“The Mystery: We Must Be Changed”

 Scripture:   1 Corinthians 15:50-58;  1 Peter 1:17-21

Our faith, in general, brings with it a great many mysteries.  But then, why shouldn’t it?  After all, faith is about accepting and following the ways of our Almighty God – the One who is so far above us, who is incomprehensible,  who is unquestionable, who is indescribably powerful and eternal, and who understands us in ways that we may never understand ourselves.  The prophet Isaiah wrote about many Godly mysteries in chapter 55 of his reflections. 

In verse 3 he reminds us that God desires an everlasting covenant of eternal life with all who would come to Him in faith, who would listen to Him, and love Him, and obey Him, and in no other way.  Our incredible God wants a relationship with even us!

Verse 7 reminds us that even as sinful and faithless as we may be, our perfect Lord God will show His love, kindness, mercy and compassion to anyone who turns away from the ways of Earth, and seeks the grace that will always be available to anyone who will turn to the Lord for His forgiveness and pardon over our errant ways.

In verses 8 and 9, we read of the Lord’s majestic and mighty ways, that they are so great, so awesome, so incredible, that we can’t even begin to imagine what they can mean for our lives in faith.

Verse 11 tells us that no matter what God’s Will may be, it can never be interrupted or curtailed, and will always “achieve the purpose that He has intended.

And the entire chapter assures us that all of creation – not just the human aspects – will sing out loud to praise Him for His gracious nature, for the glory that abounds within Him, and for the hope that is inspired by the desires of our almighty, all loving God whose work is always given fully for our behalf!

 And our scripture readings for today continue with thoughts on the blessings that come from trusting in the many mysteries of our God, even though we may never be able to understand them, even in the most elementary of ways.

 Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

 As “perishable” people, we have always known that death is a sign of the end of life.  But in this passage, Paul assures us that it definitely is not, at least for those who have given their own personal life and death over to the Lord Jesus.  And the change that God will enact to bring us into His imperishable, inconceivable, and shared presence will be the greatest and most blessed mystery that we will ever encounter.

 By the grace and love of God, our earthly death, instead of being an end, becomes a time of transition that brings us into a condition of worthiness, allowing us to stand, with joy and celebration, in the holy presence of our Lord and Savior.  And the good news is that the day of this change is getting ever closer, and will only be held back until God’s Will says that this time has come.

 The most vital aspect of this mystery is that there is nothing that we can do to produce this change, or to hurry it along, or even to understand how it all comes together for us.  The only thing that remains within our scope of possibilities is to surrender control and desires for our life to Jesus Christ, and this being an absolute necessity if we are to be changed for the better, and not remain mired in the depths of worldly condemnation.

 Paul then moves on to speak about the victory that Jesus produces over our death.  I’ve always liked the hymn “Victory in Jesus”, especially the chorus that proclaims:

O victory in Jesus
My Savior, forever
He sought me and He bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

 This hymn reminds us, over and over, that the victory of Jesus is only available to us through the sacrifice He made at Calvary – the blessing of His suffering and agonizing death of 3 days, in exchange for a life of eternity for you and me.  And everything changes on that glorious day – life for death, the end of our conflict with sin, no more opposition from false teachings, no more perishable mortality, and only the atmosphere of Godly love, compassion, truth, and hope will be left.

 Now that is a change that we can unhesitantly and confidently be thankful for, as well as one which we can literally live well with forever!

 Read 1 Peter 1:17-21

 In Peter’s first epistle to the church, he contributes to Paul’s discussion of the lack of any value that can exist in the world’s “perishable” treasures, versus the “imperishability” of the blessings of God, most notably, that which comes from the power that is found in the blood of Jesus.  And he specifically says that there is no redemption in the valued objects and ways of earth, and that there is infinitely more value in the imperishable blood of Christ.  While the treasures and gifts of the world can support our human existence during the time we live within this plane, those valued things of earth are just as vulnerable to loss and destruction as the entire world is.  And the valued ways of God are just as indestructible as God Himself is.  But even though the immeasurable ways of the Lord will last forever, they can become ineffectual for our salvation simply by our denial of faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior - the One who is the source of all redemption.

