Libertinism is abusing freedom, doing wrong and irresponsible things. The libertine recognizes no limits or rules and uses his freedom to sin. Libertinism looks like freedom but actually enslaves.
Liberation is a revolt against the rules. There are rules that enslave and suffocate, but there are also very important rules that protect us. The libertine rejects all the rules and lives fulfilling all his desires without worrying about the consequences.
Libertinism is very dangerous. The person thinks he is free but is being enslaved by sin. A life of debauchery can have many negative consequences:
- Debts
- Broken relationships
- Diseases
- Death
These things happen because the libertine does not recognize that all actions have consequences . Deluded, he thinks he can do whatever he wants and nothing will happen.
See also: what is fornication?
Libertinism in the Bible
The Bible says that debauchery is a work of the flesh ( Galatians 5:19 ). Whoever lives in debauchery still lives in sin. A life dedicated to Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit does not give way to debauchery.
Whoever lives in debauchery is trapped by sin and cannot free himself. Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin. This is true freedom ( Romans 6: 17-18 ). Whoever accepts Jesus as his savior is free from condemnation and does not need to live in sin anymore.
One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. We must use our freedom to serve God, rejecting sinful desires that arise ( Galatians 5:13 ). Obeying God’s rules we find true peace and joy, which we do not find in debauchery.
Some people use freedom in Jesus as an excuse for debauchery ( Jude 1: 4 ). They think that God doesn’t care about sin and can do whatever they want, even if it’s wrong. But God hates sin and does not tolerate abuse. To continue in debauchery and sin is to enjoy Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross ( Hebrews 10: 26-27 ).
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