As we approach the celebration of American independence, July 4, freedom from the tyranny of British rule wasn’t a promise of individual independence. It would take a great combined effort, on the part of the colonists and others who supported their cause, to bring about freedom. Even with the establishment of the United States, there is a common law, our Constitution, to which we must be subject to have the liberty we enjoy. Everyone doing only what they want as individuals, without any concern for others, is not freedom, but anarchy. While it seems like an oxymoron today, to truly be free we must be willing to submit to those principles of life that allow us to live free.
One person has expressed it this way. “Freedom does not mean the absence of constraints or moral absolutes. Suppose a skydiver at 10,000 feet announces to the rest of the group, ‘I’m not using a parachute this time. I want freedom!’ The fact is that a skydiver is constrained by a greater law—the law of gravity. But when the skydiver chooses the ‘constraint’ of the parachute, he or she is free to enjoy the exhilaration. God’s moral laws act the same way; they restrain, but they are absolutely necessary to enjoy the exhilaration of real freedom.”
Paul reminded the Galatians, “Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). It’s by living within the limits of the gospel that we have freedom from sin, are transformed in the image of Christ, and live in the blessings God abundantly provides. Christ lived in submission to the will of the Father to set us free; it is within His will that we experience freedom. Living outside the confines of the gospel places us in sin, and sin only brings destruction and death. In writing of false teachers who advocated immorality as a legitimate lifestyle in Christ, Peter wrote, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them” (2 Pet. 2:19). Speak to anyone who has had to deal with alcoholism, drug addiction, or any other vice that constantly appeals to the desires of the flesh, and freedom isn’t how they would describe what they’re experiencing. Such is a lie of Satan. This is why Peter urges us, “As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil” (1 Pet. 2:16).
The American Revolution could not have accomplished what it did, in bringing our nation into existence, if every colonist did as they pleased. The freedom they gained was achieved through sacrifice and commitment to a common goal. So it is for our freedom spiritually in Christ. We are part of the body of Christ to be a blessing, as well as to be blessed. We are called to serve, and in doing so find our talents develop, and gain joy and peace. We are to let go of ourselves, that we can find all God offers. As we remember the price paid for our nation’s liberty, remember the price paid for our liberty from sin by Jesus Christ, and what submission to Him frees us to be, His children, and frees us to have, eternal life. “For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love” (Gal. 5:13).
Robert Johnson
Bible
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Buy Truth and Find Treasure
“Buy—and do not sell—truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Prov. 23:23).
The above passage of Scripture is very familiar to us. The idea of buying these virtues means to acquire them, to devote oneself to gaining these things in life. We need instruction in the truth, so we might not just know what truth is, but that we can understand it, that we might develop wisdom in applying its principles in everyday living. The thought is similar to what Jesus told His disciples in John 8:32; “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Through His inspired word, God reminds us that His truth is objective, actual, rational, and real. We can use the truth of Scripture to discern our innermost selves, to recognize right from wrong, in the world and in ourselves, and to make those changes in our lifestyles that will prepare us for eternity (Heb. 4:12-13). Applying truth frees us from sin and helps us live in the image of Christ (Eph. 4:13). We are freed from servitude to sin and all the destructive elements it brings to our lives, to serve God and find all the blessings He offers us instead.
Spending time with Scripture, then, is more than just an academic endeavor, more than just learning facts as an end to itself. Satan has done a masterful job at convincing people that reading and learning from Scripture is too hard, boring at best, and unnecessary anyway, as God will just accept us all no matter what. Scripture, however, tells us we all will be judged for how we have lived (2 Cor. 5:10), and that there is a right way and wrong way to live (Prov. 14:12; John 3:36). Obviously, it does matter what we believe, because that will equate into how we live our lives, and where we spend eternity.
Spending time in Scripture may seem boring and trite to an overstimulated society, but it offers to life what so many are looking for but can’t find anywhere else. It is our key to having joy, peace, love, mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and everything having to do with life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). Time spent with Scripture offers a life of discovery and renewal, help and strength, the ability to grow and reach life’s goals (2 Tim. 3:16-17). There comes a deeper appreciation for God, for the depth of love revealed through Christ and every effort expended to humanity, and to you personally. That love equates into a truly spiritual life, as we love in return and reflect it in the choices we make (1 John 4:10-11). God’s love brings real love to us and becomes the motive for how we live. We learn this, and so much more, from spending time in Scripture.
So many people experience a lack of contentment with life, with who they are, what they have, where they’re going. Sin never satisfies, but God can and will bring our lives to where they should be, what they were meant to be. We can have God’s truth and instruction, His wisdom and understanding, as an integral part of our lives, and have a life really worth living. It’s available to each one of us; will you chose to have it? “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44).
Robert Johnson
The above passage of Scripture is very familiar to us. The idea of buying these virtues means to acquire them, to devote oneself to gaining these things in life. We need instruction in the truth, so we might not just know what truth is, but that we can understand it, that we might develop wisdom in applying its principles in everyday living. The thought is similar to what Jesus told His disciples in John 8:32; “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Through His inspired word, God reminds us that His truth is objective, actual, rational, and real. We can use the truth of Scripture to discern our innermost selves, to recognize right from wrong, in the world and in ourselves, and to make those changes in our lifestyles that will prepare us for eternity (Heb. 4:12-13). Applying truth frees us from sin and helps us live in the image of Christ (Eph. 4:13). We are freed from servitude to sin and all the destructive elements it brings to our lives, to serve God and find all the blessings He offers us instead.
Spending time with Scripture, then, is more than just an academic endeavor, more than just learning facts as an end to itself. Satan has done a masterful job at convincing people that reading and learning from Scripture is too hard, boring at best, and unnecessary anyway, as God will just accept us all no matter what. Scripture, however, tells us we all will be judged for how we have lived (2 Cor. 5:10), and that there is a right way and wrong way to live (Prov. 14:12; John 3:36). Obviously, it does matter what we believe, because that will equate into how we live our lives, and where we spend eternity.
Spending time in Scripture may seem boring and trite to an overstimulated society, but it offers to life what so many are looking for but can’t find anywhere else. It is our key to having joy, peace, love, mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and everything having to do with life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). Time spent with Scripture offers a life of discovery and renewal, help and strength, the ability to grow and reach life’s goals (2 Tim. 3:16-17). There comes a deeper appreciation for God, for the depth of love revealed through Christ and every effort expended to humanity, and to you personally. That love equates into a truly spiritual life, as we love in return and reflect it in the choices we make (1 John 4:10-11). God’s love brings real love to us and becomes the motive for how we live. We learn this, and so much more, from spending time in Scripture.
So many people experience a lack of contentment with life, with who they are, what they have, where they’re going. Sin never satisfies, but God can and will bring our lives to where they should be, what they were meant to be. We can have God’s truth and instruction, His wisdom and understanding, as an integral part of our lives, and have a life really worth living. It’s available to each one of us; will you chose to have it? “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44).
Robert Johnson
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