Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:16-26
Live by the Spirit. According to Harold Camping the rapture was suppose to take place yesterday. Thank God that His written Word, when used properly, prevails. Most of us knew we would still be here today, that the doom predicted was not going to happen. What does scripture have to tell us about end times? God’s Word always has checks and balances built into it. If it is mentioned, you can find conformation within it’s pages.
Failed Prophecies:
Over the years there have been many end time prophecies that have not come true:
The Prophet Hen of Leeds, 1806: a hen began laying eggs on which the phrase "Christ is coming" was written, proven to be false when someone witnessed the hen laying her eggs.
The Millerites, April 23, 1843: the world would end some time between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. Later the group split and remnants became the 7th day Adventists.
Mormon Armageddon, 1891 or earlier: Joseph Smith said God told him (February 1835) Jesus would return within the next 56 years, after which the End Times would begin promptly.
Pat Robertson, 1982: May 1980: "I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world,".
Heaven's Gate, 1997: When comet Hale-Bopp appeared in 1997, rumors surfaced that an alien spacecraft was following the comet, a San Diego UFO cult named Heaven's Gate concluded that the world would end soon. The world ended for 39 of the cult members, who committed suicide on March 26, 1997.
Doomsday groups run a line of excuses after failed predictions. On occasion, a leader will admit he or she was wrong, other groups will come up with a face-saving explanation. Some groups blame themselves, rationalizing that their lack of faith caused the failure and other groups blame outside forces and redouble their efforts. The Bottom Line, they are not being scriptural.
What Does Scripture Say?:
God clearly tells us that no one knows the time or day when Jesus will return. Not even Jesus Himself knows, yet these alleged men of God proclaim certain doom.
Matthew 24:44 “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2 “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”
Matthew 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Mark 13:33 “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
There are many false teachers in the world. Men and woman who claim to be teachers of the law but have no understanding of it. Camping earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (1942). He is not an ordained minister of any Christian denomination. Chalk this one up to yet another person who wants' his fifteen minutes of fame.
1 Titus 1:6-8 “Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.”
How Should We Respond?:
Respond according to God’s Word. Look at who is making the prediction. Ask what scripture has to say about the subject, research, live according to God’s Word. Live by the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law.”
When we live by the fruit of the Spirit we live as if Christ is in us. We develop that personal relationship. Everyday we should live as if it is our last. We do not know the day or time when Jesus is returning. We do know, that by the Spirit, we can take comfort and have peace that no matter when our Savior returns we will be safe.
Galatians 5:24-26 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
We have committed our lives to Christ. We have crucified our sinful passions and desires, we live with the Spirit in us. Let us act like we have Him in us. Look at how you treat others, how do you think or act. Are you living by the Spirit or are you being conceited? Are you provoking others? Do you envy what others have? If you said yes to any of these, were you really ready for Christ to return yesterday?
I thank God that His word remained true and no one knows when Christ will return. I thank God that He sent His Son for our Salvation. I thank God that He has given us His written Word so that we can discern fact from fiction. I thank God that He loves us so much that we need not concern ourselves with when He is returning. Jesus is returning, it doesn't make a difference when. Are you ready? Will He say to you “Well done good and faithful servant”?
Next week I will be out of town. The congregation has the day off, I have challenged the members to spend next Sunday with an un-saved family member or friend. The following week I am asking that they bring that person to church with them. Have a wonderful and safe Memorial weekend and may God Bless each and everyone of you.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Wedding Supper Of The Lamb
Scripture Reading: Revelation 19:5-9
Yesterday I officiated a wedding. While performing the ceremony my Spirit was led to the wedding supper of the lamb. John saw and heard the heavenly multitudes praising God because the wedding feast of the Lamb was about to begin. The concept of the marriage supper is better understood in light of the wedding customs in the time of Christ.