 Peter then takes the discussion to a whole new level, in that our faith, trust and work in and through Christ, also leads us to faith and trust in both the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Faith in Jesus and the Spirit work within us, by the plan that the Father works in His Son.  It was God’s work and word that continued to flow through the teachings and life of Jesus, and which now continues to work within all believers.  It was no coincidence that Jesus referred to us as His brothers and sisters (Matthew12:49-50).  His reference to the faithful as members of His family is an important distinction for the Church.  In Jesus’ day, inheritance, and responsibilities of inheritance, were established and ordered by the law. 

 But in the case of God, “family” is based in God’s Will alone, and not by worldly criteria. It is given solely to those who are obedient and faithful to the Father and His Son, and shared with those who deserve to inherit all that the Father is and has.  We will have shares just as the Son Jesus will have.  And one day we will discover that the old saying is absolutely true – that when we enter heaven, we will be amazed at who is also there, and equally surprised at who is not!  For God, the gift of “family” is just that vitally important.

 It all has to depend on who is faithful and living in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And the one mystery surrounding Jesus, the one that we all have to learn sooner or later is this – that nothing else is going to change in our life, until we ask Jesus to change our life first!

"If Only Good Would Grow Within Me"

 Scripture:   Romans 7:14-25; 2 Peter 1:3-8

Today, we begin a new series of sermons that will take us into Thanksgiving.  So the theme for these next 5 messages will be, obviously, “To God, Our Thanksgiving”, with the intent being to consider the many blessings that have come from the Lord, and that we should rightly be giving our thanks to the only One who is so deserving – our Great God Almighty.

 We begin today with passages from Romans and 2 Peter – each written by men who had their own personal reasons for understanding where their lives of victory had come from, and what the Lord had been contributing to make their new lives so precious.  And hopefully, as we proceed through these next 5 weeks, we will also discover and acknowledge all that God has done, and continues to do, within our own lives.  And it wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if any of us journal on a regular basis, to begin keeping a list of those times when we experience the goodness of God at work within us.

 So just what did these two evangelists learn about God’s work that brought hope, blessings, and newness to all that they did, thought, and offered to others?

 Read Romans 7:14-25

 I will readily admit that this portion of Paul’s ramblings is even more difficult to follow than does so many other verses that we have had to reread several times before we began to understand what he was getting at!  So I will try to sort out his intent and warnings to us as we consider his opposing descriptions of both the desires that he has for the life he lives, versus those things that actually develop and come out of him as life unfolds within him.

 As he speaks about the law as the cause for the sinful actions that come out of his life, it’s important to understand that what he isn’t saying is that the law itself is sinful!  His point, as he writes in other passages, is that before the law of Moses was handed down, there was no sin, because the Lord had yet to tell us what sin actually is! (Romans 7:7)

 However, in Romans 8:1-2, Paul writes that “through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”  The law tells us what sin is, but because of our weakness in the flesh, we are still prone to sin!  And God understands just how susceptible we are to the plague of worldly ways, but out of the love that he has for all people, Jesus came into the world to be our salvation from doing the very things that we know we shouldn’t!  You might think that if we know the difference between the way and truth of Jesus Christ and the evil that comes from the ways of the world, that we would choose to stay in His way all of the time!  But that just isn’t the way that it all comes down!  The allure of the world is strong, and, unfortunately, we just aren’t as strong as we should be to resist it, and we fall time and time again.  But if we choose to be one with God in Christ, we have hope through our repentance from sin, and then in the subsequent forgiveness that Jesus offers us through faith in Him.

 Paul, apparently, had this same struggle going on in his life. He knew what was right and good, but all too often, he discovered that the world was always right there too, calling him to take the path of sin instead of the one that would take him to the way of Jesus!  He tells us that he hates that other way, and yet, he continues to choose to spend time on that dark and foreboding path.  And he chastises himself for his weakness when he cries out “What a wretched man I am!”.  But then claims the redemption of Jesus Christ as the only way that can save him from his own body of death!

 His heart and mind are given to the law of God, even as his flesh is mired in slavery to the law of sin.  And he is thankful that Jesus has come to him to win the victorious life that he himself never could gain on his own.  Praise God for giving His Son for us, as well as for all who will claim the life-giving power of God to win the battle against sin and death.

