Skip to main content

Monday Morning Blog - June 30, 2014

The New AGF Sunday Study Series is Called ... FREE. Paul makes a striking statement in Galatians 5:1 when he writes, "It is for FREEDOM that Christ has SET US FREE." (NIV)

Being set free assumes we are in bondage. The handcuffs pictured above are an appropriate illustration as to the kind of bondage sin shackles mankind with. Paul's statement is made about those who've been "uncuffed" ('set free') from sin's shackles. But that freedom addresses the area we all find ourselves in at birth when sin's 'handcuffs' are latched upon us. We entered this world as sinners for "all have sinned" (Paul in Romans 3:23). We all need to have the handcuffs released and that's what Jesus did when He died and rose again. He offered a FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE! Luke said it this way ... "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (set free from bondage)" Acts 16:31 NIV. So that covers you in your relationship to God Almighty. He wants you FREE. Salvation from the condemnation of sin is yours by belief in the work of Christ on the cross. Sin condemns you (handcuffed), salvation releases you (uncuffed)! You recognize your need for release from your condemning sin and then repent (turn away) and receive salvation and freedom because you believe Christ died for you.

Paul's words tell us that handcuffing began long ago and it comes upon all mankind with these words also found in Galatians 5:1, "... and do not let yourselves be burdended again by a yoke of slavery." (v1c - NIV) It was the "BONDAGE MAKER" that burdened all mankind with shackles and handcuffs when he (Satan) convinced Adam and Eve to violate God's simple command not to eat of the fruit of that one tree in the Garden of Eden. Their sin became our sin and sins burden is always knocking at the human entry door. When you break free from the condemning sin, the Bondage Maker wants you back in handcuffs and he dangles sin's enticements in front of each one of us. He's brutal! So Paul warns the "unshackled" of us that the burden of the handcuffs are a click away - falling back into sin's 'weight' (burden), 'oppression' (yoke), and 'captivity' (slavery). 

But may I remind you how Paul's words began? "It is for FREEDOM that Christ has SET US FREE." (v1a). The thing that makes this statement so striking is that Jesus is the "BONDAGE BREAKER" making Him mightier that the Bondage Maker! John said it to those who've been 'uncuffed' in 1 John 4:4, "The One (meaning Jesus) who is in you is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world". Those are major statements for you and me as we fight off the urge to become once again shackled with sin's handcuffs.

Hold on tight to your Bondage Breaker. Draw close to Him in prayer and seeking Him in the Scriptures. See His greatness offered and promised today and everyday. And next Monday we'll speak of more from our thoughts about being "FREE".

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MMB Jan 8 2023

BLESSINGS OF A NEW YEAR I am thinking about 2022. The year didn't go fully as planned. It did, however, go exactly how God planned. He reminded my just yesterday something of significance He did for us in 2022. I will not share the details because it's not the point, but I will share with a simple statement that the faithfulness of God Almighty has been a dynamic reality this past year.  We left 2021 with our roofing company which replaced our leaky roof with a brand new one but causing the living room ceiling to collapse in front of us. God's faithful hand of protection and care kept that ceiling from coming completely down until just a day or two from when the repair team showed up to fix the ceiling. The crew of three dwindled later that day to a 60 year old man working by himself to shore up the existing woodwork that was totally weakened and damaged over the years prior to our purchase 6 months earlier. the roof was replaced in one day in mid-October. The ceiling worke
1 comment
Read more

MMB 6-26-23

Summer Heat Of course it's always hot in Florida. Well, I'm from New England and I've seen it almost 30° below zero. I've also seen it snow in every month but July. So saying it's always hot in Florida is relative. Since moving here 8 years ago, my blood has thinned so a 50° day means a warm hoodie and hat. I've lost all respect for cold 🥶. In my latter years in Northern New Hampshire the rule was if my feet are cold the rest of me is cold. There are pictures of me sitting in my living room with two sweat shirts, a woolen cap and a blanket on me mid winter even though the woodstove just 6 feet away was putting out 80+° in the house.  Summer heat whether here in Florida or in dog days of summer (3 H's - Hazy, Hot, Humid) in NH are uncomfortable. It's staggering to me that people tolerated such heat prior to central A/C. Just this week in 90° temps and dew points at 73° when I got in our car I'd turn on the A/C immediately after starting it was so op
Post a Comment
Read more

MMB Listen to this #8

Welcome back to my life adventure "B.M." (Before Marriage)! Actually, as you've noticed in some of the earlier episodes, I noticed Kathy in 1973 but really hooked up with her in 1974 and we became engaged in 1975. So this summer will be 50 years of becoming connected together. Then we were married in 1976 making this past anniversary our 47th. But onto the continuing saga. I had mentioned previously about Greg Laurie's film released this year "The Jesus Revolution". We were able to view the film a couple of weeks ago. It was a full reminder of what was happening in the late 60s and early 70s. All around the time of this adventure of mine being penned in this blog. Shortly after high school graduation (1971) and my 5 months into 1972 at WOLBI, I became a working man at my first 40 hr week job. A pre-Walmart New England retail department store opened their first chain in my home town of Southbridge, MA. A number of their early stores were housed in former mill
Post a Comment
Read more