping the positive.

James Parnell further describes this grasping the positive as not walking after the flesh, but after the spirit; being set free.

“And thus is the church of Christ gathered by one Spirit, and by the same circumcised, and baptized into one life, light, and power, where all dwell as members of one body, of which Christ is the head. And here is the blessed union and communion in one; and here is God worshipped ‘in spirit and in truth;’ and as Christ is spiritual, so is [His church, which is] His body, and so are His ordinances; and here are the true Christians, not those who have the imagination of these things, but they that can witness [testify to the reality], and possess them in life. They that believe, have passed from death into life; and the life they now live is by faith in the Son of God; they are new creatures, who are ‘in Christ Jesus,’ to whom there is no condemnation, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; against such there is no law, for they are translated out of that nature, [translated into the higher dimension of the Kingdom of Heaven] for which the law was added; and are set free by the law of the Spirit of life, and are made partakers of the divine nature of Christ, by which they are made Christians. And such now witness the effect of the blood of Christ wrought within them, and the end of His coming, and the benefit of His death, who are dead with him, and risen through the death of the cross; and these are those who have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Son of God within them; Christ within, the hope of glory

You are free. You see the creation of your Friend. You celebrate all good things around you with thanks to him for creating them for you and others. You see the whole world, and all that is in it, with new eyes; you see Him in everything. You see the plan of God. You understand what he is doing. You are his friend. You know the truth. You have found the peace of God. You are overwhelmed that he could be mindful of you, but you KNOW he is. You are conscious every second that you are a created being and that you are working for your creator.

Rules vs. Conscience

First, it the the purpose of grace to teach us how to live soberly, righteously and godly:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Tit 2:11-12

Where there are rules in scripture, we follow them, but where there are none, we don't make up new rules - we allow the Lord to instruct our conscience. Rules should never violate Christian Freedom of members, particularly in regard to food, drink, days, many family matters, and personal preferences, including dress and clothing. The reasoning for rules should be clearly and logically stated, available for all to review and understand. As the Voice of the Lord told me: Rules create a legalistic society, not a free society. Certainly we continue to obey the moral laws based on love, but we avoid rules. Certainly we cannot support Babylon. Certainly we must walk according to our profession. Certainly there must be a gospel order in worship and church activities. But let me give you an example that would be problematic: I don't own a gun, but I know many people who do. If we decide guns are evil, (without any Scriptural restriction on weapons), then we may make a rule that anyone who owns a gun cannot be in our group - yet what we are saying is: we don't trust Christ to decide when and if necessary for He to convince and command individual members to give guns up. Or, how about TV sets? How about the length of women's dresses? Can we trust Christ to decide if and when necessary, and then to convict each individual member? Rules destroy the whole concept of individual conscience and Christian Freedom.


False Freedoms

From the twisting of the scriptures, false freedoms have been proclaimed and are universally advocated today. The biggest false freedom is what the deficit sects preach: "once you are saved, you are always saved, even if you commit mass murder;" to believe this calls for great imagination. Or, almost as bad: just say you accept Jesus, get baptized, and you are going to heaven. False grace is being sold as a license for sin and wantonness (lack of restraint). Two thousand years ago Jude wrote in 1:4 "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality ." These early false prophets and today's false prophets would have you to believe that you are 'free' to continue in sin; instead of freedom from sin, they promote freedom to sin. They even say the cross and repentance is 'works,' and therefore should not be undertaken; rather just continue your life free from doing anything to improve, with gratitude for being spared the punishment that others will receive, who live exactly like them, but aren't 'saved' like they make-believe. Hypocrites. Stumbling Blocks. False Freedoms. ( see True Grace vs False Grace for more)

These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those [lustful desires of sinful nature] who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:12-19 (And Jesus said, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John 8:34)

and Paul also spoke of false Christians who opposed the crucifixion of the sinful nature:

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. Phil 3:17-19

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
As long as we live in our sinful nature, we are unruly and incapable of being ruled, controlled, or led by a Lord or King.
So, if you want Jesus to be your Lord and King, you must put to death your selfish, sinful nature by repentance to purity.