 Read 2 Peter 1:3-8

 Peter is making a case for the destruction of those earthly ways that would draw us further into sin.  And what is the only power that can do that?  It is the salvation that God’s “great and precious promises”  will produce through our seeking of the freedom path that is Jesus.  But a word of caution – when Peter writes that God has given us all things needed for life and “godliness”, he doesn’t mean that God has prepared the way for us to become equal to Him!  The word means that we have the proper attitude of love for the Lord, and that we display that love through our obedience to the word He has set down for us.

 The disciple then offers us a step-by-step list of attributes that enable us to live a life that honors and displays the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Let’s take a few moments to consider what each means for our life.

It begins with faith, which then leads us to a growth in goodness.  Why must our Christian walk begin in faith?  To put it bluntly, without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and a commitment to follow Him wherever that might take us, there is nothing else, including goodness!

Second, from goodness, we grow in knowledge.  From a righteous life in Christ, we grow to love and understand His ways.

Third, from knowledge, we gain self-control.  Knowledge brings with it a great understanding of who God would have us be, and a desire to develop into the one who God wants us to be.  And each and every day that we spend striving to accept and achieve the goal that the Lord has prepared for us, we grow in discipline and willpower.

Fourth, from self-control, we grow in perseverance.  This step makes a lot of sense, in that when we take a greater influence over the things that we do, we are able to stay faithful to the call of Jesus even though the world’s temptations surround us and call us to their ways, too.

Fifth, perseverance leads to godliness.  The more times, and the longer the times, that we walk arm in arm with our Lord Jesus, and the more we learn from His will in our lives, the closer we come to living the life He has prepared for each of us.

Sixth, godliness produces a greater kindness within us, that we can then share with our brothers and sisters throughout this world.

Seventh, the more kindness we show toward others, the greater the love that it will produce within not only others, but within ourselves.

 And Peter then writes that if these attributes never existed within us, our faith and faithful witness would never become more than a simple, imperfect example of what God can do through us, and an insufficient demonstration of what we are willing to be and give for our God.  As we reflect on how these 7 steps of faith fill our life more and more with the word and way of Christ, we begin to understand the commitment that our Triune God has made in His gifts and promises that always bless our lives.

 It's all about what God has done for us.  Imagine how the humanness of Jesus suffered so greatly on our behalf, and that the Godly Person of Jesus surrendered so much of His glory and honor, simply to win a place in heavenly presence for the unworthy likes of you and me.

 Can we ever even begin to show our Eternal God and King just how much we owe Him for all that He has done to show us the way of His kingdom, both in heaven and here in our lives?  May we all give Him our eternal and godly thanks every moment of every day during this season of Thanksgiving.  Give glory to God, and Him alone.

"Patience in the Presence of Suffering"

 Scripture:   James 5:7-12,  Colossians 3:9-17

The Book of James, which contains our first reading for today, offers a focus on 2 related Christian issues.  The first is a condemnation of heretical practices that have been springing up within the Church, as well as a call to teach true Christian principles to those who would be faithful to Christ.  The second issue revolves around our “friendship” with God, and His desire for our unity, truth, and solidarity in the ways we respond to the Godly gifts that we are blessed with.

 And in our second reading today we are shown how our choosing to pick up the sinful ways of earth destroys and demeans our Christian witness.  When we come to Christ, and turn our lives over to His guidance and ways, we must be about setting the “former self” far away, and living as a totally “new self” that is committed and dedicated to Jesus Christ.

 Read James 5:7-12

 In this section of James’ letter to the Church, there is a decided emphasis on the coming Judgment, that has been delayed until God’s perfect time arrives.  The Lord’s patience is such that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to surrender the world’s attitude toward this life, and to accept the far better way of Jesus before the day of Christ’s return is upon us.  And James encourages us to be as patient and as faithful during this time of waiting as God has been for us.

 And what are we told to do during this expectant delay?  He tells us to persevere in faith even as we suffer persecution and hatred at the hand of the world’s evil.  This will never be easy, and will definitely require a strengthening of our heart, as well as a constant recommitment in our trust of the word of God, just as the prophets had to do.  Interestingly, we don’t always read of the suffering that was imposed on God’s prophets, but never doubt that it always occurred. 

