The American church has made themselves so comfortable we all seem to be in a stupor. A puzzled look usually comes over faces when questioned about how they serve God. Many church people do not know that Jesus is the absolute center of the Christian religion. They usually believe some church program or theology will save them. Usually, someone can stand in a lobby of the church and talk about Jesus and the room will empty. There might be two people in the corner talking about fishing but really hoping to sell some insurance. The modern believer knows more about cell phones than they do the Bible. People will say that the thief on the cross was allowed into paradise so Jesus will certainly take me. The problem is that the thief’s life was over but we continue living and sinning. God exist in perfect righteousness and a cavalier attitude about sin might be a problem if we want to live with Him in Heaven.
Somehow, the modern believer must realize that salvation is a serious business. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your (reasonable)spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom 12:1,2) Do we see this transformed attitude in believers today? Some people say they don’t have the power to live as a living sacrifice. However, it is both necessary and possible to live the righteous life that God requires. People must desire a new life and then learn how to accomplish it. From cover to cover, the Bible tells us about this different life that is available to the serious believer. The question is, how do we put into operation what the Savior has achieved? The answer is the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in us.
Paul said, Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. (1 Cor 15:34) It is our shame that people have not been taught. The first matter of concern is stopping our sin. Any rational person should know that all of us are full of sin and we cannot conquer it by ourselves. Christians know that Jesus Christ died and was resurrected to provide a covenant that can cover all our sins. If we can find a way to apply the work of Christ, a righteous life will be the result. Paul said it this way, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Rom 8:12,13) Instructions on conquering sin started in the Old Testament and concluded when Paul wrote his letters revealing that the Spirit of truth could actually live inside us.
In the very beginning of humans, the Lord gave the blood sacrifice to teach us that there is a problem that stands between God and people. The sin problem must be dealt with in the life of anyone who desires to live with God. We cannot solve this problem ourselves, therefore we must go to God and ask him to deal with it for us. Of course, sin must be dealt with in a legal manner because God is absolutely righteous. In the old days, the people used the blood to represent what Christ would do on the cross. Thank the Lord, the substitution of Jesus Christ was represented in all sacrificial animals. The Jews had five regular offerings and many “special” offerings. This discourse uses two of the regular offerings and a couple special ones to show us the different types of sin that we face in our everyday life and how to deal with them.
The Scriptures teach that Jewish offerings were for two basic types of sin. The first one was for our bad human nature. If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, he is guilty. (Lev 4:27) The “sin offering” was required because of our sin-nature that produces sin that we may or may not know is in our life. All of us inherited this type of sin from Adam. The second type was for sins that are done with our own reasoning. If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor… or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do…He must make restitution in full (Lev 6:1-5) This “trespass offering” covers our violations of the Law of Moses. Although the Law is good, Paul tells us to be careful, because law brings wrath. (Rom 4:15) How do we deal with our transgressions during the remainder of our life?
It is easy to say that Jesus has taken care of our sin with the shedding of His blood and nothing could be truer. But a new responsibility for our behavior comes into our life because we are joined in a union with Christ. The new covenant that Jesus gave us is about our new life with God. Since we have now been justified by his blood,(Jesus Christ) how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Rom 5:9,10) This important passage tells us that there is much more to Christianity than the blood of God’s son. The blood reconciled the WHOLE EARTH but believers are saved by His blood AND the perfect life of Jesus Christ that gives us freedom to be righteous.
Christians must believe that they have become one with a perfect Savior. This requires that the Spirit of Christ live in us, giving direction and conviction. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. John 6:63 The Spirit is the life in us, therefore, we must be involved with him every day. This is how the Spirit can give us divine guidance in our righteous life. Of course, when we commit sins after our salvation we are required to confess them for our forgiveness. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8,9) Confession is the practical remedy we have been given to access what the Savior provided.
To repeat, all sin in our life must be dealt with in order to please God with a righteous life. Jesus Christ died for our sin but he lived perfect life for our righteousness. In other words, the Spirit leading our life each day is how we are “saved through His life”.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Give Me Liberty Not Death
It is no surprise to most people that God Almighty lives in absolute freedom and liberty. There is no captivity caused by sin or any relationship can lay claim against God. He dwells in the light of perfect righteousness, which allows His every activity to be open, lovely, and free. Some Christians have trouble believing that our new life is made in the “image” of God. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Col 3:9,10) Because we live among the bondage and unrighteousness of this world we have difficulty visualizing the righteousness that is given to every born-again person. A real Christian uses their will or volition to join with God in righteousness. Sin places people into the captivity of death but righteousness leads to eternal liberty.
A servant of God “chooses” to be part of goodness and right doing. No one serving God is a captive and they are free to walk out at any time. We are volunteers.
Most people think that their independence is wonderful but they have an extremely narrow and mistaken view. All the self-determination of worldly people will lead to failure and death. Talk to people who did it their way when they are old and you will find loneliness and bitterness. Ask people who raised children with a great plan that turned into a nightmare. Ask for wisdom from someone who dedicated his or her life to some vice and then view the wreck of a human. All of our natural impulses and plans will result in sin and eternal death. There is only one place to find eternal liberty and freedom and you must join with God to find it.
Real freedom is a bi-product of our inclusion into God’s grace. When God created humans they had freedom to live in His righteousness. Unfortunately, the Devil talked humans into following their own decisions, which left us captives to our sinful nature. God did not write us off. He sent his own son to earth with a plan for the redemption of humans. Jesus said, God has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s grace. (Luke 4:18) This is the second time God has offered humans the opportunity to live with him in eternal liberty. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20) In order for us to have an eternity of freedom, we must avail ourselves of God’s offer of grace.