There is also a whole subculture of music talking about there being no good or evil; this demonic music extols the freedom of canceling good vs. evil and promises to "vaporize the Judiazer dogs" who call their practices evil. The "ranters" in George Fox's day believed that all pleasures, (including drunkenness, adultery, fornication), were sinless if done in faith; of course this is ludicrous. One of my Hindu acquaintances told me "there was no good or evil; that he was so proficient in evil, that he was 'good' at evil and therefore 'good'." This is ridiculous too. They have missed the necessary love that does no hurt to anyone, and they have missed the necessary purity of love. False freedoms.

See also George Fox's Excellent Clarification Between False Freedom and True Christian Freedom:

As you become purified, you see Christ. He is revealed to you, and he crushes the serpent's head under his feet. You are at Paul’s final state when he said, ‘It is no longer I that live, but Christ within me.' Now you are totally free and in a state of paradise continually. You are free from the world. Free from its cares. Free from yourself. Free from sin. FREE. Free to enjoy all the beautiful things in the world with wondrous joy and thanksgiving. Free to serve the creator in his plan for you. Free to be love.

As George Fox in his Journal said:

"therefore you, who know the love of God, and the law of his spirit, and the freedom that is in Jesus Christ, stand fast in him. Stand in that divine faith which he is the author of in you, and don’t get entangled with the yoke of bondage. For the ministry of Christ Jesus and his teaching, brings into liberty and freedom; but the ministry that is of man, and by man, which stands in the will of man, brings into bondage, and under the shadow of death and darkness."

The yoke of bondage is the world's cultural customs and religions. Legalistic religion is a bondage; it sacrifices the individual leading of Christ speaking to our consciences. If it is not forbidden by the Bible (with emphasis on the New Testament) as sin, it should not be forbidden by any religion. All the dos and don'ts: don't eat this, or don't drink that, or do this on that day, or don't wear that, or wear this, or don't marry, or don't touch this, or fast once week, or tithe, or get circumcised, or be sure to wear a cross, or be sure to wear a saint's medal, or wear garlic around you neck, or get water baptized, or eat black eyed peas on New Year's day, or give everyone gifts to celebrate a certain day, or worship on a certain day, or wear a hat, or wear your hair in a specific style or length, or observe a feast day, break bread, eat wine and bread once a month, wear holy clothing, don't use electricity, ride horses instead of cars, etc. These are forms of religion; they are outward observations, and following them will cause you to lose your freedom and bring you back into the Law of Sin and Death instead of living by the Spirit of Life and conducting yourself in obedience to the spirit of love within you - inward religion. For if you focus on observing any point of the Law, you are denying faith as your justification; and therefore you have fallen back under the Whole Law, which is impossible for you to keep. None of the above counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5,v6 By following love, we naturally eschew evil without rules. Stay free, live by faith, and express your faith in Love; but don't use this an excuse for impure, immoral, or greedy behavior - for such have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Eph 5:5

The opposite of bondage is freedom. Let me illustrate this freedom in another way. I drive a 2001 Toyota Avalon. I don't love my car. I prefer my car over others. I have often wondered if my car was too luxurious, not wishing to offend anyone. What he told me was to answer anyone criticizing me about my Avalon by saying, "I like the leather." But he also said, "Anything more than the Avalon would be idolatry;" a Toyota does have not status or prestige, but a more expensive luxury car does.

"I am not to judge anyone else's lifestyle, and I am to refuse to listen to anyone judging mine," (direct command to me. Christ is my judge, and I hunger for his correction, for I want to be pleasing to him; so I seek to hear him daily.)