 Anyone who is called to warn the masses of the Lord’s impending judgment against apostasy will certainly suffer from the world’s opposition that will always be brought against the faithful.  James also gives Job a “call out” for the patience that he showed during his trials of terrible and extreme loss, and in the excruciating physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain that he experienced, and the constant accusations of failure that his “friends” kept leveling against him did absolutely nothing to encourage him or make his life any better.  Even the man’s wife suggested that he “curse God and die” (Job 2:7-10), as a means of ending the agony that the boils were causing! And Job never gave in to any of the temptations.

 And James ends this portion of our reading with the call to end our affirmations of truth through the swearing of an oath.  We are told to let our own words of “Yes” or “No” speak the truth - in all matters of this life - and to let every aspect of the world’s ways fall by the wayside of this existence.

 Read Colossians 3:9-17

 What is there about lying that lead the Apostle to emphasize it as being an unchristian attribute?  The problem with lying is that it seldom, if ever, remains undiscovered for very long.  It destroys loving conversation, it confuses trust, it makes our relationship with others, at the very least, bereft of any worth!  And even worse, it renders our life of faith in Jesus Christ questionable.  When we remove the “old self” from our being, it must be accomplished completely with nothing being left behind, if, that is, the “new self” is to be able to grow and thrive within us.

 And the completeness of our change will become the evidence of our unity in Christ.  For without a continuing and improving newness in us all, how can we possibly become one in Jesus Christ?  And as each of us becomes more in the word and way of Jesus, the proof will ensure that we are also one with each other!  And as Paul continues in his letter, we discover that the “new self” that he had been talking about, is actually our becoming Christ-like in the new life that we have chosen to live through Him.

 Paul then lists 6 virtues – compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and finally, forgiveness – qualities that all Christians must exhibit, with the topper being the binder for all six through a Christ-like love that will hold them all together, as well as helping the followers of Jesus to live and enable these virtues to be shown and shared with others, each and every day.

 And verses 16 & 17 are the bottom line of Paul’s thesis – that when we live in a way that honors and glorifies the Trinity, it is then that worship becomes true and fulfilling in its praise of God.  Can you even begin to imagine what the Church would be like if we loved and worshipped and glorified the name of Jesus through a gathering of lives who lived like this?  (1 Corinthians 13:4-10)  Would anything be impossible for the Church ever again?

 We would be able to wait for Christ’s return patiently and faithfully, even while we worshipped that holy and precious name of Jesus daily.  We could even live without fear of the evil that will always surround us, and others could finally see just what it means to be a faithful follower of the Son of God. 

 Do you think we could begin living in this very way?  Tomorrow is nowhere soon enough, you know!  Today is the day!

"Let Your Life Shine for Others"

 Scripture: Titus 2:1-14;  1 Peter 5: 1-6  

You will remember that 2 weeks ago we considered what Paul wanted us to know about the Light of Christ as our guide, as well as for others, through the life that we now live.  And then last week, we read of the Lord’s call on our lives to reject the slavery to sin that the world would have us accept, and instead to live a life of slavery to the Lord, that we might receive the righteous life in Christ.

 Today, we review the advice that Paul gave to Titus as he was preparing to assume ministry with the people of Crete.  And what would be Titus’ primary responsibility throughout the island?  In Titus 1:5 – “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” Paul goes on to give him some specific examples of the needs that existed on Crete, and later, he gives the new pastor some advice on what his own life should represent. (Titus 1:7-9).  His life should be blameless, hospitable, self-controlled, trustworthy, all of which would be representative of what he will be teaching others.

 In other words, he isn’t simply being called to preach the gospel, but to live and be an example of how a follower of Jesus Christ should be living.  And quite honestly, it’s pretty good advice for each of us, too!

 Read Titus 2:1-8

 Paul’s entire approach to teaching the “sound doctrine” of our Almighty God must be demonstrated, not only as an example of how Jesus lived when He was among us, but rather through the way that we live in the here and now.  After all, this discussion makes faithful living personal, and not just a matter of “Jesus did this, so you have to do it too!”  Quite some time ago, I read a thought regarding the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?”, and the author offered the opinion that an even better approach might be “What would Jesus have me do?”  The point being that we can’t do everything that Jesus did, so we should be seeking the things that He has planned for each of us!  Our lives should certainly be faithful to the example set down by the Lord, but we should also never exclude Him from being intimately involved in all that we do!  That’s what “yoking” is about – allowing each to contribute their own abilities and strengths to every task.

