July 2007
We celebrate our freedom as a Nation this month, but as a Christian I will focus on the believer's Spiritual freedom in this Monthly View. “Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, you are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free." 1
What Does God Say?
We never question the fact that the United States declared its freedom from England on July 4th 1776. The early Americans fought for and gained their freedom, and ours, in the Revolutionary War. We question however, through our unbelief, that Jesus Christ gained our freedom from sin, self and Satan in His death on the cross and His resurrection. It is pretty serious to call God a liar because we do not believe what He says about His Son, Jesus Christ.
Just as we believe man's testimony about Independence Day, we are to believe even more in God's testimony of His Son. It is proper to understand a testimony or witness in the Judicial sense. In like manner, we are to make a judicial estimation of the witness of God about His Son, Jesus Christ.
This is what God says about His Son: "He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have His Son does not have life”. 2 Jesus says, "I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life". 3
God's Judicial Estimation
It is good to simplify God's testimony so as to not complicate it. His testimony has to do with the blood, the word of righteousness and the spirit of life.
"For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made righteous [right with God] when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when He did not punish those who sinned in former times. And He is entirely fair and just in this present time when He declares sinners to be right in His sight because they believe in Jesus." 4
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. The sin of one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life." 5
"Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living in you." 6
Your Judicial Estimation
It is important to understand that God's judicial estimation of an unbeliever is that he is dead in his trespasses and sin, doomed forever. He lives full of sin, obeying satan , the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else." 7
The word "confess" means to say the same thing, or in this case, to agree with God's judicial estimation of yourselves whether you are a believer or not. As an unbeliever, if you confess you have a sin nature, God is faithful and just to have already forgiven you, and to have cleansed you from all unrighteousness 2000 years ago at the cross. 8 "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scripture tells us, “ Anyone who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 9
As a believer, you are to confess the same things God says about you: " I am a new creation." 10
"I am God's child." 11 “ I have been made righteous in Christ." 12 " I have been bought with a price. I belong to God." 13 "I am a saint." 14 "I have been forgiven of my sins." 15 "I am free forever from condemnation." 16 "I cannot be separated from the love of God." 17 "I have not been given the spirit of fear, but of power , love and a sound mind." 18 "I am the salt and light of the earth. 19 " I am God's temple.” 20 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'" 21
God's True Testimony
None of us desires to call God a liar, but we do this by our unbelief. The Holy Spirit brings forth the testimony of Jesus Christ to convince us of unbelief, righteousness and judgment. 22 I pray that you stand convinced today: "Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true. As the Scripture says, 'h e will be proved right in what He says, and He will win His case in court.” 23
It is time for your freedom from sin, self and Satan. The gods of this world have been able to blind your mind from believing for too long. 24 "Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, 'You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. so if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.'" 25
It was 32 years ago in May of 1975, when I took hold of my freedom. He had a specific time for me to come to Him. The Lord says to you, "At just the right time, I heard you, on the day of salvation, I helped you. " 26 Indeed, God is ready to help you right now, Today is the day of salvation. Won't you receive Him now?
A Prayer For You...
Father, I need You . Thank Y ou for the sacrifice of your Son, whose blood brings forgiveness of my sins and for offering me Your righteousness and resurrected life. I now accept by faith Your gift of salvation. Through Your Holy Spirit, teach me about Your love and grace and about the new life that You have given me. Begin the work of making me into the person You want me to be. Amen!
Scripture References:
1 John 8:31, 32, 36
2 1 John 5:11, 12
3 John 5:24
4 Rom. 3: 25, 26
5 Rom. 5:1,17
6 Rom. 8: 10,11
7 Eph. 2: 1-3
8 1 John 1:9
9 Rom. 10:9-11 Isa . 28:16
10 2 Cor . 5:17
11 John 1:12
12 2 Cor . 5:21
13 1 Cor . 6:19, 20
14 Eph.1:1
15 Col . 1:14
16 Rom . 8:1
17 Rom . 8:35-39
18 2 Tim. 1:7
19 Matt. 5:13,14
20 1 Cor . 3:16
21 Phil. 4:13
22 John 16:7-11
23 Rom. 3:4
24 2 Cor . 4:4
25 1 John 5:9,10
26 2 Cor . 6:2,3