“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” – Titus 1:15-16
The perfect atoning work of Christ on the cross is the reason we can have liberty of conscience in a great deal of matters of faith and practice. Ultimately it is Christ’s merit imputed to us rather than our own works of obedience that reconcile us to God and so we can have discretion in matters such as feasts, holidays, diet, etc.
The washing of the new birth allows us to call upon God with a pure heart. Without that there is no good we can do in his sight. If we sin (and we will), we have an advocate with the Father in Jesus Christ (1st John 2:1). But outside of God’s ordinances such as corporate worship, baptism, the Lord’s supper which are to be done on his terms and on his time, we have six other days of the week to worship God in our hearts.
We have a great deal of freedom as far as what to eat, what to do for work, to marry or not marry, etc. etc. We can and should praise and glorify God in all things because he has given us the agency to do so. Whereas an unbelieving person who has not submitted to God’s way of making a person righteous, cannot get anywhere with God with any amount of fasting or meditation or vows of celibacy or poverty which Paul calls “voluntary humility.”
“[16] 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: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [18] Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up in his fleshly min, [19] And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. [20] Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordiances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” - Colossians 2:16-23.
It is such a unique privilege to call upon the living God the way we do in the New Testament. Stand fast in that liberty and do all to the glory of Christ.
Amen.
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