Freedom In Christ 2

WOW! Freedom, TRUE FREEDOM!! There is nothing like being set free from things. Whether it be as small as being set free from a bad relationship, or as large as being set free from the control and tyranny of another country. Freedom is Awesome!

James 4 tells me that I am free from being someone else's judge. He says, (James 4:11-12 NCV) "Brothers and sisters, do not tell evil lies about each other. If you speak against your fellow believers or judge them, you are judging and speaking against the law they follow. And when you are judging the law, you are no longer a follower of the law. You have become a judge. {12} God is the only Lawmaker and Judge. He is the only One who can save and destroy. So it is not right for you to judge your neighbor."

That means I can take the responsibility off of me and give grace to others. Even those of other denominations. We may disagree on some doctrinal position, but I am the only one whom I can control. God will work out the details. But as for me, I will give the same unmerited favor I have been given. I will share in the dialogue with others, but I refuse to stand in judgment of them. I only want to exalt Christ and Him crucified! Boy that feels good to say!

Freedom In Christ

I was just thinking today about this Sunday. Thursday is my usual day to "sermonize" in a final sort of way for the week. Sunday I want to present something that will motivate us to be the "Jesus Community" in the world in a real way.

We always talk about "freedom" from the shackles of legalism. It truly is a wonderful freedom. However, we never need to forget that when we leave a void in our lives, that void has to be filled in. The absence of legalism is not the realization of grace. God's grace is true freedom from the shackles of legalism, but it is more than that. It is the beginning of a life lived in Jesus. That leads us to being the beautiful bride of Christ. It means living as what we are according to Ephesians 2:10. We are created to do good for and in the name of Jesus. That's Evangelism! That's living the Gospel of Jesus!

First Post

This is a new experience. BLOGGING? Sounds like somthing a person gets in the winter time that needs a tissue. But I do think I am going to like this. Since this is a test BLOG and I really don't know what I am doing. I will stop for now.

May God richly bless all who read this.

Keith