THE LORD GOD FREED US FROM BEING SLAVES TO THE FEAR OF DEATH

Proclamation:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death, that is the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.”  Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by an unknown human author to the Hebrew believers, and indirectly to all believers.  The Bible Book of Hebrews was not written by one of the apostles, but by someone who heard The Word of God spoken by the apostles. (Hebrews 2:3)  The “children” referred to here are the children of God (Hebrews 2:13) whom Jesus, The Christ, calls His brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 2:11-12)  Jesus took on humanity and shared our human experiences so that He might be merciful unto us. (Hebrews 2:17-18)  Then He conquered death for our benefit in order to free us from it.  Again the author quotes the Old Testament to make his point. (Hebrews 2:6-8 is Psalm 8:4-6; Hebrews 2:12-13 is Psalm 22:22; and Hebrews 2:13 is taken from Isaiah 8:18)

Application:

When we as believers pray, we pray to God, The Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus, because it was Jesus who was tempted and suffered.  He is able to relate to and help those of us who are suffering, being tempted, and in need of His help. (Hebrews 2:18)  Jesus said, whatever we ask for in His name would be granted to us if it gave glory to God. (John 14:13)  What He did by His death and resurrection was to free us from the penalty of sin (Roman 6:23) and to free us from the fear of death knowing that we have the victory. (1 Corinthians 15:57 and Romans 8:37)  With our physical death, we just pass from labor to reward, and from an earthly struggle to a joyous eternal life.  

WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Proclamation:

"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ... unless he is born of water and The Spirit.'" John 3:1-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, who had come to Him secretly by night. (John 3:1-2) 

Application:

All Christians have two birthdays, the date of their physical birth and the date of their spiritual birth.  With our physical birth, we were born into sin when we entered this world.  With our spiritual birth, we are released from the penalty of sin when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  When we are born again, we undergo a spiritual transformation.  We are a "changed" group of people who act, talk, and think differently because of the effect of The Holy Spirit upon our lives.  We are not perfect, we still make mistakes, and we still sin, but we are not as bad as we used to be.  Hopefully, we are getting better, more Christ-like, each day because we have been born again.

The Truth Will Set You Free

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' "  John 8:31-32 (NIV)

The Apostle John recorded these words which Jesus spoke to the Jews in the crowd in the temple at Judea during the Feast of the Tabernacles.  The unbelieving chief priests and the Pharisees, who wanted to kill Jesus (John 8:37 and 8:40) had sent the temple guards to arrest Jesus, (John 7:32), but they had returned impressed by the way in which Jesus spoke. (John 7:45-47)  Some of the Jews who heard Jesus believed in Him, and some did not. (John 7:12)  These words He spoke to the believers in the temple.

Jesus said to the believers that they will know "the truth" and "the truth" will set them free.  This "truth" is generally believed to mean the facts about Jesus, and the things that He taught.  Jesus said "I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life". (John 14:6)  Believers who obey and practice The Word of God are set free from the control of sin and from the penalty of sin by Jesus. (Romans 6:23)  Verse 32 could have been written "Then you will know The Truth, and The Truth will set you free."

There Is No Condemnation For Those Who Are In Christ

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of The Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death."  Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

In his letter to the believers in The Church at Rome, the Apostle Paul told them that all believers were set free from the penalty of sin.  He said they were no longer condemned because Jesus died as a sin offering and He condemned the sin in sinful man who believes. (Romans 8:3)  

Those of us who believe are free from the penalty of sin through Jesus, The Christ, but are not free from sinning.  Since all unrighteousness is sin, anything that we do which does not give glory to God is a sin. (1 John 5:17)  However, if we live our lives according to The Spirit of God, we will think more often about the things that God desires. (Romans 8:6)  The unsaved person has a sinful mind, is controlled by their sinful nature, and frequently thinks about sinful things.  Their sinful thoughts and actions are hostile towards God and they cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8)  Believers are not controlled by a sinful nature, they are controlled by The Spirit of God and their desire is to do that which is pleasing to God. (Romans 8:9-10)  If we are not trying to please God, then who are we trying to please?  If The Spirit of God is within us, then we will live, as best we can, by The Word of God. (Romans 8:11)  When we mess up, we will fess up, we will get up, and we will pray for His help continue to walk the Christian walk.