I apologize for the break in messages.  Between some travel required from work, and a full schedule it’s been difficult to find time to write.  That said, I take great encouragement that God is ever-present and at work every moment of every day.

I want to ask one question for us today.  What does your heart say about the gospel of Jesus?  Not your head, your heart.  Intellectually acknowledging the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is essential, but it alone will not save you.  (Jam 2:9)  Intellectually acknowledgment alone is not evidence of active faith, and will not produce in you the kind of freedom that God means to unleash in you, for you to joyously give up your life to love others towards Him.

In John 8 31-36, Jesus speaks of the freedom He offers – “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” 

I take great comfort in the type of people that Jesus delivered the gospel message to.  Traitors, prostitutes, murderers, thieves, adulterers – there is no category of sin/sinner that Jesus did not cover with His blood.  There is no unforgivable past, there is no unforgivable current sin struggle, and there is no future sin that can separate a person from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  His arms are open, His mercies are new each morning, and His love, patience, and grace far exceed whatever we can conceive of in our weak, fallen minds.

Are you a visitor in God’s house or are you a son or daughter of God through Jesus?  In dying, Jesus absorbed the wrath of God for every ounce of our sin, and every bit of the guilt and shame accompanying it.  The freedom of Christ is a new life in Him.  By faith, you are united with Him also in His resurrection, partakers of His glory – no longer wretched in God’s sight, but you are credited with, clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus.  You are image bearers of God, reflections of His glory, and precious in His sight.  Your place with Jesus in God’s house in not temporary, but permanent – He is with you and you are with Him forever.  He will never leave you or forsake you, He is ever for you.

What does your heart say about all of this?  The worst thing in the world is to hear these truths of God, to rejoice in a moment, and then move on.  You will never be free until these truths are fed daily to your heart, so that the overflow of your heart will be joy and freedom in the Truth.  This is why we seek to have our hearts made happy in God by His Word daily.  This is why we get together with other Bible believing Christians regularly to remind ourselves of the gospel, and it’s truths for us in our lives.  This is why we go to church to have God’s truth preached over us.  This is why we take the Lord’s supper together.  We could go on.

The freedom Christ offers in salvation through the gospel; the live, peace, and joy of a right relationship with a loving Father is not a past decision, but a present pursuit of heart-level trusting in the Truth of God.  My hope for myself and us all is that God would continue to be merciful to us – to draw us to Himself daily in repentance from sin, and joy in fellowship with Him – covered by His blood, rooted in our identity as sons and daughters of the Living God.  The road before us is long, but Jesus is with us every step of the way – keep going strong, and know that God is always for you.

Grace and Peace,

Adam