Category Archives: Free Indeed?

Free Indeed!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #474

04 Wednesday Jul 2018

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #474  Free Indeed!!!

 

Happy 4th of July—Independence Day—in the United States, and may we all know the true freedom that is found in Jesus. I pray that you will have a day of refreshing, sharing with family and delight in the blessings of the Lord as you celebrate the 4th of July (where ever you are!).

“Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not

in the house for ever:

but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”   John 8:34-36

Amen and Amen……

 

 

Really Free??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 21

01 Sunday Jul 2018

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 21 Really Free???

 

We talk a lot about freedom, but what does freedom really look like? When you’re young you think that freedom is the ability to “do what you want”, and you just can’t wait to be an adult and “do what you want”, not to “take orders” from anyone. BUT, when you reach adulthood you find that you still have people telling you “what to do”—people who have control over your future, your income, and your life-circumstances. So what is freedom? Freedom is not simply the absence of restraint, but the opportunity to be involved in your own life choices without constricting restraints—because Jesus has set people free—free to serve Him in love and devotion, “not by constraint, but willingly” out of a grateful heart. (See 1 Peter 5:2).

Liberty:  Freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control….

Freedom from external or foreign rule; independence

Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice. 

Freedom: The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement       or under physical restraint.

exemption from external control, interference, or regulation, etc.

the power to determine action without restraint.

Everyone wants to be free but freedom isn’t free, there is a price to pay for every freedom, and the ultimate freedom is only found in Jesus. For every person is bound by their own sin, selfish desires and greed (hard things to say, but we are all plagued by the truth of sin to one degree or another—‘for all have sinned’–but Jesus came to die that we could be freed from the penalty and power of sin! Free indeed!

“Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant

abideth not in the house for ever:

but the Son

abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore

shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”   John 8:34-36

Many people in our world are searching for freedom in the wrong places, without realizing that instead of freedom they are sinking deeper and deeper into the bondage of sin. Enslaved in bondage to the lusts of the flesh—whatever that may look like: drugs, alcohol, sex, money, power, position, control—any thing that we think will bring pleasure, or anything that we use to try to fulfill our lives—to fill that ‘God shaped empty spot’ in every soul. But until we recognize our sin as sin, we’ll never find the freedom that every person desires.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:”   Romans 3:23-24

All are sinners for whom Jesus died, and until we recognize our sin and come to HIM for “the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”, we will never be truly free! Sin has a price—and God has made provision for our sin to be paid for through the blood of His “Only begotten Son”.

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”    Romans 6:23

What amazing Good News! Jesus has paid the ‘death penalty’ for your sin and mine, if we will but come to HIM in repentance and faith. It’s all about Jesus, and real freedom can only be found in HIM, where we can be “free indeed”! We can never overcome sin on our own but IN Jesus there is true freedom, victory and ultimate, perfect purpose for our lives.

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

hath made me free

from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do,

in that it was weak through the flesh,

God sending his own Son

in the likeness of sinful flesh,

and for sin,

condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law

might be fulfilled in us,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Jesus delivers from the condemnation of sin by His own blood shed at Calvary, providing a freedom that goes beyond clutching and grabbing for things around us, replacing it with God’s power, purpose and provision for life, living and dying! His righteousness imparted to us, that the world might know the Father that we love and serve by the power of His Holy Spirit seen at work in us each day!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,

they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received

the spirit of bondage again

to fear;

but ye have received

the Spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:”    Romans 8:14-16

God’s children by being ‘born again’ of His Spirit—a work that only God can do, because “ye must be born again”!!!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born

of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.” John 3:3-7

Born of God—set free from sin—delivered from the penalty of sin, and it’s power over our flesh in this world, and some day soon we’ll be delivered from the very presence of sin when we are in the presence of God eternally.

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”    John 1:12-14

Born “of God” to be delivered from sin and know the salvation, deliverance and love of a personal Savior who walks with us by giving His Spirit to dwell within and empower us to live holy lives reflecting his “grace and truth”! God ever at work to make us more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ!

