Individual soul liberty is also know as soul competency. The underlying concept is that each person is responsible for their own faith and walk with the Lord. Whether or not one is saved is determined solely by the individual. Parents, family, friends, government, religious leaders, religious affiliation, and any other host of things that one could use to determine if they are saved, are of no importance. Neither can those things force you to be saved.
Each individual has exclusive choice in matters of faith: what they believe, how they act, how they interpret the Scriptures, and etc. Each person is accountable to God alone for their choices. Only the individual can make these choices, so therefore only the individual is accountable to God for them. For example, let's take one's parents to see how this relates. The fact that your parents are saved does not mean you are saved. You have to make the choice of your own accord. Likewise, if you choose not to believe in Jesus Christ, your parents will not be held accountable for your choice. Even if your parents weren't saved, they would not be held accountable because it is your choice, not theirs. A few verses that are used as a basis of this doctrine are:
Romans 14
10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5
10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Jeremiah 31
29. In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
30. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Ezekiel 18
2. What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
3. As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
(skip to verse 9)
9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
To sum it up. Each person is free (at liberty) to choose what is right, as determined by their soul (or conscience), and is solely accountable to God alone. Hence "Soul Liberty".
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1 comment:
Hey brother
very true
how do we fit that truth in with the concept of our being interdependent? "Am i my brother's keeper?"
I do hold both ideas in tension. I and i alone am responsible for my relationship with God, yet i cannot move forward in any way unless my brother and sisters do as well. A third string pulling on this is the reality that my very salvation is totally dpendent on God's grace or as the bible says "his steadfast love and faithfulness". That without this i would not be able to respond in faith.
so i hold to be true
1. i am responsibl-soul liberty
2. we are interdependent
3. it is all by God's grace
three semminging contrasting views that i cannot (nor do i feel the need to) resolve. This is the mystery of God-chirst has died, christ has risen, christ will come again.
our faith is chock full of these mysteries.
write on brother-you make my mind light up.
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