The Customs:
There were three major parts of Jewish customs
1.) A marriage contract was consummated between the parents of the bride and the bridegroom. The parents of the bride would pay a dowry to the bridegroom or his parents. This was called the betrothal period, today we call it the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child:
Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
Luke 2:5 “To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
2.) Usually occurred a year later, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride at midnight with a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know this was going to take place, and so would be ready with her maidens, and they would join the parade that would end up at the bridegroom's home. This was illustrated in the parable of the virgins in:
Matthew 25:1-13 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. hey that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
3.) Finally, the marriage supper itself, which might go on for days as seen in the wedding at Cana in:
John 2:1-2 “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.”
John’s Vision:
John’s vision, pictures the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase, the first two phases have already taken place.
The first phase was consummated on earth when each individual member of the Church, the body of Christ made up of believers, placed his or her faith and trust in Jesus as Savior.
The dowry paid to the Bridegroom’s Parent (God the Father) would be the shed blood of Christ on the cross on the Bride’s behalf. Now the Church would belong to Christ in the sense of betrothal and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all would be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the Second Coming)
The second phase symbolizes the Rapture of the Church when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father's house.
The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step. The wedding feast to which the saints are invited includes not only the Church as the bride of Christ, but others as well. The "others" include Old Testament saints who are going to be raised at the Second Coming, as well as the martyred dead of the Tribulation who form the multitude.
As the angel told John to write: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). It is a glorious celebration of all who are in Christ. Last night the wedding supper consisted of food and drink. When Christ comes for us we will be in our spiritual state (bodies), there will be no need for food, only the food of the Spirit that is in Christ Jesus.
Yesterday I officiated a wedding. While performing the ceremony my Spirit was led to the wedding supper of the lamb. John saw and heard the heavenly multitudes praising God because the wedding feast of the Lamb was about to begin. The concept of the marriage supper is better understood in light of the wedding customs in the time of Christ.
The Customs:
There were three major parts of Jewish customs
1.) A marriage contract was consummated between the parents of the bride and the bridegroom. The parents of the bride would pay a dowry to the bridegroom or his parents. This was called the betrothal period, today we call it the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child:
Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
Luke 2:5 “To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
2.) Usually occurred a year later, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride at midnight with a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know this was going to take place, and so would be ready with her maidens, and they would join the parade that would end up at the bridegroom's home. This was illustrated in the parable of the virgins in:
Matthew 25:1-13 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. hey that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
3.) Finally, the marriage supper itself, which might go on for days as seen in the wedding at Cana in:
John 2:1-2 “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.”
John’s Vision:
John’s vision, pictures the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase, the first two phases have already taken place.
The first phase was consummated on earth when each individual member of the Church, the body of Christ made up of believers, placed his or her faith and trust in Jesus as Savior.
The dowry paid to the Bridegroom’s Parent (God the Father) would be the shed blood of Christ on the cross on the Bride’s behalf. Now the Church would belong to Christ in the sense of betrothal and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all would be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the Second Coming)
The second phase symbolizes the Rapture of the Church when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father's house.
The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step. The wedding feast to which the saints are invited includes not only the Church as the bride of Christ, but others as well. The "others" include Old Testament saints who are going to be raised at the Second Coming, as well as the martyred dead of the Tribulation who form the multitude.
As the angel told John to write: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). It is a glorious celebration of all who are in Christ. Last night the wedding supper consisted of food and drink. When Christ comes for us we will be in our spiritual state (bodies), there will be no need for food, only the food of the Spirit that is in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Honor Thy Mother
Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:23-24
Being a mother is a very important role that the Lord chooses to give to many women. A Christian mother is told to love her children. Titus 2:4-5 “Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” God commands this so that she does not bring reproach on the Lord and Savior whose name she bears. Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3-5 “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.”
A Mothers Love:
In Titus 2:4, the Greek word philoteknos appears in reference to mothers loving their children. The word represents a special kind of “mother love.” The word means one of caring for our children, nurturing them, affectionately embracing them, meeting their needs, and tenderly befriending each as a gift from God. We are to honor and love our mothers Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
How Should a Christian Mother Be?:
Several things are commanded of Christian mothers in God’s Word:
1. Availability – morning, noon, and night: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
2. Involvement – along with the fathers, interacting, discussing, thinking, and processing life together: Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
3. Teaching – the Scriptures and a biblical worldview: Psalm 78:5-6 “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
Deuteronomy 4:10 “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”
4. Training – helping a child to develop skills and discover their strengths: Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” and spiritual gifts: Read Romans 12:3-8
5. Discipline – teaching the fear of the Lord, drawing the line consistently, lovingly, firmly: Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
6. Nurture – providing an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love: Titus 2:4 “Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,” 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
7. Modeling with Integrity – living what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living: Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously. Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease. Isn't this a good reason to love and honor our mothers? Remember, God commands it.
