Emancipation Proclamation from Sin

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 & 7:20-24a “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God.”

I heard an interesting teaching this last week on the departure from the moral compass of God. Why is it happening?  Liberation from God laws to man’s, attempts to dethrone our Lord and willfully sitting ourself on the throne of our life. This is the subtle battle between God and secular humanism. But is it freedom and liberty or bondage to leave the true Lawgiver, our Creator Lord God? Can the pottery truly rebel and tell the Potter that he doesn't exist or have authority; that we are not accountable to our Maker? (Jeremiah 18). The true battle of the American Revolution that formed this nation was essentially over tyrannical change by England towards oppressing the colonial rights and way of life. The difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution was that America was fighting to preserve based upon Biblical standards (to maintain the culture) and accountable to God, while France was fighting to change the culture, based upon rejection of Biblical standards and accountable to man. Liberty verses liberal. It was found then, and is always true, that emancipation of God’s Law is to become slaves in bondage to corruption. Sin never liberates; it’s a false freedom, exchanging “holy” words of truth with wholly “empty” words. Progressing away from God is not progress, just bondage to sin and death. Stand firm and fight for the faith.

John 8:31-32 & 14:6 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Our Creator God provides a way to and for forgiveness of sin and restoration of sinners as a free gift. Salvation and righteousness that comes down to all, but it only comes upon all who believe and accept the gift. Salvation is deserved, earned or purchased by us. Pastor J. Vernon McGee once said: "It is not hope on Christ that saves; it’s Christ. It’s not by joy in Christ that saves you; it’s Christ. And it is not by faith in Christ that we are saved (though that is the instrument); it is by Christ’s blood and merit alone that anyone is saved." There is a price to pay for sin & unbelief. Believers are saved by Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty in the Believer’s place. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, Redeemer of the lost and Lord of all. This is the emancipation proclamation from sin. We were bought for a price, Christ’s life, receiving eternal life, and we (the Lord’s freedman) are responsible to God, our Maker and Redeemer. John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Praise be to God, and our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:20-23 “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Christ, Brian