Religious Liberty - Galatians 5:1 - Sermons from the Baptist Faith and Message

Written by Lucien Coleman

Sermon #19 of 19 Sermons on The Baptist Faith and Message

The Baptist Faith and Message sets forth "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified." You may read The Baptist Faith and Message on SBC.net. This sermon series by Lucien Coleman originally appeared in Proclaim! magazine.

We Believe: Living in the Light of God's Truth - Member Book

Introduction: In the summer of 1651, a Baptist preacher was lashed to a post in front of the Boston State House and brutally whipped until the blood ran down his back. He had been arrested while conducting a private worship service in the home of an elderly blind man without permission from the government. That preacher, Obadiah Holmes, stands in a long line of saints in the annals of Baptist history who shed their tears and their blood, gave up their homes and possessions, and even forfeited life itself for the sake of religious liberty.

A Baptist Distinctive

Stated simply, the principle of religious liberty is that no human being has the right to determine another person’s belief through coercion. It is legitimate to persuade, to convince, to proclaim, to witness—but not to coerce belief through the use of force.

Baptists have always been defenders of religious liberty and its corollary, the principle of separation of church and state. The Baptist preacher John Leland had a powerful influence on James Madison, who saw to it that religious freedom was provided for in our constitution.

A Biblical Doctrine

The biblical doctrine of religious liberty begins with the Creator’s decision to make human beings in His image (Gen. 1:26–28), to give each person the potential ability to respond to Him in faith and love. But to be genuine, this ability to choose God had to be counter-balanced with the possibility of not choosing God (Josh. 24:15). Had it been possible to determine a person’s response to God by throwing a switch in some heavenly control room, God would not have needed to send His only begotten Son into the world.

The principle of religious liberty also rests on the biblical teaching that God alone is sovereign. Ultimately, we are accountable to Him and to Him alone. God does not delegate this authority to any human or institution. Only Jesus could say, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).

The concept of separation of church and state springs from this biblical seedbed. The moment you set up an earthly government and call it a theocracy, you necessarily delegate to some human being the authority that belongs only to God.

In every earthly theocracy, standing between the people and God is a prelate, ruler, or governmental official, rendering his own interpretation of the will of God and coercing individuals to conform to his interpretation. We should never forget that it was a coalition of government and institutionalized religion that nailed Jesus to the cross.

Freedom in Christ

But liberty is more than the absence of restraints. Paul wrote, “Christ has liberated us into freedom” (Gal. 5:1). The key to understanding Christ’s liberating power is the preposition “into.” Christ does not merely free us from the shackles of sin, self, and empty religion. He frees us for a purpose of or into something.. He frees us for self-giving service, for forgiveness, for joy in worship and spiritual-growth. Real liberty is found only in surrendering our freedom to Christ.

About Professor Coleman

Professor Lucien Coleman retired in 1993 after twenty-seven years of teaching Religious Eductation at Southern Seminary and Adult Education at Southwestern Seminary. Before teaching served as a pastor in Kentucky. He holds degrees from Southern Seminary and the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Bobbie, live in Parker County, Texas. They have three children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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19 Sermons on The Baptist Faith and Message