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June 07, 2007
Hallelujah! I'm free!
I started recently to read through the book of Romans. I’ve read it before, probably much more than once. But I have been drawn back for some while now. So I began in chapter 1, and got as far, over several weeks, as the middle of chapter 9. It took me so long primarily because I spent a long time in chapters 6 through 8.
In fact, I stopped in mid-9, and went back to reread 6–8. What a fascinating book! But I was especially interested in Paul’s account of the struggle within himself, as he did things he didn’t want to do and failed to do things he wanted to do. His words are moving, as he tells of this battle within, and we can hear his heart torn.
I am especially touched because I have similar battles within me. I do things I don’t want to do, and I neglect doing things I want to do. Why do I act this way? It’s discouraging and very frustrating. Really hammers my self esteem, too.
I decided a good while ago that if I was going to be follower of Jesus, I was going to be one all the way. A characteristic of my personality is that I don’t have a passive bone in my body. I am either all the way in, or I am not interested at all. And I don’t want to live life calling myself a “Christian” – though I seldom use that term about myself – when I know inside that I am living the life of a hypocrite.
I want to be able to look at my life, and look at what the Bible ways about those who follow Jesus, and thank God for his grace and mercy that lets me live a life that honors him. I don’t want to read my Bible and then look at my life and say, “This just can’t be what God has in mind.” And I especially don’t want to come to the end of my life and find that God is ashamed and embarrassed by the way I have lived.
But there’s good news: I am dead! That’s right! Larry Baden is dead! He died on a cross with Jesus. And so, because of that, I am no longer bound by the law of sin, but am free. Sin has no power over me..
But I still sin. And so did Paul Why? I think there’s a simple answer: I choose to. That’s right, I can’t say, “The devil made me do it.” When I accept this fact and deal with it head-on, I’m making a giant step toward living in freedom.
I sin because I choose to. Sin has no inherent power over me, and nobody can force me to sin. I am a follower of Jesus, and followers of Jesus are dead to sin. And because we are dead to sin, when we recognize that we have a choice in the matter, we are on the way to living in the new nature that God has given us. And that’s really good news!
Someone wrote that when Israel left Egypt, they were no longer slaves. But they were not free people, either. They were simply not slaves. Living as free men and women takes learning and time, and it doesn’t happen automatically.
When I died with Jesus, I ceased to be a slave to sin. Now I am learning what it is to live as a free man, being responsible and making choices that I never could make before. Now I am learning how to live a life that both enjoys and honors God.
And I love it. Hallelujah!
Posted by Larry Baden at June 7, 2007 04:09 PM
Comments
To really understand this nature in us all.First you have to understand, What is Original sin.If we can make ourselfves free with behavoir modification,such as chooseing wright and wrong.What need would it be for Christ shedding his blood for us all?
First we must learn what happened in the Garden of Eden and spread all thru the ages of man,that gives us this nature.Many stories in the bible have subliminal keys that unlock other stories in the bible.In the story of Moses is such a key.
It will give a good start to understanding what really happened in the Garden that gives us this bondage.You could read the book of Gen all your life and not get it.But with this story riddle explained you will start to get an understanding.
Moses carried a staff,as did all higher ranking men of a family tribe.On this staff was carved a family blood pedicrees history and was passed from Generation to generation.
Now if you look at this staff in a subliminal way,what do you see?
When its held up high, its hard and erect,but when cast down becomes soft and snake like.Then one snake eats the other.
Yes, Its symbolic of the male member and the snake eating the other is symbolic of sperm.
The king is the bad seed that holds bondage, and Moses is the liberater representing Christ.The Moses story is the same story as the Jesus story, only told in a different way.
Both are very human when down low.Both go up high, and come back God like.Jesus is not dead and will be back down from high.
God warned his people not to mix with the corupt seed.They didn't listen,and crossbread.Now all mankind has this genetic inheratence.Behavior modification can do nothing to a genetic trate.Thats like saying you can change the color of your eyes, by acting a certain way. Imposible
This is the bondage that Jesus is talking about.
Look out for later postings. I'll try to explain the impregnation of the Holy spirit. (Gods seed).I looked at the throne of God, and from beneth it flowed a river of life.
Posted by: George in MA at June 9, 2007 10:09 PM