“Likewise the Spirit also

helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not

what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image

of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son,

but delivered him up for us all,

how shall he not

with him

also freely give us

all things?” Romans 8:26-32

Knowing Jesus is freedom—freedom from sin, death and hell.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course

of this world,

according to the prince of the power

of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also

we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”.   Ephesians 2:1-5

Until we see our sin, we are doomed to stay in it, deceived and believing that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” will fulfill our lives and make us free—the American dream, they call it–but only Jesus can truly set you free. And when He sets us free it is for our good and God’s glory, as well as an eternity with Him in His heavenly glory!

So what is your definition of ‘freedom’? Do you know the joy and liberty that Jesus gives? If you don’t, you can, and He will make Himself real in your life and bring the true freedom of salvation, and make you stand righteous before God.

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge

of God’s elect?

It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth?

It is Christ that died,

yea rather,

that is risen again,

who is even at the right hand

of God,

who also maketh intercession

for us.

35 Who shall separate us

from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation,

or distress,

or persecution,

or famine,

or nakedness,

or peril,

or sword?

36 As it is written,

For thy sake we are killed all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep

for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded,

that neither death,

nor life,

nor angels,

nor principalities,

nor powers,

nor things present,

nor things to come,

39 Nor height,

nor depth,

nor any other creature,

shall be able to separate us

from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus

our Lord.”   Romans 8:33-39 

Freedom to be HIS and do HIS work, touching others as we walk with HIM, and helping affect change for the glory of GOD, by the love of Jesus that we possess!!!

I invite you to join me in giving ourselves to live each day to God’s glory, by living out holy freedom, using grace as God intends, and not as a license to sin. Using our freedom in Christ Jesus that God’s hand may ever have free reign to work in, around and through us. We can make a difference, as we live out the love of Jesus Christ before a lost and dying world—revealing real freedom to a world bound by sin; real freedom that the world so desperately needs to see and know today through the blood of Jesus!

Amen and Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changed Lives??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 15

22 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by in Changed Lives, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Free Indeed?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.15      Changed Lives???

 

A shorter article today than I normally write on Sundays, but I’d like to share a topic that’s dear to my heat. While we live in a culture that minimalizes the gospel and churches that promote a gospel of convenience and meaninglessness, the Gospel of Jesus is the Gospel of transformed lives—lives, hearts, souls and minds set free from sin.

We aren’t set free from the presence of sin yet, but we are set free from the power of sin in our lives as we will yield to the Holy Spirit of Jesus! God had promised The Messiah throughout the entirety of the scriptures, and Jesus was/is the fulfillment of all of those promises! Yet He wasn’t the promise that would save people “in” their sin, but “from” it!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus was coming “save his people from their sins” by paying the price for SIN; and through His atoning, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross He would give His Holy Spirit to dwell within HIS own. Jesus came to be “God with us”! He was and is the fulfillment of the New Covenant—the Spirit of God within us, far beyond tablets of stone.

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant

that I made with their fathers

in the day that I took them

by the hand

to bring them out of the land of Egypt;

which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant

that I will make with the house of Israel;

After those days, saith the LORD,

I will put my law

in their inward parts,

and write it

in their hearts;

and will be their God,

and they shall be my people.”    Jeremiah 31:31-33

Jesus death and resurrection accomplished the New Covenant, which paid the price for sin, and enabled the Holy Spirit of God to dwell within each believer. When we claim to belong to Jesus (and Him to us) yet still relish the sin that He saves from (without any discipline from God), we might want to check what we think saved us, for the blood of Jesus saves the sinner from their sin and makes us a new creation. Jesus revealed HIS ‘New Covenant’ to his disciples before He went to the cross.

“And he took bread,

and gave thanks,

and brake it,

and gave unto them, saying,

This is my body

which is given for you:

this do in remembrance of me. 

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying,

This cup

is the new testament

in my blood,

which is shed for you.”    Luke 22:19-20

The blood of Jesus IS the New Testament—not the 2nd portion of scripture– but the New Covenant that Jeremiah and Ezekiel promised! The New Covenant in the blood of Jesus, through repentance and faith, makes new creatures.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,

that if one died for all,

then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all,

that they which live

should not henceforth live unto themselves,

but unto him which died

for them,

and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man

after the flesh:

yea, though we have known Christ

after the flesh,

yet now henceforth know we him

no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”   2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Ephesians 2 reminds us that what we ‘were’ we no longer ‘are’—we were “dead in trespasses and sins” but through he blood of Jesus we are now “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”!!! Changed lives are the testimony of a true and supernaturally regenerate life. Life that only Jesus can impart through His blood! Its evidence being our service in “good works” which ‘God’ has purposed for us—not to earn our salvation–but as the testimony of our being saved “from” our sin!!!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace

are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God

hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”    Ephesians 2:1-10

Changed lives are a testimony that we really belong to Jesus! Has He changed your life? May we ever live and reflect HIS truth before a lost and desperate world! Amen!!!

