1st Peter 2:24 says, “And He Himself bore our
sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
Yesterday in our Easter service, the Pastor started off his
message with a story. The year was 1863 on the very first day of that year.
Abraham Lincoln was sitting in his office with his secretaries standing behind
him. At that moment, he signed the emancipation proclamation, which freed fifty
thousand slaves at first.
However, it was actually signed to set free 3.1 million
free. It took until the 13th Amendment, which was brought in by
1865, for the rest of the slaves to realize that they were indeed free. These
men were proclaimed free, but lived as slaves for two or three years.
How similar is that to us? Have we not been set free from
sin, where we now are no longer are controlled by this master? However, Paul
says in Romans 6:19-20, “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness
of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and
to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members
as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were
slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.”
So, we have been set free in regards to sin, but even more
so, we have been recaptured. Be careful to think that you now have no Master
and are but a freeman wandering. Your Master is God, Creator of the entire
world. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of
God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Some think that Christianity is just a free religion, in so
much that it’s just a relationship, and do not be misunderstood, it is a
relationship with God that we now have upon accepting the grace given by His
Son, but understand that we are to bind ourselves with Christ. We shall now
become slaves to Christ, as the Apostle Paul addresses himself in his letters.
Christianity should be one of the most demanding religions above all others in
the entire world. Why?
Why do Mormons obey the laws they are given? Simply because
they are told. Why do Muslims strap themselves to bombs and go into public
places? Because they are told to in order to receive rewards in their idea of
heaven. Why should Christians obey the law given to them? Because the person
giving us these laws spent His life on earth to save us from everlasting
damnation. Are we not the only religion powered to obey by the love that has
been expressed to us? What other religion has said that their God has came to
earth to live a perfect life, has died to save His people, and then rose again
to say that all He has said was true? We are that people, and let us strive
forward with confidence to obey what God has laid before us.
Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of
his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads
you toward repentance?”
It is because of the relationship with Christ that should
drive us to obey Him in all situations.
– Forsake
All
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