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July, 2009 Lessons to Convert Know “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 The“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Truth “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4
This Month's Theme: “FREEDOM” Several years ago, there was a renewed sense of patriotism in our country, as we had been brought together by events that threatened our freedom. Freedom has in many cases been the cause for war, government collapse, and the forming of new nations. _________________________________________________________________ “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature among and natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separations. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty , and the pursuit of Happiness. (The Unanimous Declaration of the United States of America) _____________________________________________ It is with great pride that we think of the great care our fore-fathers practiced in drafting our government with these freedoms in mind. Since our fathers drafted these declarations based on rights that they perceived were from God, it is no coincidence that they so closely parallel the freedoms that are drafted in the Gospel of Christ. Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” What is the satisfaction of physical freedom without a hope for freedom from the slavery of sin and the chains of a life without God? Paul exhorts these Christians to maintain the freedom from the burdens of the Old Law. While that system was in force it was commendable for those under it to be loyal to its requirements. But since Christ has given them liberty under His law through the Spirit, it is foolish for them to go back and try to take up that yoke of bondage (since the Old Law magnified sin and only through perfect adherence to its ordinances could one be saved, it placed a yoke of burden on all who lived under it). This might give the impression that all of the Galatians had formerly been under the Law of Moses. That was not the case; for most of them were Gentiles and had not lived under that Law. However, many were being introduced to it by the Judaizing teachers, and thus entangle themselves with that yoke, which would be as severe a bondage as was the idolatry from which they as Gentiles had been delivered. Galatians 4:9 “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” What freed these Galatians from the bondages of the Old Law and idolatry? Galatians 3:26-29 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Many dangers face the disciple that is interested in the truth and its freedom. Some of which are dispensationalists (pre-millennialism), socializing the Gospel, evolution, humanism, philosophy, modernism, etc… One the product of another, are all based on theory and partial understanding of the truth of scripture. All of these having the effects of swaying any who seek the truth for themselves and leading them away. Many of the fathers of denominations have taken away the freedom and liberties encased in the Gospel's message by doing you're thinking for you. They don't want you to study or think, but to believe their word and teaching above that which was given by God! The scriptures declare that true freedom is found by those who through their own efforts search the scriptures and prove what is true! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As the Apostle Paul left Thessalonica (a city of Macedonia) and entered Berea ; he preached the Gospel of Christ, note what is said regarding those who heard this word: Acts 17:11 “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” This is a fundamental principle of freedom, the independent search for the truth of God's word, which leads to Life, Liberty , and the pursuit of Heaven. This is to those who will not allow themselves to be led around like sheep, but will be more fair minded and put forth the effort to know God's word and be free. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Based on this knowledge , we hold these truths to be self-evident :
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Mark 16:15-16 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Colossians 1:5-10 “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”
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