Being a mother is a very important role that the Lord chooses to give to many women. A Christian mother is told to love her children. Titus 2:4-5 “Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” God commands this so that she does not bring reproach on the Lord and Savior whose name she bears. Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3-5 “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.”
A Mothers Love:
In Titus 2:4, the Greek word philoteknos appears in reference to mothers loving their children. The word represents a special kind of “mother love.” The word means one of caring for our children, nurturing them, affectionately embracing them, meeting their needs, and tenderly befriending each as a gift from God. We are to honor and love our mothers Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
How Should a Christian Mother Be?:
Several things are commanded of Christian mothers in God’s Word:
1. Availability – morning, noon, and night: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
2. Involvement – along with the fathers, interacting, discussing, thinking, and processing life together: Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
3. Teaching – the Scriptures and a biblical worldview: Psalm 78:5-6 “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
Deuteronomy 4:10 “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”
4. Training – helping a child to develop skills and discover their strengths: Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” and spiritual gifts: Read Romans 12:3-8
5. Discipline – teaching the fear of the Lord, drawing the line consistently, lovingly, firmly: Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
6. Nurture – providing an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love: Titus 2:4 “Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,” 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
7. Modeling with Integrity – living what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living: Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously. Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease. Isn't this a good reason to love and honor our mothers? Remember, God commands it.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Free At Last, Now What Do We Do?
Scripture Reading: John 8:31-36
Another week went by with no message until yesterday. What was the message? There was only a word, Free. What does Free mean to you? There are 17 different definitions of the word Free. Not imprisoned or enslaved, Being at liberty, Not controlled by obligation or the will of another, Not subject to external restraint, Unobstructed, Given, Not bound, fastened, or attached are just a few of the definitions. How is free defined in scripture? A quick internet search revealed dozens of sites about “Free Will”. A quick biblical search revealed much more about the word free.
Freedom According To Scripture:
Psalm 146:7 “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,” The Lord sets prisoners free. Free from what? Free from sin, free from the sting of death that is a result of sin.
Romans 6:18 “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” We have been set free from sin but now we are slaves to righteousness and to God
Revelation 1:5 “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” By the blood of Jesus Christ we have been freed form the bondage of sin. The price that was paid for our sins was the blood of Christ.
Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” For God will freely pardon. God has freely pardoned us of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. No conditions, no stipulations, no cost to us, we only have to believe in Jesus and what He has done for us.
“Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last”, a famous quote from Martin Luther King Jr. He was not talking about the freedom of people from the grasp of others, he was talking about the freedom that we all have in Jesus. The forgiveness of our sins, our complete pardon from God as sinners. All of us.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Everyone can be freed from the clutches of sin, a free gift from our Lord and Savior. When you accept Jesus Christ into your heart you are free. With our new freedom comes biblical responsibility, our gift is free but scripture tells us how to enjoy our freedom from sin.
Our Scriptural Responsibilities:
Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” We are to freely give to others the gift that God has given to us.
The song Freely, Freely, Freely say’s it all, the chorus goes: He said: 'Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give, Go in My name, and because you believe, Others will know that I live. We are to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others, we are to freely offer the gift to others.
Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” We have freedom, we are no longer slaves to sin, we are forgiven, we are children of God. Being free does not give us a “free pass” to continue sinning, our freedom brings about responsibility to others.
“Free Will” is not mentioned anywhere in scripture. It is understood that we have a will to make choices. Are you making the right choices or are you hiding behind the fact that you are already forgiven? Are you using your freedom to justify what you are doing?
