Attribute of God: Divine Freedom in Scripture
Divine Freedom in Scripture
The concept of divine freedom is rooted in the biblical understanding of God's sovereignty and His relationship with humanity. According to Scripture, God's freedom is demonstrated in His ability to act without constraint or obligation, bestowing mercy and grace as He sees fit [4].
In the Old Testament, God's freedom is linked to His glory and power. The book of Daniel highlights God's sovereignty, stating that He gives power, strength, and glory to whom He chooses [5]. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where the apostle Paul quotes Exodus 33:19, emphasizing God's freedom to bestow mercy on people without obligation (Romans 9:15) [4].
The biblical concept of freedom is not limited to God's actions; it is also reflected in His gift of freedom to humanity. Through Christ, believers are set free from the bondage of sin and corruption (Romans 8:21) [10]. This freedom is not a license for licentiousness but rather a call to live as "God's bondmen" (1 Peter 2:16), using their liberty to serve God and others [3, 7].
The connection between divine freedom and human freedom is further explored in the context of the Holy Spirit. According to 2 Corinthians 3:17, "the Lord is the Spirit," and where the Spirit is, there is freedom. This freedom enables believers to become more like Christ, reflecting the glory of the Lord [6].
The Presbyterian interpretation of 1 Peter 1:16 highlights God's essential holiness as the basis for human sanctification. As God is holy in His essence, believers are called to be holy, abstaining from Gentile pollutions and striving to be partakers of God's holiness [9].
In the view of Protestant academics, the gift of divine freedom is closely tied to the concept of access to God. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various means by which believers have access to God, including through Christ, the Holy Spirit, and faith [2]. This access is not limited to a specific group but is available to all who repent and turn to God.
The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke's commentary on 1 Samuel 16:13, understands the Spirit of the Lord coming upon David as a qualification for governance, infusing him with graces such as wisdom, prudence, and courage [8]. This understanding highlights the role of the Spirit in enabling human freedom and service to God.
The biblical concept of divine freedom has implications for human understanding of God's nature and humanity's relationship with Him. As Hitchcock's Bible Names suggests, the name "Asareel" means "the beatitude of God," underscoring the idea that God's freedom is tied to His blessedness and glory [1].
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Asareel — the beatitude of God”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- I Peter “I Peter 2:16 (Darby) — as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but asGod's bondmen.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 9:15: 9:15 This quotation from Exod 33:19 focuses on God’s nature: God is free from obligation or constraint in bestowing mercy on people.”
- Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 2:37: The God of heaven - Not given by thy own gods, nor acquired by thy own skill and prowess; it is a Divine gift. Power - To rule this kingdom. And strength - To defend it against all foes. And glory - Great honor and dignity.”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 3:16: 3:16-18 The believer who turns to the Lord has freedom in the Spirit. We receive something Moses never knew as we become more and more like Christ (4:4; John 1:1-14; Col 1:15; Heb 1:1-4) and reflect the glory of the Lord. Divine glory in this present life leads to our being like Christ in the next life (Rom 8:29; Gal 4:19; Phil 3:21; 1 Jn 3:2).”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:16: As free--as "the Lord's freemen," connected with Pe1 2:15, doing well as being free. "Well-doing" (Pe1 2:15) is the natural fruit of being freemen of Christ, made free by "the truth" from the bondage of sin. Duty is enforced on us to guard against licentiousness, but the way in which it is to be fulfilled, is by love and the holy instincts of Christian liberty. We are given principles, not details. not using--Greek, "not as having your liberty for a veil (cloak) of badness, but as the servants of God," and therefore bound to submit to every ordinanc”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 16:13: The Spirit of the Lord came upon David - God qualified him to be governor of his people, by infusing such graces as wisdom, prudence, counsel, courage, liberality, and magnanimity.”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 8:21: Because the creature itself also--"even the creation itself." shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption--its bondage to the principle of decay. into the glorious liberty--rather, "the liberty of the glory." of the children of God--that is, the creation itself shall, in a glorious sense, be delivered into that freedom from debility and decay in which the children of God, when raised up in glory, shall expatiate: into this freedom from corruptibility the creation itself shall, in a glorious sense, be delivered (So CALVIN, BEZA, BENGEL, THOL”