Liberation
http://churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4541&view=post&articleid=44099&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir
Liberation is like driving a car in a strange unfamiliar area, with Christ as a passenger...means God's Law does not enslave us, but rather sets us free...
Liberation is like driving a car in a strange unfamiliar area, with Christ as a passenger, we as human beings spend most of the time arguing, complaining, and debating the destination. Yet, we do not have a clue on where we are going. If we allow Christ to get into the driver's seat, He will be able to take us around where we could never have gone before. And, if we sign over the Pink Slip to our Lord Jesus Christ, then He will take us to places that our most wild imaginations could never fathom.
The Law of liberty and Liberation refers to being free from the ways of the world. It can also mean being wise in our own eyes. Most scholars believe it means being freed from sin (James 1:25; 2:8-13).
Liberty also means God's Law does not enslave us, but rather sets us free (John 8:36; Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:13-17)! Our liberty is about our freedom in Christ. Christ's work has freed us, but that does not mean we can do whatever we please. The laws of physics are still in place; thus, if we pray in the street while a truck is coming, it will hit us. If we use an unkind word to someone, we will hurt him or her, and so forth. We are called to use wisdom and restraint, to be discerning, and not overpowering or condescending.
We have to see the magnificent aspect of what Christ has done for us. We need to see the joy (James 1:2-4) and the hope (Heb. 6:18-19) we are given. This is foundational to life and liberty.
We always have to remember we are given grace, liberty, and forgiveness, but never forget we also have responsibility. We are called to give mercy and forgive-as God has done with us (Matt. 18:23-35).
We who are justified by faith now have peace with God. Thus we are to rejoice in our hope (of what He did for us and Heaven to come), and rejoice and glory in the midst of troubles. The abundant love of God is shown to us when He reconciled us to Himself by the death of his Son, while we were still unworthy sinners and His 'enemies'. And to top it off God assures us of our salvation, and motivates us to rejoice and glory in Him, no matter what happens or what we go through, because He has gone through more.
The main issue at stake is compromise. How we seek to rationalize our sins as OK ignore our Lord and do as we please. This is the way of the world that leads to judgment and condemnation. But in Christ there is no condemnation. But there is the choice to still do as we please in our Christian lives. He still loves us, but are we going astray with our churches and personal lives? Are we seeking out our pride and will and not Him?
© 1992, 2001 R.J. Krejcir, Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership, www.churchleadership.org/
http://churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4541&url=10&view=post&articleid=44074&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Be saved and then repent! "Repent and be saved!" This is a phrase we hear so often, but, have you considered its origins? Is this in the Bible? Surprise…NO, it is not! We may say it with genuine good intentions as both ends of this phrase are very Biblical and essential. We need to repent, and we need to be saved. But, this phrase is actually backwards! It should read, "Be saved and then repent!"
http://churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4541&url=10&view=post&articleid=44073&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Understanding and Implementing Communion. Communion means we are to Celebrate the Lord's Supper/Communion. This was instituted by Jesus on the night before His Crucifixion. He told the Disciples that the cup of wine...
http://churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4541&url=10&view=post&articleid=44072&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. We are called to learn and develop faith because faith is essential and of the utmost importance for every aspect of the Christian life. Without faith, we can do nothing! As Christians, especially those who are responsible for the education and care of others, we are called to build our spiritual formation from...
