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Tag: Sin

Let Freedom Ring

Written by amerrill on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Let Freedom Ring

The New Year offers the promise of fresh beginnings. There is something about January 1 that gives us the motivation we need to start making changes or commitments we’ve abandoned the previous year. We tell ourselves this year is going to be different, and we feel confident and hopeful.

But sometime around mid-February or March, we lose focus. Perhaps it’s all those Valentine’s Day chocolates or Easter eggs! But we find ourselves making the same old choices and feeling discouraged or defeated. What we long for is freedom from bad habits and mindsets, and yet we come up empty.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, I want to encourage you today with a passage of Scripture from Galatians 5:1, which reads, “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.”

In this letter, the apostle Paul addresses a group of churches in ancient Galatia, a region in modern-day Turkey. Some legalists had crept into the church and tried to convince Christians that in order to receive salvation and eternal life, they must also observe certain Old Testament laws such as circumcision. Paul wants to set the record straight that God’s grace comes from faith in Christ alone as he wrote this epistle to the Galatians. He outlined two important truths—freedom from the law and freedom from sin. And these two points are equally significant for believers today:

1. Freedom from the law. Have you heard the expression “fallen from grace”? It is often used to describe what happens when a celebrity or politician has been caught in a scandal, but the expression actually originates from the Bible. In Galatians 5:1-12, Paul warns Christians not to attempt to be justified (to be made right with God) by the law. He says that whoever does so has “fallen from grace,” meaning they are not relying on the grace of God for salvation but the work of the law. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love,” Paul writes in verse 6b.

The reason why the law cannot save a person is because it’s burdensome and heavy. It’s impossible to obey it all because there are 613 laws in the Old Testament. It’s kind of like the links in a chain—if one link is broken, you’re sunk. You are obligated to obey the entire law (v. 3). The religious law is restrictive and keeps you from running a good race (v. 7). Paul makes the point that those who wish to steal our freedom in Christ are persuasive and cancerous (v. 8-9).

2. Freedom from sin. In verses 19 through 21, Paul lists various sins. There are sexual sins, religious sins, and relational sins. The law points out these sins, but Jesus provides freedom from all sin. Paul writes in verse 13-15:

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

God’s grace—and our faith in Jesus Christ—is not a license to sin. Paul warns that the spirit and the flesh are in constant conflict with one another, and those who gratify their sinful nature will not inherit the kingdom of God (v. 21b). Instead, he beckons us to walk, live, and be led by the Spirit of God. That is where we find true freedom—the chance not only to start over but also to transform our minds and hearts for good.

If you would like to learn more about the freedom we have in Christ, please join us for weekend services at Shepherd Church. We would love to have you!

Don’t Lose Hope This Political Season!

Written by amerrill on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Don’t Lose Hope This Political Season!

Every four years, our country goes through a season in which it seems every effort is made to divide Americans and separate them into two major categories: red and blue, Republican and Democrat, right and wrong. I am, of course, talking about election season. Sadly, Americans are exposed to round-the-clock news coverage of divisive attacks and mudslinging—and this presidential election has probably been the worst in the history of our nation.

The attempt to build walls of discord and disunity is as old as the creation of the world. When Satan deceived the first man and woman, which caused them to disobey God, their sin separated them from a life of fellowship and unity with God in the Garden of Eden. The Lord still loved them. No doubt about that. However, there is always a consequence to our sin.

Sin—wrongdoing by disobeying God’s Word—not only separates us from God, but it also separates us from each other.

It’s the root cause of the hatred and “us versus them” mentality that is so rampant in our country today. This division—these walls of hostility—exist all over the world. Between brothers and sisters, neighbors, churches, political parties, husbands and wives, parents and children, coworkers, and former friends.

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It must grieve the very heart of God when He looks down upon people who were made in His image, and yet despise each other and create barriers between one another.

In Ephesians 2:11-22, the apostle Paul talks about the division that existed between Jews and Gentiles. He uses this to build upon and to illustrate the separation we have from God before we accept Christ. He says that before we become reconciled to God through His Son, Christ Jesus, we were “excluded from citizenship” in God’s Kingdom; “foreigners to the Covenants” (God’s truth); and without hope. (See verse 12.)

The good news is that peace is possible!

In this passage of Scripture, we find the word “peace” three times. Here is what we learn about peace…which is the key to bringing down the walls of hostility in our hearts and in our nation:

  1. Jesus is our peace. Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the bringing together of two entities to become one. Peace means being whole—nothing broken or missing; inseparable. Through Christ’s selfless act on the cross to die for the sins of the world, He has become our peace.
  1. Jesus is making peace. Ephesians 2:15b-16 says, “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” The Bible teaches that we are one in Christ. The problem is that Satan loves to create division and prejudice. However, Jesus Christ is the ultimate peacemaker and reconciler. He abolishes enmity and hostility. Hallelujah!
  1. Jesus preached peace. Ephesians 2:17-18 says, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Jesus preached peace no matter how close a person was to God through their observance of the Law, or how far away they were from Him through their sin. He went through the towns of Israel to share the good news of His coming. And in fact, the prophet Isaiah preached about Jesus long before He arrived, saying, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

In this political season and always, don’t lose hope! Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations, and the only way to break down impossible walls and to usher in peace.