 The older people, both men and women, are to live Godly lives as examples to the younger generations that live within the life of the community.  And what about the younger people?  Their charge is also to be public and obvious in their faith walk, not only as an example for others, but as a challenge to their contemporaries!  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no one ever had a reason to complain about the things we have been doing?  It certainly would, but the problem will always be that people of the world will always find something about us that they will see as objectionable!  And usually, it will be based in the way we live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ!

 The problem that the worldly will always have with disciples of Jesus Christ, is that they don’t fully understand what Christian living is all about, and why it is the best way to live!  We have all heard their complaints and insults – that no matter how well our life unfolds, we are accused of being either the contemptable name of “heretic” or the misnomer of “hypocrite”.  But if we are truly living as one of Jesus’ people, we will need to live and suffer condemnation, just as our Lord had to, and yet, He never gave up. (Matthew 10:22)

 And living a life of faith and trust in Christ will not only be the best way, it will also bring Godly power and presence into our lives, and the Spirit’s work into those who witness our faithful examples.

 Read Titus 2:9-14

 So not only are mature Christians being called to be that Godly example for younger folks, and not only are the younger people to be an example for those who would stand in direct opposition to a life in Christ, but now we read that even slaves are to be an example for their masters!  While conventional thought would have us believe that slaves are to simply be obedient to whatever their owners tell them to do, we now know that even those who are subjugated to another can have a positive influence on those who have earthly control over them.  Does it sound like something that you could do for your manager at work?

 And beyond the inspiration that others can have in our own life, we, too, can be a powerful encouragement for them and the life that they are living.  In the strength that comes to us through the Holy Spirit, we receive the courage and wisdom to say “No” to those other ways that stand against the perfection of God, and to show others just how that can bring hope, and renewed life, and a greater sense of commitment, and a far better way to live and grow than anything that the ways of earth could ever promise or enact within us

 Paul lays out the entire approach for mission and ministry to his friend Titus, and it all centers on the truth of Christ that by faith in Him, His redemption and eternity will come freely for all who surrender the ways of earth, and claim the hope of Christ.  It is Jesus, and the new way that we live and show to others that leads us out of the world’s evil, and into the purity that God offers to all who come to Him by way of His Son.

 Read 1 Peter 5: 1-6  

  Peter refers to “elders” and “overseers” as leaders of the church, but then gathers them into the singular term of “shepherd”.  In that day, shepherds had a great responsibility for the safety and direction of the flock. And even within that obligation to the sheep, they were still considered to be the lowest within the community where they worked and lived.  The point that Peter is making for us, though, is that when we give ourselves to the Lord’s mission and ministry, we set our place in the world and community aside, and submit to whatever the Lord is calling us to do and be in the name of Jesus. 

 As disciples of Christ, this life can never hold any more glory, any more reward, any more prestige for us, for that which comes from God is the only goodness and hope that we should ever expect to see from now on, and the only responsibilities that we should ever respond to are those that His call places on our life. 

 Humility and submission in sharing the glorious light of Christ during this life, and in confidence that God’s glory and honor will be ours in the day of Jesus which is coming very soon.

“A Slave to Righteousness”

 Scripture: Romans 6:17-23;  2 Corinthians 3:9-18  

The interesting difference between a sinful existence and the one that is founded in God’s righteous way, is simply in the choice that every form of obedience demands.  For the people who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, obedience means that we are faithful to the way that God has laid out for us.  But the sinful life requires just as great a dedication to worldly obedience as that which leads us to the life and way of our Lord!

 So who are we choosing to be obedient to?  Those who are involved in the life of their church, they would say that they are submissive to the teachings of scripture.  But just how dutiful are we - really?  When we pray, do our words come from the heart, or only from our mind?  When we confess our sins, and seek the Lord’s forgiveness for what we have done, do we also ask for strength and vision to banish those things far from our lives, as well as committing to never acting in them again?  Or is our only focus on the past, while we have no thought whatsoever of how we will live in the days to come?  When we come to worship, is our entire being - heart, mind and soul - focused on God and praising Him for the ways that He calls us to live, serve and follow?  Or are we more concerned with what we heard or did in the previous week, as well as what we are planning for the next few hours or days?  Even critiquing the sermon with the person sitting next to you could probably wait until fellowship time!

