The freedom of the gospel
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
I have spoken to you this week some about repentance, and some about being set aside for relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. While it is true that Jesus came for the specific reason to open a door for us to be able to seek after God, it does not make it any easier for us to live up to that commitment we have made to him. Galatians 5:1 tells us "it is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery". We need to remember that Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free; not free to do whatever we wanted to do because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Because of what Jesus did for us we are now free and able to do one wasn't possible for us to do before which is to live unselfishly. There are many who speak to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires but when we do that we find ourselves falling back into sin. It's also wrong to put a burden of law keeping on the Christians. We have to stand against those who would enslave us with the rules, methods, or any special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ.
There are always plenty of rules and regulations out there, and today the concept of doing good has become as popular as coming to Christ in order to reach a relationship with God. Trying to be saved by keeping the wall and being saved by grace are two entirely different approaches. For many people who try to approach God or a relationship with God in this way will find that Christ will be of no value to you at all. That means that Christ provision for your salvation will not help you if you are trying to save yourselves. Salvation is a gift from God that can only be attained by acceptance of that gift all we can do is accept his gracious gift through faith. Our deeds of service must never be used to try to earn God's law or his favor.
If we do indeed want to find a way to live in God's favor then let us live our lives by God's spirit. Galatians 5:16-26 tells us "so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy drunkenness, orgies, and the like; I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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 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." If you desire to have the qualities listed within this passage then you know that the Holy Spirit is leading. At the same time be careful not to confuse your subjective feelings with the Spirit's leading. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves desire to hear, the readiness to obey God's word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and his promptings. If you are being led by the Holy Spirit the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. There are many Christians today who are going through this battle personally between their tendency to want to control a situation and their desire to allow God's Holy Spirit to lead them in any way that he can. It is a constant struggle, and they need for constant prayer as we seek to be living sacrifices each and every day. It is not easy, but it is possible. May you richly bless God that through your life in him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
I have spoken to you this week some about repentance, and some about being set aside for relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. While it is true that Jesus came for the specific reason to open a door for us to be able to seek after God, it does not make it any easier for us to live up to that commitment we have made to him. Galatians 5:1 tells us "it is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery". We need to remember that Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free; not free to do whatever we wanted to do because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Because of what Jesus did for us we are now free and able to do one wasn't possible for us to do before which is to live unselfishly. There are many who speak to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires but when we do that we find ourselves falling back into sin. It's also wrong to put a burden of law keeping on the Christians. We have to stand against those who would enslave us with the rules, methods, or any special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ.
There are always plenty of rules and regulations out there, and today the concept of doing good has become as popular as coming to Christ in order to reach a relationship with God. Trying to be saved by keeping the wall and being saved by grace are two entirely different approaches. For many people who try to approach God or a relationship with God in this way will find that Christ will be of no value to you at all. That means that Christ provision for your salvation will not help you if you are trying to save yourselves. Salvation is a gift from God that can only be attained by acceptance of that gift all we can do is accept his gracious gift through faith. Our deeds of service must never be used to try to earn God's law or his favor.
If we do indeed want to find a way to live in God's favor then let us live our lives by God's spirit. Galatians 5:16-26 tells us "so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy drunkenness, orgies, and the like; I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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 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." If you desire to have the qualities listed within this passage then you know that the Holy Spirit is leading. At the same time be careful not to confuse your subjective feelings with the Spirit's leading. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves desire to hear, the readiness to obey God's word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and his promptings. If you are being led by the Holy Spirit the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. There are many Christians today who are going through this battle personally between their tendency to want to control a situation and their desire to allow God's Holy Spirit to lead them in any way that he can. It is a constant struggle, and they need for constant prayer as we seek to be living sacrifices each and every day. It is not easy, but it is possible. May you richly bless God that through your life in him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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