In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of "license" often refers to the misuse of Christian freedom as an excuse for sinful behavior. The New Testament addresses this issue, emphasizing the balance between Christian liberty and moral responsibility.

Christian Liberty and Responsibility

The Apostle Paul addresses the concept of Christian liberty in several of his epistles. In Galatians 5:13 , he writes, "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love." Here, Paul warns against using the freedom found in Christ as a pretext for indulging in sinful desires. Instead, believers are encouraged to use their freedom to serve others and live in accordance with God's will.

Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 6:12 , Paul states, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything." This passage highlights the principle that while Christians may have the freedom to engage in various activities, not all actions are beneficial or constructive. The emphasis is on self-control and the avoidance of behaviors that could lead to spiritual bondage.

Warnings Against Licentiousness

The New Testament also contains warnings against licentiousness, which is the abuse of freedom to engage in immoral conduct. Jude 1:4 cautions, "For certain men have crept in unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." This verse underscores the danger of distorting God's grace as a justification for immoral behavior, which ultimately denies the lordship of Christ.

Peter echoes this sentiment in 1 Peter 2:16 , advising believers to "Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." The apostle emphasizes that true freedom in Christ should lead to a life of service and righteousness, not a pretext for wrongdoing.

The Role of the Law

While Christians are not under the Old Testament law as a means of salvation, the moral principles of the law still serve as a guide for righteous living. Romans 6:15 poses the rhetorical question, "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!" Paul clarifies that grace does not nullify the moral imperatives of the law; rather, it empowers believers to live in obedience to God's commands.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on license is clear: Christian freedom is not an excuse for sin but a call to live a life that honors God. Believers are encouraged to exercise their liberty responsibly, avoiding behaviors that lead to spiritual harm and instead pursuing a life of holiness and service.1. (n.) Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; especially, a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach, to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating liquors.

2. (n.) The document granting such permission.

3. (n.) Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.

4. (n.) That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.

5. (v. t.) To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as, to license a man to preach.

2010. epitrepo -- to turn to, entrust, hence to permit
... give leave, let, permit. From epi and the base of trope; to turn over (transfer),
ie Allow -- give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer. see GREEK epi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2010.htm - 7k

401. anachusis -- a pouring out, overflow
... excess. From a comparative of ana and cheo (to pour); properly, effusion, ie
(figuratively) license -- excess. see GREEK ana. (anachusin) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/401.htm - 6k

6277. athaq -- forward, arrogant
... arrogancy, grievous hard things, stiff. From athaq in the sense of license; impudent --
arrogancy, grievous (hard) things, stiff. see HEBREW athaq. 6276, 6277 ...
/hebrew/6277.htm - 6k

That the Poetical License which the Greeks, in Obedience to their ...
... Book II. Chapter 9."That the Poetical License Which the Greeks, in Obedience
to Their Gods, Allowed, Was Restrained by the Ancient Romans. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 9 that the poetical license.htm

That the Romans, by Refusing to the Poets the Same License in ...
... Chapter 12."That the Romans, by Refusing to the Poets the Same License in Respect
of Men Which They Allowed Them in the Case of the Gods, Showed a More ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 that the romans by.htm

Only one Vote
... A local option contest was going on in W", and Mrs. Kent was trying to influence
her husband to vote "No License." Willie Kent, six years old, was, of course ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/only one vote.htm

Paragraphs from Notable Speeches
... WAYNE MACVEAGH. From, "Ideals in American Politics.". * * *. The idea of liberty
is license; it is not liberty but it is license. License to do what? ...
/.../paragraphs from notable speeches.htm

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same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when you ...
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Out of Sectarian Confusion
... The Methodist did not license women to preach; but when the preachers found out
that God was using me in the salvation of souls and that I was not especially ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter xii out of sectarian.htm

Letter xxiv (Circa AD 1126) to Oger, Regular Canon
... You will reply, "I have acted by license, asked and received from the Bishop." True,
you have, indeed, asked for license, but in a manner you ought not to have ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xxiv circa a d 1126.htm

I am Told, Further, that You Touch with Some Critical Sharpness ...
... I do not wonder at your writing Barabbas for Baranina, the letters of the names
being somewhat similar, when you allow yourself such a license in changing the ...
/.../13 i am told further.htm

The Tongue.
... been laid? 1st. The license of the tongue.2nd. The guilt of that license.
The first license given to the tongue is slander. I am ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/i the tongue.htm

License (3 Occurrences)
... to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such
permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach, to ...
/l/license.htm - 8k

Permit (36 Occurrences)
... with. 2. (vt) To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to
authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive. 3 ...
/p/permit.htm - 16k

Give (13501 Occurrences)
... sentence, a shout, etc. 5. (n.) To grant power or license to; to permit;
to allow; to license; to commission. 6. (n.) To exhibit ...
/g/give.htm - 16k

Licence (3 Occurrences)

/l/licence.htm - 8k

Leave (341 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To raise; to levy. 3. (n.) Liberty granted by which restraint
or illegality is removed; permission; allowance; license. ...
/l/leave.htm - 35k

Licentious (1 Occurrence)

/l/licentious.htm - 7k

Liberty (32 Occurrences)
... prison. 7. (n.) A privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette
or propriety; as, to permit, or take, a liberty. 8. (n ...
/l/liberty.htm - 20k

Freedom (45 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Frankness; openness; unreservedness. 6. (n.) Improper familiarity; violation
of the rules of decorum; license. 7. (n.) Generosity; liberality. Int. ...
/f/freedom.htm - 21k

Faculty (1 Occurrence)
... office. 4. (n.) Privilege or permission, granted by favor or indulgence, to
do a particular thing; authority; license; dispensation. 5 ...
/f/faculty.htm - 8k

Traffic (12 Occurrences)
... Genesis 42:34). He evidently meant that they should have license to become,
throughout Egypt, traveling traders. (4) Rekhullah, from ...
/t/traffic.htm - 12k

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