 The point of these questions is consideration of where our allegiance and obedience is actually pinned?  Are we totally dedicated to our Lord and Savior and the relationship that He has offered to each of us, or has our love and celebration of Jesus taken a secondary role to the things that our everyday life asks of us?

 In our passages for today, Paul encourages us to cast off the shackles of worldly bondage, and freely submit ourselves to joyful “slavery” in the ways of Jesus Christ.

 Read Romans 6:17-23

 These verses remind me of the time when Paul and Silas were in prison, praying and singing praises to God for His overwhelming goodness.  The other prisoners who were also in chains heard the singing and praising, and were drawn to listen to these most unusual goings on.  After all, who ever heard of joyful adoration being lifted up within an abusive Roman prison?  These two men were completely focused on the glory and goodness of their Lord Jesus, even while they were also bound by the evil of the world that had brought them to this place and time.  Their love and life for their Lord had taken precedence that evening, and in doing so, the world could no longer hold any power over them.

 How do we know that?  The earthquake that would soon shake the very foundations of that prison, the abrupt violence that would break the locks on the doors and chains and stocks that held them all securely, would also become a testament to what submission to God and His glory could do for the faithful.  But the men knew that their release from confinement was never meant to bring them freedom from the world’s hatred, but rather that it was to be a testament to God’s love for the jailer and all of the prisoners who were there that night.

 They could have easily focused their lives on the slavery of the prison and its chains, but instead, they chose to be slaves to God’s grace and compassion.   And their choice even brought the jailer to a completely new understanding of what God could do for him and his family – he took these men home with him, cared for their wounds, fed them, and he and his entire household were baptized. (Acts 16:22-34)

 As Paul wrote the words that we read in Romans 6, he knew very well what slavery was all about, whether it was the oppressive Roman version, or the general civil version that we all know about, or that which came through his former allegiance to the Law of Moses, but more specifically, he knew and lived in the version that comes from a commitment to the way of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  In verse 18, we read “¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”  Of course, God’s version is different, in that it is one that is grounded in love, and kindness, and a desire to give Himself to those who give themselves to Him!

 He goes on to ask if we have ever gained a single thing of value from our slavery to sin, which includes a separation from the Lord’s righteousness.  The allure that comes from the sinful life is simply a false sense of transient relief and worldly pleasure, while a commitment to the righteous life that we find in Christ Jesus will provide us with hope, joy, and an otherwise unknown level of patience and peace that will see us through the angst that the world will constantly heap upon us.

 ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!  Who have you chosen as your way and Master?  Eternal glory in Jesus, or hatred and death that comes from the world?  Which do you think sounds better?

 Read 2 Corinthians 3:9-18

 The “veil” that Paul writes about was introduced after Moses returned from receiving the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai.  We read in Exodus34:29-35 that his face was radiant from the time he spent in the presence of his Jehovah God.  When the people, including Moses’ brother Aaron, saw Moses, they were afraid to even come close to him.  Apparently, they fully understood that he looked the way he did, because the man had stood in the presence of God and survived, and they associated the change in appearance as a sign that if they approached any closer, that they just might not survive in this changed presence. (Exodus 33:12-23) 

 Paul makes the comparison to the wearing of a symbolic veil when the people hear the word of God read – that somehow, by not hearing the Lord’s commands, they will be spared from the consequences of not keeping them.  He compares the first covenant that was made with Abraham (Genesis 15:18), to the “new covenant” that Jesus offered to all who believe in Him, then and through the ages – that by faith in Him, there can be forgiveness for the sin that grows within our lives, and eternal life in heaven with Him.  By faith, the “veil of condemnation” has been removed, including the fear that used to come when people began to live in the presence of Jesus and His ways, and which has now been replaced with divine Grace & Mercy!

 By a living focus on God and faith in Jesus Christ, we now have the opportunity to come into the presence of God, seeking His word, living in His will, being filled with His glory, and knowing the forgiveness that faith and the striving for righteous living can bring.  And we need to keep our focus on Christ and the word that He brings us.

 But this also requires that we refocus our lives from worldly thoughts and ways, and beginning to give God in Christ our complete allegiance, obedience, trust, and hope for both this life and that which eternity will bring. 

 May the Lord be praised for the freedom that He brings to our release from slavery to the world’s sinful and destructive ways.