²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Surprising is the amount of space the apostle Paul has given to the issue of handling our new freedoms from religious restrictions. The ramifications of the truth of justification are enormous motivators when related to daily living. Our theology should impact our “walk-ology”—but it should impact it correctly. Yes, we are free from religious “do’s and don’ts” designed to gain justification before God, as Paul frequently points out (see for example, Colossians 2:20-3:4). And yes, we are free from them as a motivation for our Christian life. What is of particular interest, though, is the greater focus Paul gives to self-control for the one who understands this freedom, while giving less focus to those who are still sensitive to the old restrictions. Paul hammers the legalistic folks in other places (see Galatians 2, for example), but not here.

Yes, we are free from the Law as slave-master, but that doesn’t mean we can do anything we like. That doesn’t mean there is no more sin for the Christian. Our Christian life is not all about our freedoms. Because we are justified by faith, we are also required to live by faith. “In [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith’” (Rom 1:17). We are brought into the life of justification by faith, and we continue to live the life of justification by faith—as Paul wrote, “from faith to faith.” How we live must be controlled by faith.

When a Christian ignores his conscience or any appeal to holy living because he is “free,” he walks on dangerous ground. His freedom has become license to do anything he wants without considering his faith in God. Justification by faith does not nullify living by faith. Today many Christians live their lives much like the world, celebrating their freedom to be like the world. With their justification in their back pocket, like a fire insurance policy, they don’t even consider how faith in Christ should affect their daily life.

Interestingly, the word “doubt” here is used not simply for the Christian who has a sensitive conscience, but for any Christian who is not walking in faith. Is the person who minimizes holiness and takes part in immoral activities living by faith, making his choices for lifestyle and behavior with God’s perspective in mind? Faith means we look to Him: we live for Him, not for ourselves and our fleshly desires. To live any other way is sin; it is not from faith. We must be careful about assuming freedoms without adequate and proper consideration of God.

Lord, help me to submit my freedoms to Your will, in faith.