July 2008
From the Pastor’s Desk
As Americans, we love the word “freedom.” It is the anchor of what our nation stands for and the rally cry of those defending our country. We cherish freedom as a God given right so much that it is written in our founding documents. These words from the Declaration of Independence are indelibly imprinted in the hearts and minds of every American:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
As Christians, we love the word “freedom” too. The Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian believers that “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Unfortunately, some of the followers of Jesus Christ in Galatia had been led astray by teachers who insisted on adherence to a legalistic system of religion as part of the requirement to be a Christian. Paul had to set the church straight by reminding them that insisting on any ritual or legal requirement added to grace, nullifies grace. In fact, it makes one a slave again!
Galatians, the Magna Carta of spiritual liberty has much to teach us today. While we certainly believe that we are saved by grace through faith, we can often find ourselves trying to add our own good works and rules of righteousness to earn “brownie points” with the Sovereign God of the universe. No deal. We must relearn the truth that everything we are and do is solely because of Christ; who He is and what He has done.
This month of July we will begin a new series on Sunday mornings taking us through the book of Galatians. We will learn from the Apostle Paul how to enjoy the freedom we have in Christ, and how to avoid becoming slaves to any system that relies on rules and regulations. So take time this July to enjoy your celebration of Independence Day, and take time to celebrate the freedom you have in Christ.
As Americans, we love the word “freedom.” It is the anchor of what our nation stands for and the rally cry of those defending our country. We cherish freedom as a God given right so much that it is written in our founding documents. These words from the Declaration of Independence are indelibly imprinted in the hearts and minds of every American:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
As Christians, we love the word “freedom” too. The Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian believers that “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Unfortunately, some of the followers of Jesus Christ in Galatia had been led astray by teachers who insisted on adherence to a legalistic system of religion as part of the requirement to be a Christian. Paul had to set the church straight by reminding them that insisting on any ritual or legal requirement added to grace, nullifies grace. In fact, it makes one a slave again!
Galatians, the Magna Carta of spiritual liberty has much to teach us today. While we certainly believe that we are saved by grace through faith, we can often find ourselves trying to add our own good works and rules of righteousness to earn “brownie points” with the Sovereign God of the universe. No deal. We must relearn the truth that everything we are and do is solely because of Christ; who He is and what He has done.
This month of July we will begin a new series on Sunday mornings taking us through the book of Galatians. We will learn from the Apostle Paul how to enjoy the freedom we have in Christ, and how to avoid becoming slaves to any system that relies on rules and regulations. So take time this July to enjoy your celebration of Independence Day, and take time to celebrate the freedom you have in Christ.
posted by Pastor Lew @ 8:47 PM
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