Summer Challenge Week 8: Freedom

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Freedom in our culture
A lot of times freedom is described as doing what you want, when you want, and wherever you want with an expectation of minimal consequences. The only problem is that everything has a consequence and everything has a cost. For example, when I was attending Tech, there was always some sort of promotion going on campus and groups were always giving out free stuff. Most of us would take the stuff and not think anything of it, not realizing that it cost the company or whoever money to give away free things. Additionally, these groups giving out “free” stuff but really it was for the purposes of promotion or supporting a cause to bring in more money for them.

What is freedom?
According to the scriptures, “freedom” is living in the light of the Gospel. We tend to think that we are “free” when we are doing whatever we want without consideration of God, but in all reality, we are living in bondage, suppressing what is going on in our hearts. We live under the bondage of expectations and approval of men so we can feel good about ourselves. We are enslaved to our egos and self-image so we can look good in front of people. We strive for this “freedom” but we are running on empty. Paul says, “For freedom Christ has set us free”, meaning that freedom had an important part in why Christ had to die for us. Christ understood the true meaning of freedom. Some of us might think we are living free because we are doing what we want, but honestly, you are being dominated by expectations and opinions, either self imposed or from others. Regardless of whether you feel “free” or not, Christ came to die a needed death, because whether we have high expectations or a low expectations for ourselves, neither option can measure up to what God requires from us ,apart from Jesus.

Why Christ had to die
There are a few reasons why Christ died for our freedom. Firstly, we were enslaved. With Christ dying on the cross and taking upon our sins and giving us his righteousness, he made a way for us to have communion with God. This communion we have now was not possible before because we were under God’s harsh and just judgment because of our sin. Secondly, not only did Christ set us free from sin, but also gave us his righteousness making it unnecessary for us to live up to God’s expectations Jesus accomplished all we needed to do. Now, God sees us holy and blameless because of Jesus. Understanding these truths free us from not having to live up to what other people think about us either. Lastly, he died for our freedom for the glory of the Father. Living a life under scrutiny only leads to constant thoughts about whom we are trying to please. God frees us to not try to please people. Instead, because of Jesus, we are pleasing to him and need no other approval.

Do not submit to the yoke of slavery
Paul urges us to not go back to slavery. When we are not living in the freedom of Christ, we are denying the work on the cross, trying to eliminate what Christ accomplished. Going back to slavery is like paying your bills twice! Living in “slavery” as a Christian is living a life trying to attain something that is already giving to us. What can we do with being a freed people? Love God and love people. Christ freed us to freely love and obey God. Freedom is a grace. Live in the grace you’ve received and be gracious. Be thankful to the grace-giver. Grace is unmerited favor or kindness given because of the cross of Christ. Unlimited kindness! This is a radical idea. Let’s be a people that walk in freedom by living in grace.

Summer Challenge Week 7: The Law of the Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2

Let’s back up!
This verse is a response to the end of Romans 7. In chapter 7, the apostle Paul is expounding on the law and sin: “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12) but sinful flesh stops us from obeying the law wholeheartedly. According to Galatians, the law was a tutor that brought us to Christ or said otherwise, the law exposed our sin. For me, as I was growing up, I understood the law to be a bad thing because it was referenced in the Old Testament. But the law is the will of God revealed to humanity. The law is a perfect reflection of God’s holy character and the orthodox way for us, as believers, to please him.

What is the Law?
The law was given to Moses, the Ten Commandments, in Exodus. In the Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the bible, expound the law. These books did not add to law, they gave more clarity and detail of the law on a situational basis. There is way more that could be explained about how these books were written. Leviticus 19 is a tremendous text expanding on the Ten Commandments.

How does the law work now?
The law shows us that we could not fully obey God. Because of sin, God could not reveal himself to his people like he did with Adam and Eve in the garden. So, the law was given for multiple purposes. Tim Keller gives us some reasons to why we have the law:

1. We embrace the law of God in order to learn more about who God really is.
2. We embrace the law of God in order to discover our true selves.
3. We understand the law of God as fulfilled in Christ.
4. We realize that the law’s painful, convicting work is ultimately a gracious thing.
5. We turn to the law of God in order to get true definition of what it means to love others in our relationship and in society as a whole.
6. We turn to the law of God because sometimes we need to do things because God says so.