Romans 3:22-24 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
We have become righteous, we are justified by his grace. Yes, we have free will but God wants us to be Christ like and to obey Him. Because we are redeemed we shouldn't continue to walk in darkness. Use your free will to do His will.
Biblical Wisdom About Freedom:
Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. We have clear and direct direction on how to serve God in our freedom. Service and love. We are to serve one another, love one another, help one another, it’s all about using our free gift of sin separation to help others separate from sin.
1Peter 2:16 “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. We can make right and wrong choices in our freedom, we can do good or we can do evil. The choice is up to you but we are warned to do right. Serve God, respect and love others, fear God and honor Him.
Ephesians 1:4-10 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
The truth will set you free. He has freely given us in the One he loves, Christ Jesus. In our freedom we have God’s redemption, forgiveness, grace, wisdom, and understanding. In our freedom we have responsibilities to serve God and one another, to love God and one another, and to share God to everyone. Are you using your free gift from God as He would have you? Are you holy and blameless or are you using your free will as a free pass to live in the flesh?
Another week went by with no message until yesterday. What was the message? There was only a word, Free. What does Free mean to you? There are 17 different definitions of the word Free. Not imprisoned or enslaved, Being at liberty, Not controlled by obligation or the will of another, Not subject to external restraint, Unobstructed, Given, Not bound, fastened, or attached are just a few of the definitions. How is free defined in scripture? A quick internet search revealed dozens of sites about “Free Will”. A quick biblical search revealed much more about the word free.
Freedom According To Scripture:
Psalm 146:7 “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,” The Lord sets prisoners free. Free from what? Free from sin, free from the sting of death that is a result of sin.
Romans 6:18 “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” We have been set free from sin but now we are slaves to righteousness and to God
Revelation 1:5 “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” By the blood of Jesus Christ we have been freed form the bondage of sin. The price that was paid for our sins was the blood of Christ.
Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” For God will freely pardon. God has freely pardoned us of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. No conditions, no stipulations, no cost to us, we only have to believe in Jesus and what He has done for us.
“Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last”, a famous quote from Martin Luther King Jr. He was not talking about the freedom of people from the grasp of others, he was talking about the freedom that we all have in Jesus. The forgiveness of our sins, our complete pardon from God as sinners. All of us.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Everyone can be freed from the clutches of sin, a free gift from our Lord and Savior. When you accept Jesus Christ into your heart you are free. With our new freedom comes biblical responsibility, our gift is free but scripture tells us how to enjoy our freedom from sin.
Our Scriptural Responsibilities:
Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” We are to freely give to others the gift that God has given to us.
The song Freely, Freely, Freely say’s it all, the chorus goes: He said: 'Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give, Go in My name, and because you believe, Others will know that I live. We are to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others, we are to freely offer the gift to others.
Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” We have freedom, we are no longer slaves to sin, we are forgiven, we are children of God. Being free does not give us a “free pass” to continue sinning, our freedom brings about responsibility to others.
“Free Will” is not mentioned anywhere in scripture. It is understood that we have a will to make choices. Are you making the right choices or are you hiding behind the fact that you are already forgiven? Are you using your freedom to justify what you are doing?
Romans 3:22-24 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
We have become righteous, we are justified by his grace. Yes, we have free will but God wants us to be Christ like and to obey Him. Because we are redeemed we shouldn't continue to walk in darkness. Use your free will to do His will.
Biblical Wisdom About Freedom:
Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. We have clear and direct direction on how to serve God in our freedom. Service and love. We are to serve one another, love one another, help one another, it’s all about using our free gift of sin separation to help others separate from sin.
1Peter 2:16 “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. We can make right and wrong choices in our freedom, we can do good or we can do evil. The choice is up to you but we are warned to do right. Serve God, respect and love others, fear God and honor Him.
Ephesians 1:4-10 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
The truth will set you free. He has freely given us in the One he loves, Christ Jesus. In our freedom we have God’s redemption, forgiveness, grace, wisdom, and understanding. In our freedom we have responsibilities to serve God and one another, to love God and one another, and to share God to everyone. Are you using your free gift from God as He would have you? Are you holy and blameless or are you using your free will as a free pass to live in the flesh?
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