“I’m So Glad Our Freedom Is Not Base On What We Have Done”

2 Corinthians 3:17

Freedom is defined as the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint; independence; flexibility.

If there was a group for “People Pleasers Anonymous,” some of us would undoubtedly be a cardholder. The anxiety begins when we unknowingly go from being free men and women in Christ to enslaved men and women to other people’s expectations and thoughts of us. Our salvation is not based on what we can do, have done, or will do. Our salvation is based on what Christ did on that old rugged cross over 2,000 years ago. Paul explains that our freedom in Christ can, and that’s why he exhorts us to “stand firm” in our faith and not let others place a yoke of slavery or a list of rules or regulations on us as a way for us to earn our salvation. Paul speaks to both the new Christians who came out of pagan religions and the new Jewish Christians who had been taught that salvation was found in keeping the laws. He encourages those who came out of the world to be strong in their freedom found in Christ and not go back to their former sins that enslaved them to guilt and condemnation. To the Jewish Christians, Paul tells them that their works, their moral law keeping, also enslaves them. Circumcision, which Paul talks about, was a symbol of having the right background and doing everything required by religion. Yet we know that no amount of work, discipline, or moral behavior can save us. We are saved by faith in Christ, not by works. Though we are far from perfect, we strive to be filled with love and grace because of the love and grace that Christ extends to us.

I come by this morning to let you know we must learn to embrace the freedom we have in Christ and may it change us from the inside out. I pray that our lives will be characterized by Christ’s love working in us and through us. Amen!!! Be bless and I love you!!! JE