Freedom

Today in Church we talked about sin and freedom. We all make mistakes - we're not perfect. I know I don't really have to tell you that. Whether you've lied, stole, or murdered no sin is greater than another they are all the same level of wrong. Nevertheless, Jesus died on the cross for them all, and when we acknowledge that we are sinners and change our actions so that they reflect Christ we are set free from sin and are no longer ruled by it. Some verses I wanted to share with you are,

"You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean" - Lev. 10:10

Once we are Christ's, we are set apart, therefore we must be set apart.

^"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." - James 1:22-25

In Leviticus, when the priests had to wash every morning before entering God's presence, they washed in a bronze (I think) bath. Back then the polished bronze was used by women as a mirror. So every time the priests went to wash in it they saw themselves and were reminded that they were priests of the most high God. That they were to carry out their duty as that, and not forget. So this means for us that we are to look in the mirror and know who we are, that we are Christ's and thus we need to carry out the actions and duties as His and not forget.

^" Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."  - Lev. 9:23-24

Because Jesus on the cross was the sacrifice once for all we no longer have to carry out animal sacrifices. However, I think this picture is a great reminder for when we feel awful about our sin, and we should, but that when we sacrifice our lives to God it will be accepted and we can rejoice for the LORD has rescued us.

^"1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,^{[a] 2}because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.^[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,^{[d] 4}in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1-4

The following is Hebrews 12:1-12

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 ⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
   "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
      and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
 ⁶because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
      and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."^[a]

 ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! ¹⁰Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 ¹²Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³"Make level paths for your feet,"^[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Col. 2:13-15

^"13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,^[b] God made you^[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴¹⁵And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.^[d]"

Because of God's sacrifice of His only son for us, today we can live knowing that we are not condemned to Hell and that we are not bound by sin in this world, it doesn't rule over us. Therefore we can rejoice! knowing that God forgives with grace and mercy and now we can live a life of freedom that honors our mighty God! :) Whether we feel this or not we can know that it's true!