1998-07-05 - Freedom

As we were all reminded by the celebrations yesterday, we Americans have a lot to be thankful for as far as freedom - freedom of worship among others. But the spiritual freedom Sandi mentioned yesterday is even more important.

(Isa 61:1-3 NNAS) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; ² To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, ³ To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

(Rom 7:24-25 NNAS) Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

(John 8:32 NNAS) and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

(Gal 5:1 NNAS) It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

(1 Cor 10:29-31 NNAS) I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? ³¹ Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(Gal 5:13-14 NRSV) For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

(2 Pet 2:19 NNAS) promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

(Rom 8:20-21 NNAS) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Jan