Where do we find freedom that is truly free? We talk about American freedom, freedom out on the open road (for you motorcyclists out there), freedom of speech (and the rest of the Bill of Rights), and more. But even these freedoms have limitations. For example, the freedom of the open road is limited by curves in the road, loose stones on the road, and the yellow and white lines on the road. Freedom of speech is limited, in that, we cannot slander someone else, we can't tell lies under oath, and what we say can be used against us in a court of law.
Ahhh, the law, the thing that both protects us and limits our freedom in a way. So, the law is good but it cannot ultimately give us freedom. In the New Testament, Paul wrote in Romans about this very fact. Freedom for us comes not from knowing the law of what is right and wrong, but instead in knowing Christ who set us free from the law, from sin, and from eternal death.
This is pretty basic stuff for Christ followers, but sometimes we forget. We get focused on how good of a person we are, trying to be the better person, trying to do things right, or trying to be right. Instead we must remember that we need to be made right and good by God. This is the only real way to be free.
2 comments:
O.K., as a motorcyclist I can relate. A couple of things jumped out at me from the past couple of days Bible readings. One, Paul says in Romans that the law was no match for sin, that it took Christ's saving, sacrificial grace to surpass the powerful sinful nature that is within us. Two, (can't remember just where this one's from), we're told that just as Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness, so ours is. That's powerful because it means (at least to me) that if we have faith, then we are righteous in God's eyes and are forgiven for the sin (even ongoing sin!) that defeated us under the law.
Hi David,
Here i am just catching up. But I need to say that you are right on from my reading of Romans. I give thanks for the power of God's grace effected in our lives through faith.
Peace
Kerry
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