Greetings,
Brother and Sisters, believers and non-believers, those on the fence, and the lukewarm believers, I hope this message finds you in good health and continuing on a path to developing a right relationship with Christ.
Initially I was planning to write to you regarding the book of Romans. This has been part of my study, which started last week. I am also still in the book of Psalms, but, it is a good pathway that has helped me learn how to understand the importance of both the Old and New Testament.
Well, as God would have it, he had a better plan and information that he wanted to get out to you. Again, I preference my writings with stating I am not a preacher, I am not perfect and the Word I proclaim is not my own. You have every right to challenge what I say and search the scriptures for yourself. Prayerfully that is my aim, that you may find a personal relationship with Christ.
As you know my family and I are parishioners at McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA (McLeanBible.org). In the spring of 2014, our Pastor Lon Solomon, completed an 18-part series, titled a “Bible Survey”. I routinely listen to the series because it is an amazing breakdown of the books of the Bible that not only take you on a tour of history, but also allows you to understand how to apply it to your life. Additionally, it answers many questions that not only I have asked, but also I am sure you have asked the same or similar questions.
I plan to take items from his message today because; I was guided to listen to this message four times today. Each time I heard different messages that either were for me or reassured some of the choices I made in my life, to get me closer to Christ. I pray that you take a look at the words I mention and/or take a moment to listen to his message (hopefully more than once).
The message was titled “Bible Survey, part 8 – The New Testament The Epistles (Galatians, part 2) “Limiting Our Freedom in Christ” (https://www.mcleanbible.org/sermons/galatians-limiting-our-freedom-christ-0)
This message was part of a two-part sermon on the book of Galatians. According to Pastor Solomon:
1. Paul wrote Galatians in 48 A.D. to the churches he had established on his first missionary journey in southeastern Turkey.
2. Paul’s purpose was to deal with a theological heresy that had crept into these churches – led by a group of false teachers called “Judaizers.”
3. Judaizers’ plan of salvation = “relying on Jesus’ blood + human works.”
4. In the Book of Galatians, Paul defends God’s TRUE plan of salvation as found in the Bible: “relying on Jesus’ blood + no human works of any kind.”
5. But these Judaizers were also teaching that human works form the foundation of our relationship with God even AFTER we’re saved.
6. “For through faith in Jesus Christ, you are all sons/daughters of God.” Galatians 3:26 [Therefore, as an adopted child of God] “. . . you are no longer under Law [human performance system with God], but under grace.” Romans 6:14
7. “. . . nothing in creation [even our bad performance] shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
8. As a follower of Christ, I can do anything I want without it ever endangering the family bond between me and my Heavenly Father.
9. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, stand firm in that freedom and do not let yourself be subjected again to a yoke of bondage [i.e. performance system in relation to God].” Galatians 5:1
10. Biblical Balance: While it is true that we have this wonderful freedom in Christ – it is just as true that God asks us to “limit” that freedom at certain times and in certain circumstances.
11. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh . . .” Galatians 5:13a
Pastor Solomon spoke about six Sieves (Coffee filters) that we should use to guide our “Freedom in Christ” Please see them below and review my comments afterwards.
- If a contemplated action gets caught in one of these six “sieves” – then God is telling me to “limit” my freedom here.
- “All things may be lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.” 1 Corinthians 10:23a
- Just because I have the freedom in Christ to do anything I want without losing God’s love – does not mean that I should!
Sieve #1 – “Is it intrinsically offensive to God [sin]?”
- “As obedient children . . . like the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your behavior. For it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:14-16
- God calls on us to pursue holy behavior in our lives. When we don’t, God “disciplines” us as His children [Hebrews 12:6].
- And sometimes, God allows the bad consequences of our sinful behavior to come upon us [Galatians 6:7].
Sieve #2 – “Will it harm me physically?”
“. . . your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
There are lots of things we have freedom in Christ to do – but which will harm our bodies [which are not our property]!
Sieve #3 – “Will it help me spiritually?”
“. . . let us throw off every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, so we can run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
God tells us not to load our lives up with “extra weight” spiritually that turns our “race for God” into a “crawl for God.”
“Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person does is outside their body; but the person who commits sexual immorality sins against their own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
Sexual sin wounds both people involved in a special way.
Sieve #4 – “Will it identify me with unrighteous things even though I may not actually be doing anything wrong?”
“. . . avoid all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22
“Do not let your good be evil spoken of.” Romans 14:16
Many times we can exercise some freedom in Christ with a pure heart, but the questions is – “Are we giving off the appearance of evil?”
Sieve #5 – “Will it hurt a fellow believer’s Christian walk?”
“It is not good to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother [sister] to stumble.” Romans 14:21
The mark of a mature follower of Christ is the attitude that says: “I care so much about my fellow Christian’s walk, that I will set aside any freedom I have to – in order not to hurt their walk.”
Sieve #6 – “Will it hurt my platform for evangelism with non-believers?”
“Walk in wisdom when it comes to those who are outsiders . . .” Colossians 4:5
“But I have used none of these rights, lest I hinder the Gospel of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9:12b
Once we “go public for Jesus Christ” – people start watching us like a hawk.
They have certain expectations as to how a Christian should act – and if we violate them – it will destroy our evangelistic platform with them.
As usual I am sure you are wondering where this is coming from. Over the last several days, I have either witnessed something about myself, people I come across or even members of my family and I question the words I say to them or the actions I portray. Especially the way I interact with my wife and children. Now that my boys are moving into adulthood, I see some similarities in their behavior or characteristics that resemble some of my own actions or that of other people who are or were once in the world. I routinely share with them the results of my actions and how although God forgave me of my sins, I was still required to receive the punishment.
In today’s society it is difficult to understand where people are headed. Initially I used to think it had to do with age or it was a generational thing. I realized that for the most part it is about free will and the Freedom many Believers have in Christ. Those who have not accepted Christ as their personal savior are acting purely on free will, while believers choose take their freedoms to the limit, with the belief that Christ will forgive me no matter what I do. I can only tell you that, you will have to pay for what you do in disobedience to God. You may not even believe any of this, but that day will come when you have to determine whether it is real or fake. For some making lifestyle changes in accordance to the “Six Sieve’s above may be difficult. However, you will have to decide whether you soul or that of another is worth it. I would suggest that each of us examine our current situations and run our lives through these filters to determine what needs to be changed. It may convict you, but in the end, this will save your life.
I pray that God keeps you and covers you in His grace. May God richly bless you.
No comments:
Post a Comment