The truth is that all of us have a choice to make, live a captive as we were born or seek God and His freedom. For if you live according to the sinful (captive) nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (in freedom) because those who are led by the Spirit of God are (the free) sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. (Rom 8:13-15) The unfaithful or unbelieving person is only free to run around the jail, so to speak. They will never escape this world alive. How wonderful it is to seek God and enter the freedom of His eternal family. It is God’s desire that all people seek Him but most prisoners of sin will not and are strangely content on their way to eternal torment.
The Bible makes a strong point of warning Christians not to misuse their freedom. The danger is falling back into the world. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1) This can happen if we do worldly things after yielding to God. 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. (Gal 5:13) We see here that dedicating our life to others will keep us from indulging in the worlds activities for ourselves. Believe it or not, there are some people who even use their Christian position to do harm to others. The Bible says, Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (1 Pet 2:16) We see that real freedom is only for the servants of God who stay in His grace.
There are preachers today that tell people how free they will be if we just follow their instructions. Of course, we must give them some money to show that we really love God. Some of these people actually did start out in the truth of God but something changed as they grew older. They promise them (people) freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. (2 Pet 2:19,20) We are slaves to anything that controls us. Serving God is the only way to find real freedom and break the bonds of this world.
The Scripture says repeatedly that we must continue to move forward with God. He has given us a new life of great value and we must appreciate His gift. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25) So many people in America have heard the truth but are not doing it. What a great shame to go to eternal punishment with the unused truth in your knowledge. This verse says that living in the perfect law “Gives Freedom.” This is why we can say that freedom is a bi-product of living with God. Freedom is staying out of bondage; we cannot do things that put us back under domination. To live in sin is loss of control but living by some good laws also brings a downfall into our life. At best, following laws makes us self-righteous. Serving God in the Spirit is the only way to live in freedom.
Doing a sin or failing a law always lays a guilt on our conscience. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, (Heb 10:22,23) The first thing God does for a new born Christian is to give freedom from their conscience. If you have not experienced this you must seek God. This great feeling of freedom makes it easy to love and serve God. I will walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts. (Ps 119:45) Since Jesus sent the Spirit to live in us and show us the way, we can really feel the freedom in our lives. David had to read the precepts but they actually live in us. This is how the love of God can come through our life if we allow it.
May God delight in our lives as we follow Him in freedom.
A servant of God “chooses” to be part of goodness and right doing. No one serving God is a captive and they are free to walk out at any time. We are volunteers.
Most people think that their independence is wonderful but they have an extremely narrow and mistaken view. All the self-determination of worldly people will lead to failure and death. Talk to people who did it their way when they are old and you will find loneliness and bitterness. Ask people who raised children with a great plan that turned into a nightmare. Ask for wisdom from someone who dedicated his or her life to some vice and then view the wreck of a human. All of our natural impulses and plans will result in sin and eternal death. There is only one place to find eternal liberty and freedom and you must join with God to find it.
Real freedom is a bi-product of our inclusion into God’s grace. When God created humans they had freedom to live in His righteousness. Unfortunately, the Devil talked humans into following their own decisions, which left us captives to our sinful nature. God did not write us off. He sent his own son to earth with a plan for the redemption of humans. Jesus said, God has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s grace. (Luke 4:18) This is the second time God has offered humans the opportunity to live with him in eternal liberty. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20) In order for us to have an eternity of freedom, we must avail ourselves of God’s offer of grace.
The truth is that all of us have a choice to make, live a captive as we were born or seek God and His freedom. For if you live according to the sinful (captive) nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (in freedom) because those who are led by the Spirit of God are (the free) sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. (Rom 8:13-15) The unfaithful or unbelieving person is only free to run around the jail, so to speak. They will never escape this world alive. How wonderful it is to seek God and enter the freedom of His eternal family. It is God’s desire that all people seek Him but most prisoners of sin will not and are strangely content on their way to eternal torment.
The Bible makes a strong point of warning Christians not to misuse their freedom. The danger is falling back into the world. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1) This can happen if we do worldly things after yielding to God. 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. (Gal 5:13) We see here that dedicating our life to others will keep us from indulging in the worlds activities for ourselves. Believe it or not, there are some people who even use their Christian position to do harm to others. The Bible says, Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (1 Pet 2:16) We see that real freedom is only for the servants of God who stay in His grace.
There are preachers today that tell people how free they will be if we just follow their instructions. Of course, we must give them some money to show that we really love God. Some of these people actually did start out in the truth of God but something changed as they grew older. They promise them (people) freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. (2 Pet 2:19,20) We are slaves to anything that controls us. Serving God is the only way to find real freedom and break the bonds of this world.
The Scripture says repeatedly that we must continue to move forward with God. He has given us a new life of great value and we must appreciate His gift. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25) So many people in America have heard the truth but are not doing it. What a great shame to go to eternal punishment with the unused truth in your knowledge. This verse says that living in the perfect law “Gives Freedom.” This is why we can say that freedom is a bi-product of living with God. Freedom is staying out of bondage; we cannot do things that put us back under domination. To live in sin is loss of control but living by some good laws also brings a downfall into our life. At best, following laws makes us self-righteous. Serving God in the Spirit is the only way to live in freedom.
Doing a sin or failing a law always lays a guilt on our conscience. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, (Heb 10:22,23) The first thing God does for a new born Christian is to give freedom from their conscience. If you have not experienced this you must seek God. This great feeling of freedom makes it easy to love and serve God. I will walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts. (Ps 119:45) Since Jesus sent the Spirit to live in us and show us the way, we can really feel the freedom in our lives. David had to read the precepts but they actually live in us. This is how the love of God can come through our life if we allow it.
May God delight in our lives as we follow Him in freedom.
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