An Open Letter To My Dear Ones! Bible Ballistics: BBs #377

19 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Free Indeed?, Repentance, Salvation, SIN, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Trials, Troubles, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #377 An Open Letter To My Dear Ones!

 

This is a bit off the beaten track for me, but I feel clearly led to share some things with you today that are on my heart. You, my friends, are all dear to me, yet there are those in my life and yours, (or even you, yourself) those “dear ones” close to us who are hurting beyond measure. They are the ones I want to reach out to today. And whether you are one who is hurting, confused, off-track, aimless, misguided or just weary of the battles, I am praying that this word today will bring you to Jesus’ light, truth, comfort and grace. I know that Jesus IS the answer to every need in our lives. So today, whether you are the “dear one” who is hurting, or one of your “dear ones” is hurting—this is for you.

We live in a culture that is consumed with self, and we have allowed that “self” mentality into the churches even accepting blatant error to please the ‘selfies’. Jesus never changed His message to suit any particular seeker, yet as He spoke truth to all, He saved and delivered any who came to Him as the answer to their need. He IS that answer to all our needs today. The problem is that we want to come to Jesus our own way—we want to be saved “in our sins” rather than being saved “from our sin”!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Jesus came that we might have eternal life, free from the penalty of sin (death), and the power of sin in our lives. While the old hymn, ‘Just As I Am’ (Written by Charlotte Elliott) proclaims the truth that we must come to Jesus, “Just as I am, without one plea”, we must realize that Jesus came to save sinners “from their sins”! Clearly, we must come to Jesus without any plea of our worthiness or of our own ‘self’ righteousness, deserving His saving grace; we must come to Him willingly recognizing, and ready to abandon, our sin to cling to HIM. Another favorite hymn comes to mind, and says it much better than I can, “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” (Amazing Grace, John Newton) Jesus finds the lost sheep (you and me) to bring us home to Him; He would never find a sheep and leave it where He found it to die. In fact, He loves us so much that He not only finds us, but He puts His Spirit within us so that we can truly say, I “was blind but now I see”! Without God’s amazing salvation and redemption, we have no ability to see the truth that Satan is so busy trying to keep people from seeing. The truth that Jesus saves us “from” our sin! Amen and Amen!

One thing that makes it so difficult for people today is that we all see ourselves as “good people”. We go to church, or we do good things, we aren’t prejudiced, we share, we pay our taxes, we are involved in charitable activities—but not one of these things can save us! No, not any or all of these ‘good works’ can save us, yet we’ll never seek the salvation that Jesus offers until we see ourselves as God sees us! Jesus speaks clearly to this issue in one of His messages to the seven churches—yes, His message to the ‘church’ deals with those who think they’re good enough to be right with God because of their ‘works’ and their ‘wealth’! Familiar??

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness

do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:17-18

Jesus called the church at Laodicea to open their eyes and see the truth—Jesus Himself! They had become so ‘self’ satisfied that they didn’t even recognize their lostness! And much of America today is in that same boat. Jesus didn’t call them ‘good’, or ‘charitable’, or ‘holy’; He called them “wretched….miserable…..poor….blind….and naked”! Terms never used of the redeemed, but of those who have no relationship with Jesus! Shocking? Yes, but Jesus didn’t leave them with no hope. He called them to come to Him and find the real wealth—the gold of salvation in Christ Jesus alone, by faith alone (never by works, see Ephesians 2:8-10, works come out of our salvation, they’re never what saves us—ever!). He called them to come to Him for real garments of HIS righteousness!!!