I don' t love the things of the world, but I have preferences. I am free to enjoy my preferences, in moderation. This is being free to do what you like. I wear what I like, I eat what I like, I drink what I like, I live in a house I like, I buy what I like, I go to places I like, I do the things I like, I listen to the music I like. I live in Christian Freedom because I have faith. And in whatever I do, I give thanks and praise to our Glorious God. For he created me to have life and enjoy it, and he created all good things for me to enjoy with thanksgiving and praise to Him. But, whatever he asks me to change, I would change in a second; i.e., if he asks me to move to Shanghai, I would gladly move there out of my overwhelming love for him.

And in Letter Number 43, George Fox addresses this freedom as follows:

To all my dear brethren, the flock of God everywhere;
keep together in the power up to God, and
none be discouraged or disheartened at the enemies without,
which are without God in the world;
but be bold all in the power of truth, triumphing over the world.
Hold your freedom, and keep and stand fast in it,
that you may be armed with wisdom, and furnished against your enemies,
who are wiser in their generation than the children of light.
But the wisdom of the Most High is spreading,
and making itself manifest in your hearts,
by which you may comprehend the world's wisdom,
the world's worship and knowledge.
And waiting in that which is pure,
it will lead you into that which was before the world was,
before the false worship was, before the seducers were,
before the antichrist was, and before the outward temple was,
and false prophet and hirelings: (those paid to preach and minister)
and here you will comprehend the world,
and what is done in the world.
Therefore everyone keep your habitation,
abide the trial, and abide the day,
and stand fast in your freedom,
so far as Christ has made you free;
free from man's will and commandments,
which brings into bondage;
free from the fashions and lusts of the world,
the fleshly will, which bondages and burdens the pure.
And to you that cannot witness this, wait, and mind the pure,
and then the burden will be easy;
and wait for redemption and salvation, to make it so.
And your strength is, to stand still,
that you may receive refreshings;
that you may know, how to wait,
and how to walk before God,
by the spirit of God within you.
So God Almighty be with you,
and keep you up to himself under his own dominion,
from under the dominion of Satan,
that you may trample him under your feet.

George Fox

From Fox's Letter 351

And now, my dear friends, concerning true liberty.

The true liberty is in the gospel, the power of God,
which the devil and his instruments, with his false liberty, cannot get into.
And in this gospel is the saints' fellowship,
which the devil with all his false fellowships cannot get into, nor find it;
for it is a mystery.
Likewise, true liberty is in the faith, which Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of,
which gives victory over that which separated man and woman from God,
and by which they have access to God again.
And in this holy, pure, divine, precious faith, that is held in the pure conscience;
which pure conscience has its pure, holy, divine precious liberty,
in this holy, divine, precious faith, which works by love,
(and not as the dead faith does, which works by enmity),
which is the fruit of this holy, pure, divine faith;
and in it is the divine, pure, holy, and precious liberty and freedom.
So here is the divine, holy, pure, and precious liberty in this faith, which works by love,
that is the victory over that which brought man and woman into bondage, and slavery, and false liberty.
So this living faith is the victory over all dead faiths and false freedoms and liberties;
which holy, divine, pure, and precious faith, the saints were and are to contend for,
which Christ the Holy One is the author and finisher of.
So in this holy, divine, pure, and precious faith,
they have a holy, divine, pure, and precious unity and liberty,
which is the victory over the enmity and the adversary, the destroyer, and all his instruments;
and they cannot come within this holy, divine, pure, and precious unity and liberty, which is in the faith;
for it is a mystery, and gives victory over him, and the access to the pure God, and to Christ the author of it;
which all are to stand fast in that liberty with which Christ has made them free,
who is the heavenly and spiritual man, the second Adam.

For the bondage, captivity, and thralldom, false freedom, and false liberty,
were and are in old Adam, in transgression;
and the true liberty is that which Christ the pure and holy one makes free in;
and this is a pure holy liberty, which Christ makes, and sets his people free in;
in which they are all to stand fast over all the false liberties and freedoms, which are bondage.