There is no condemnationNow we have somewhat of a theological understanding on the law, we can now move on to Romans 8:1-2. Paul is referencing the law when he says, “there is no condemnation”. This word condemnation is used as a judicial term. When someone was guilty of crime they have become condemned or convicted of the act that they committed. They broke a law, so judgment comes. Then, after judgment there is a punishment for breaking the law. Paul parallels this judicial picture of law breaking to the breaking of God’s law. However, he says we are not condemned, but justified. No sin past, present, or future committed by a believer can compare to the magnitude of the penalty Christ paid on the cross. He took upon our sins and he gave us his righteousness, therefore making us not guilty. Christ frees us from sin and death enabling us to fulfill God’s law. Christ changed our nature of sinning and gave us victory over death. We were once exiles because we broke the law of God but now we are children of the Most High. We are justified by grace through faith in Christ.

The Law of the Spirit
The law condemns sinners because we were lawbreakers. Because we were natural born sinners, there was no way for us to obey the law. We are condemned as soon as we are born. But Christ died and sent us the sprit of God to empower us to obey. Therefore Paul calls this the “law of the spirit” because the spirit is the person of the trinity that gives new life. He is a life giver! To make this clear, the law of God is good but because it points out the weakness of the flesh which only produces sin and death. But, the law could not deliver sinners from death; it could only expose the hearts of sinners. Therefore, the law was powerless. That is why we needed Jesus; to fulfill the requirement of the law and then take upon a death he did not deserve. He gave us his perfect obedience , his righteousness. As you read, Paul says we are no longer under held under the bondage of the law, but the law still reflects God’s character and his will for his creation. What the flesh could not obey, the spirit is able to do by writing God’s law on our hearts and by giving us the power to obey it.

What now?
 Live as free people. Sin does not control you anymore, the love of Christ does. So if you are feeling condemned by your lifestyle maybe its not condemnation but conviction. Condemnation brings about death but convictions bring about life. Conviction comes from the spirit, to lead you to obey the Father. God had given us the power to fight sin. He says we are more than conquerors. I want to leave you with this quote from Tim Chester, “Change is about enjoying the freedom from sin and the delight in God that God gives to us through Jesus.”

So this week enjoy that freedom from sin because God does not condemn you but loves you.

Summer Challenge Week 6: Gospel Witness

“He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive with power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8 

Gospel Witness

This is indeed another great commission. This is the last one that we find in scripture. In this passage, Jesus has risen from grave after his own people crucified him. He was on the earth for about 40 days preaching about the kingdom of God, (Acts 1:3) and in Acts 1:7-8 he gave this charge to his apostles (formerly known as disciples).
Jesus charges them to be his Gospel witnesses. A gospel witness is one that speaks the truths of Jesus. Those truths include:

• God is the maker and creator of all things. 
• The Bible is the inspired word of God and is all about Jesus.
• We would believe in the Trinitarian God. 
• Jesus atoned for the sins of humanity. 
• It is the work of the spirit to renew the hearts of humanity. 
• Without Christ there is no hope, we were natural born sinners 
• Sin is an offense to God; so offensive that he sent himself to deal with it.
• We are to live by the grace of God because of the work of Christ. 
• We are justified by Christ’s work, not of our own doing.

Jesus, the Christ, gave them power and authority to be his witnesses to all of the nations.

How to be a Gospel Witness

This is easy to explain and hard to do. In order to be a Gospel Witness we have to image Jesus. He gave his life for us, so we must do the same. If you want your life to be on display for the Gospel, you are going to have to die. Not physically, but die to your self-image. A man cannot make his name and God’s name famous at the same time. One name is going to have to diminish. Consider a few things:

• How often do you think about making God’s name famous?
• This week, where have you made much of yourself and not much of God?
• Have you thought about what Jesus has done for you?

I pray that you would ponder over these questions and consider whether you have been faithful to the mission of God of making his name known. If not, just repent. God is in the business of forgiving sinners. Maybe you have never been challenged to share your faith and you don’t know where to start. Well the good news is you can start today! The past is gone and a future in the grace of Jesus is where you are headed.