“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”    Revelation 19:8

It is the righteousness that only Christ Jesus provides to those who come to HIM in repentance and faith.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness

of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus’ righteousness is the only ‘righteousness’ that God accepts—and we can only get it at the Cross! So my dear one, whatever you’ve been doing to try and solve your problems, to make yourself feel important, to prove to yourself and the world that you are “important”—stop riding on a merry-go-round that will take you nowhere and give your ALL to Jesus. You will never find your significance in impressing Christians at church (real or fake), or doing good works for men’s praise, or pretending that you are someone that you’re not; or in a bottle; or in sex; or in spending money you don’t have, to impress people you don’t like, all to accomplish what? Only Jesus can truly save, redeem, and deliver us from our own sin!! And my dear one, SIN is the issue—yours and mine—and only the blood of Jesus can cleanse and save us from sin and its death penalty.

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ

his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:7-10

So, my dear ones, will you give up your lies, to come to Jesus? He is knocking at your hearts door today (See Revelation 3:19-20), and only you can open that door to HIM, “I am come that they might have life, and ….. have it more abundantly.”

Free Indeed…..??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No. 26

02 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Free Indeed?, Repentance, Salvation, SIN, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.26      Free Indeed……….???

 

“Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not

in the house for ever:

but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore

shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”    John 8:34-36

As we celebrate our freedom here in the U.S., we ought to consider what real freedom is! We can live in any country across the globe, and whether the government is one which extends personal freedom to its constituents or not, unless we have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord through repentance and faith, we can’t understand, experience of possess real freedom. As we have often talked about here at Bible Ballistics, Jesus came to give us eternal life and true freedom—to all who will believe and receive His sacrifice for sin.

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

Jesus came to give us life, at the cost of His own life’s blood on the cross of Calvary, and when we come to HIM, He imparts to us eternal life. He makes us free from the penalty, power and eventually, from the very presence of sin. And just as we saw in the passage above, Jesus gives us life–life that makes us free! We truly become what Paul called himself, the bond-servant of Jesus, and not only servants of God, but His children—children who are “free indeed”, because we are no longer the “servants/slaves” of sin, but we are adopted into God’s family.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us

with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him

in love:

5 Having predestinated us

unto the adoption of children

by Jesus Christ

to himself,

according to the good pleasure

of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory

of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches

of his grace;”   Ephesians 1:3-7

Jesus bought our redemption “through his blood”, and it is His blood which translates us into sons of God, rather than slaves of sin.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”    Colossians 1:12-14

And contrary to popular opinion, SIN is the issue; and without the blood of Jesus which “cleanseth us from all sin”, there is no freedom—no freedom from the penalty of sin, and no freedom to have His “abundant” life! The life that makes us children of God; children of grace, forgiveness and recipients of new life, new life “in Christ”! (See John 3)

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:10-14

The thing I’d like us to consider is, ‘Whose servant am I?’ Am I the servant of the sin that rules my world, and wants to rule me? Or have I become a servant of “righteousness” through Jesus and His sacrificial, substitutionary death for sin—my sin?

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,

his servants ye are

to whom ye obey;

or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked,

that ye were the servants of sin,

but ye have obeyed from the heart

that form of doctrine

which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin,

ye became the servants

of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men

because of the infirmity of your flesh:

for as ye have yielded your members

servants to uncleanness

and to iniquity unto iniquity;

even so now yield your members

servants to righteousness

unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin,

ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things

whereof ye are now ashamed?

for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”    Romans 6:16-23

Jesus makes us “free from sin”, and “servants to God” instead; and our lives should reflect His presence in our heart and mind! Because we are the recipients of “everlasting life” our fruit (Our behavior and works of devotion to God.) ought to be a reflection of holiness. Being free from the power of sin in our lives by the blood of Jesus we are to influence the world around us by the power of Jesus Christ in us! Doing God’s work because we are made in His image by His redeeming work on the Cross.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin

for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Jesus bore our sin, when He had none, that we might have His righteousness applied to us, because we had none! The greatest trade of the ages—He took my sin, and imparted His righteousness to me! Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of all who will come to Him in repentance and faith.

Are you “free indeed”? Or are you still the servant “of sin unto death”, or have you come to the Cross of Jesus Christ for salvation? Jesus gave His all that we might have life. Are you choosing death or life and freedom in Christ Jesus? And if we belong to Him, then we ought to walk and live in His freedom unto His purposes and His glory!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”