Also, the true liberty is in the truth, which if the truth has made you free,
then are you free indeed, from him that abode not in the truth, in whom there is no truth.
So then there is no true freedom nor liberty in old Adam;
and he in whom there is no truth, cannot come into this freedom and liberty,
which is not in the truth, but remains in the false.

For the Jews in the days of Christ, boasted of their liberty and freedom,
though they were in bondage both inwardly and outwardly;
and that they were of Abraham their father;
but Christ told them, "the devil was their father, and his lusts you will do."

And also in the days of the apostles, many of the false christians boasted of their liberty;
but who was overcome by them was brought into bondage.

And the apostle was so careful of his liberty in Christ Jesus,
that such as came to spy it out, and were somewhat in conference;
but they added nothing to him;
and unto such he would not give place by subjection, but rather reproved them;
and directed everyone to walk according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to them.

And also true liberty is in the light, and grace, and the spirit which comes by Jesus,
which by believing in the light, they are grafted into Christ,
and so into true liberty and freedom, and so are entered into the rest, out of the toil of old Adam;
for they are grafted into him, who was before old Adam.

For unbelievers in the light are grafted into old Adam, in transgression.
And the believers in the light, (which is the life in Christ),
are grafted into Christ the word, by which all things were made and created.
So here is perfect, true freedom and liberty.

And likewise, the true liberty and freedom is in the grace which brings salvation,
and not destruction; and teaches to live godly, not ungodly;
and soberly, not unsoberly; and righteously, not unrighteously;
and teaches to deny the world, and not to cleave to it, and not follow it.

This grace establishes the heart, and seasons the words;
the fruits of its liberty and freedom will manifest itself.
And also, the true liberty in the pure holy spirit of God and Christ does baptize
and plunge down that which is gotten up by transgression in man and woman,
and circumcises and cuts off the body of death and sin in the flesh,
that is gotten up in man and woman by transgression,
and mortifies and kills that which would grieve, vex, or quench the motions of the pure spirit of God;
so that in this holy, pure spirit, of this pure God and Christ,
is the holy pure freedom and liberty over all bondage and false liberties and freedoms.

And the fruits of this pure spirit are love, righteousness, and godliness, patience, temperance, and humility;
by which spirit all are made to drink into one spirit;
so that all are the living wells, that have their living water from God and Christ,
their true and living fountain;
and in which spirit they have a holy and spiritual fellowship,
in this baptizing, mortifying, circumcising spirit, yes, one with another,
and with the son and the Father also,
through which the love of God warms every one's heart.
But when the love of many waxes cold, as Christ said,
then they go from this grace, light, truth, power, and spirit,
and the anointing, and the word of God in their own hearts;
then such turn to be betrayers, and not saviors upon mount Zion.
And against such God's swift judgment turns, and suddenly falls,
though they may cry for a time, liberty, freedom, and peace, peace;
but a day of trouble will overtake them before they are aware.
And therefore, all you friends of Christ Jesus,
stand fast in that liberty with which Christ has made you free,
by his light, grace, truth, spirit, faith, and everlasting gospel, the everlasting power of God,
which is an everlasting freedom and liberty above all bondage and false fallen liberties and freedoms;
in this glorious gospel, and glorious joyful liberty,
where all may exercise God's and Christ's holy gifts in his holy supernatural light, grace, truth, spirit,
and divine faith, and word of life, and the gospel;
which word cannot be bound with all the world's cords or chains;
'for it is a fire to burn, and a hammer to break, and a sword to cut in pieces.'
And therefore, love the word, and keep the word of patience, and the Lord will keep you,
for it is a tried word, and it will keep you in all trials,
which shall come upon all the world to try them.
For the word was before the world was, and will be when the world is gone,
which all the new born babes of the incorruptible seed,
who partake of the milk of the word, grow by it up into an immortal life,
and kingdom that is without end; 'Glory and praises to the Lord God forever.'