GOODNEWS LETTER
Number 366 April 6, 2011
FOREVER FREE
"If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed," John 8:36.
Being free is what America is all about, isn't it? I love America. I also love Christianity. Knowing Jesus allows me to walk freely - to be free from sin. That's what Romans 6:18 preaches. "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
Freedom has some dutiful exercises for its citizens; whether, American or Spiritual people. Freedom costs us. There are statutes to be employed; in order to maintain the freedom we enjoy. We pay taxes, vote and serve our country as free men. We want to keep our freedom. Therefore, we protect our country by serving in the military. I was a soldier for three years. Yes, they were the longest years of my life; but, I served. And, I served willingly. I joined the Army.
Christians are to join in the service of their Lord, as well. This was a major theme of the Apostle Paul. "...yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness," Romans 6:19. Paul adds that service produces fruit and, the end of service brings us "everlasting life" (Rom. 6:22).
Further, from Paul's famous Roman Road passage, we feel necessary to cite chapter 6:23. "For the wages of sin in death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
What Paul is saying, here, requires us to think deeply and Scripturally. We have everlasting life in verse 22, he says. Then, in the next verse of 23, Paul instructs us that God has given us the gift of "Eternal Life" through His Son, Jesus. Life comes by trusting in Jesus. He is our gift from God (Jn 3:16). How do we receive this wonderful and everlasting gift? We are born into it. The gift of Salvation is the message of God's word.
We must continue to think deeply about the truth from the Bible. The Word of God is harmonious. It operates in the same fashion that we view freedom in America. Citizens are expected to "step up to the plate" and serve. We must pay our taxes and, if necessary, serve our country and defend the freedom we have.
Paul backs my thought on this, too. "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT," Romans 8:2. After explaining what the work of Jesus did for us in verse 2-4, Paul picks up the responsibility that every Christian has - to walk in the Spirit. "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit," Romans 8:5.
The next few verses are dynamite! Even though we believe and are saved, Paul says: "...to be carnally minded is death" (Rom. 8:6). The flesh is enmity against God and cannot be subject to the law of God, Paul tells us in verse 7. In these passages, we find that Paul uses a lot of "ands, If and buts." "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit...And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin...But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken you mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Vs 9,10 and 11).
What in the world is Paul trying to teach the Roman Church? Well, his letter explains it in verse 13; at least for me. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (kill) the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
The gracious Lord expects His people to serve Him. It's a in-the-now and present life that Jesus gave us. That's why He came to earth. Further, He sent the Holy Spirit on the church on the day of Pentecost that we learn of Him. "He that hath my commandments, and KEEPETH THEM, he is it that loveth me:" (John 14:21).
Serving God through His Son is no easy task; not as easy as most think. It's impossible unless we get help. We think that freedom comes to the saved and, that freedom continues on in service. Yet, many saved folks don't believe that they need to do it the way the Bible says.
That's why we have varying teachings on the subject of once saved, always saved. Since, Paul tells us that if ye walk after the flesh ye shall die, many use this verse to support that one can lose his salvation. But, we can't agree with that conclusion.
This preacher believes and teaches that THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN A SINNER IS DIFFERENT THAT HIS WORK WITHIN THE CHURCH. We are baptized by water into His body, the church. But, what if we aren't? What if we just go on our way of living; rather than, learn what the Apostles taught the churches? What if we are even baptized and a member of the Laodiciean Church of Revelation 3:14? Or, for that matter, what if we belong to the Church of Ephesus and lose our first love?
Freedom, we learn, does have a price. It cost Jesus His life in order to set us free. But, He lives today! He intercedes for us as we walk by faith and follow Him. In order to maintain a life of service, we must have the Holy Spirit teaching us and overpowering the world. We cannot do it alone.
To sum up this Old Landmark position of salvation and freedom, we cite the allegory of Hagar and Sarah of Galatians 4. It's a matter of who's our mother. "...Jerusalem is free, which is the mother of us all" (V 26). "Now we, as Isaac was, are the children of promise" (V28). "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, EVEN SO IT IS NOW (Gal. 4:29).
Can't we get what Paul is teaching about the battle that goes on between the flesh and the spirit? Clearly, Ismael keeps picking on Isaac. In the same way, our flesh keeps on fighting against the service we have been called to perform. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" (Gal. 5:17). Salvation isn't a matter of being saved or losing it; it's the fight that goes on between the flesh and the Holy Spirit.
Finally, Paul shows what shall occur when we follow the flesh. Galatians 5:21 explains, "...they which do such things (envy, murder, etc.) "...shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Then, the writer of Hebrews (Paul) teaches what it means to fail in service and not use the spiritual freedom for God's glory. He gives us the story of the TYPE of Hagar and Sarah. But, this TYPE continued with their descendants, as well. In the life of Jacob and Esau, we see the battle that goes on between the flesh and the Spirit.
Esau and Jacob were twins. They had the same mother and father. But, the first born one, Esau, sold his birthright. The book of Hebrews warns us about listening to the Word of God, at all times. For, heeding Scripture keeps the root of bitterness away from us. Otherwise, we could become defiled; "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright" (Heb.12:16).