Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 26
Wednesday


JESUS SETS
US FREE

READ:
Galatians 5:1-6
____________________________

you shall know the
truth, and the truth
shall make you free.
__ John 8:32
____________________________

Perhaps no one since the apostle Paul has written more graphically about the experience of spiritual bondage than the great theologian Augustine (Ad 354--430). Although blessed with extraordinary intelligence, in his younger years he had wallowed in deep depravity.

Looking back, Augustine gave this account of his struggle: "I was bound by the iron chain of my own will. I was rather an unwilling sufferer than a willing actor. And yet it was through me that habit had become an armed enemy against me, because I had willingly come to be what I unwillingly found myself to be."

Many of us have gone through a similar struggle. We wanted deliverance from sin yet found ourselves unable to shake off the chains of habit. Then, as we turned in faith to Jesus, we were liberated and could repeat the words of Charles wesley's hymn: "Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night. Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke__the dungeon flamed with light! My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed Thee."

Jesus alone can break the shackles of sin in your life. Receive Him as your Savior, and "the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). __ Vernon Grounds
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~~~~~~~~~~~Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~Jesus, I come to Thee. __ Sleeper~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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True freedom is found in serving Christ.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Galatians 5:1-6*************

1 Stand fast therefore in
the liberty by which Christ
has made us free, and do
not be entangled again with
a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed
I, Paul, say to you that if
you become circumcised,
Christ will profit you
nothing. 3 And I testify
again to every man who
becomes circumcised that
he is a debtor to keep the
whole law. 4 You have
become estranged from
Christ, you who attempt to
be justified by law; you
have fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit
eagerly wait for the hope of
righteousness by faith.

6 For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision avails
anything, but faith working
through love.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the Old Testament, circumcision was the visible and physical
sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people (Gen.
17:11), and it soon became a badge of Jewish spiritual and national
superiority, Gentiles became known as "the uncircumcision"__
outside of God's love. Paul did not condemn circumcision in itself,
having Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:1-3) to reach out to the Jews.
But Paul opposed the judaizers who insisted that circumcision was
needed for salvation (Acts 15:1-2). At the council of Jerusalem (Acts
15:6-29), the early church rejected the requirement of circumcision
and held that salvation is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ alone
(Acts 15:11). __ SKT