Showing posts with label 1 Peter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Peter. Show all posts

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Freedom from Sin

Whenever we find ourselves without full control due to a bondage of body or mind, we are in captivity.  It is always easier to appreciate something that you no longer have, and freedom is definitely one of them. But ironically, it is when we subject ourselves to, or submit to a captor that it becomes worse, because not only are we at war with that which is oppressing us, but we are at war with ourselves.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Galatians 5:1 KJV
Through his sacrifice, Christ has made us free from the ultimate consequence of sin. He has also given us access to God the Father who can give us peace of mind in a world and time saturated with confusion from the desires brought on by sin. When we acknowledge that we are indeed free from the bondage of sin, we must pursue God, who has given us this freedom. As with anything in life that we are trying to turn away from, the pursuit of sin must be replaced. And in order to grow and elevate spiritually, we should set our eyes toward God. If we realize our freedom and independence, yet still continue to sin, confusion will prevail and our testimony is more faint. As Christians, our job here on Earth is to bring souls to Christ. And the only way to bring souls to Christ is to share Christ through love.
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
Galatians 5:13‭-‬16 KJV
We are Christians, and as such we need to show it and act like it. Once again remembering that in reciprocity for the freedom, we should honor God and be like him, and show others God through us.

"As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
1 Peter 2:16 KJV
Perhaps the most important aspect of freedom is to be accountable to maintain it and embrace the responsibility of remaining free. Having been in bondage, we should know when we are walking the edge or seeing red flags that may lead us back to the very thing that so recently controlled our lives. Bondage via music, food, television,  speech, thoughts- those things that ultimately influence an area of our lives where God should be dominant. To stay free of these things, we should remain in prayer to God, to change our hearts, that we might desire only those things that God has for us, and surround ourselves in God's way. For it is only in Gods way that we are and will truly remain free.

We pray blessings upon all who have read. We invite you to follow us on social media as well! Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Womanhood (pt.2): Virtuous Woman

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(Genesis 2:18 KJV). A man is not an all powerful being; therefore, there come times when he needs help. God created a woman to help a man. While in this context there is mention toward creation for companionship, in 1Peter 3:1-2 the woman/wife is a help to a man/husband in times when he may not be in the Word as needed of him. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.(1 Peter 3:1‭-‬2 KJV)

In the natural flow of things, a godly man will by example teach his family the way of godly success. It is not his way, but yet the ways of He who taught him. If at any point in time a man loses his way, it is imperative that he regains his Christian leadership, and that should be done by his wife, without opposition and challenge hinging from his failure. Therefore, this process should be done with the proper level of respect and discretion similar to the address given to the wives of deacons, which required that they be not slanderers (1Timothy 3:11). She should reflect, not the behavior of her own desires and discernment, but those of God. And by this, she will not shame him, but she will be the crown of her husband and a virtuous woman(Proverbs 12:4).

Friday, October 17, 2014

Where Is the Church? (pt.1) Christian Duty


"We've got to go and be a witness
To save the lost and fallen from the hit list.
Get this, give them total Truth, so they never will forget this
And they can claim a place where Holy bliss is..."

It is the responsibility of believers to bring souls to Christ. It is our mandate from God. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus declares that if we follow him, He will make us fishers of men- seeking to bring souls to Christ. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God and given a new life as new Creatures. How dare we deprive an unbeliever of the same Christ who saved our wretched souls from a deserved punishment. Who are we to the unbeliever but one whom not so long ago was standing in the same guilty place yearning inside for the scent of atonement? 

"For all have sinned and come short of Gods glory." (Romans 3:23) Therefore, we by ourselves were not good enough. We were not deserving, except by Jesus interceding for us and enduring the Cross whereby we were saved. We are no better than anyone on Earth- man, woman, boy, girl, black, white, saved, or unsaved. We are not perfect. Yet He who was, and still is perfect, saved us. 

Nothing elevates one above another, therefore we are all equal. Sinners needing God's grace. There is no one sin greater than the others. Sin is sin, and if one keeps the Law of God and sin not, save one sin, he still transgresseth the Law. (James 2:10). This verse, in a way, puts us all on a level playing field- all sinners seeking God's grace. We, as Christians though, are to help align the minds of the lost to realize how they can be found, and given newness.

If we are privy to the knowledge of someone falling to sin, it is only our place to help them and not judge. Because the same standard of judgment that we use against them shall be therein used against us. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (KJV) tells us sanctify the Lord in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason  of the hope that is in you with meeknes and fear: Having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they might be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. The NIV translates this verse by saying to revere Christ, and be ready to explain why you have hope. But to do so with gentleness, respect, and a clear conscience. Thus, causing those who spoke evil against you to be ashamed. Also, doing so would make us like Christ in word and deed, and give a good testimony and example as to what really being a Christian is all about.....

(We will revisit this topic in part 2 of this series. Until then we would like to invite you to follow us on social media. Thank you again for reading and God bless!)

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