Freedom Within
I have spent the last week thinking about the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. Freedom not just in our ability to do things but the freedom within ourselves to be who we are, honestly before God, without any condemnation. Our performance or appearance does not impress God. He looks beyond the surface to what we have hidden in our heart.
In the book of Genesis, God is looking for Adam in the garden after he and Eve have eaten the apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Here's what Adam said:
So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Gen. 3:10 NKJ
Notice the three things Adam said about himself, "I was afraid," "I was naked," and "I hid." This is what happens when we sin. First fear comes in and prevents us from moving beyond what we have done. It keeps us trapped in a moment that cannot be taken back or done over.
Nakedness came second. This is the vulnerability we face when we are no longer under God's covering. Sin breaks our connection to God and opens us up to attack. Without the protection of God, we are easily taken out of the race.
The third thing we do is try to hide what we have done. We are so desperate to keep up our good image that we try to cover up our sin which only brings more sin as we lie about and deny what we have done.
But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him].
Gal. 3:22 The Amplified Bible
We have all sinned. Without repentance sin and our response to it holds us down and prevents us from experiencing the freedom given to us in Jesus Christ. God does not want us to live imprisoned by sin, He wants us to live freely with Him. The only way to get that freedom is to put your faith in Jesus. Paul reminds us in the book of Galatians that Jesus came to set us free from the entrapment of sin, shame, and guilt as well as man made rituals. Jesus allows us to be free within ourselves and to boldly come to God just as we are, offering the whole of our life to God for His glory. God does not want us bound by past or current circumstances to behave in a certain way. He wants us to openly share every aspect of our life with Him, knowing that He will not leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5).
Freedom in Christ is not based on your performance but on your willingness to honestly be yourself with God.
Read the book of Galatiains and take hold of the freedom that is yours through Jesus Christ.
Heidirn
In the book of Genesis, God is looking for Adam in the garden after he and Eve have eaten the apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Here's what Adam said:
So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Gen. 3:10 NKJ
Notice the three things Adam said about himself, "I was afraid," "I was naked," and "I hid." This is what happens when we sin. First fear comes in and prevents us from moving beyond what we have done. It keeps us trapped in a moment that cannot be taken back or done over.
Nakedness came second. This is the vulnerability we face when we are no longer under God's covering. Sin breaks our connection to God and opens us up to attack. Without the protection of God, we are easily taken out of the race.
The third thing we do is try to hide what we have done. We are so desperate to keep up our good image that we try to cover up our sin which only brings more sin as we lie about and deny what we have done.
But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him].
Gal. 3:22 The Amplified Bible
We have all sinned. Without repentance sin and our response to it holds us down and prevents us from experiencing the freedom given to us in Jesus Christ. God does not want us to live imprisoned by sin, He wants us to live freely with Him. The only way to get that freedom is to put your faith in Jesus. Paul reminds us in the book of Galatians that Jesus came to set us free from the entrapment of sin, shame, and guilt as well as man made rituals. Jesus allows us to be free within ourselves and to boldly come to God just as we are, offering the whole of our life to God for His glory. God does not want us bound by past or current circumstances to behave in a certain way. He wants us to openly share every aspect of our life with Him, knowing that He will not leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5).
Freedom in Christ is not based on your performance but on your willingness to honestly be yourself with God.
Read the book of Galatiains and take hold of the freedom that is yours through Jesus Christ.
Heidirn
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