Real Freedom Through Jesus Christ . . .

God made human beings to bear His image in the world. By loving Him and keeping His commands, people would glorify God and know unimaginable peace.(1)

But in order to glorify God and enjoy Him as a free act of their wills, people were also given the freedom to do wrong. Out of that freedom, the first people God made—and all people since, including you and me—loved the things God made instead of or more than Him.(2) 

Because of this, we are no longer free. Sin is our master. Every person sins, either by doing things God forbids or by neglecting things He requires us to do.(3)  

Sin is also like a sickness. Its power makes us weak and powerless. It causes us to respond to others with anger, bitterness, jealousy and loneliness. Even becoming driven, successful, powerful, popular or respectable can be the result of sin’s power over our lives.(4)  

When we look at our relationships with others, we must realize that they reflect our relationship with God.(5)  This power of sin, unless broken by God’s unmerited grace, results in death (a sour spirit) and eternal separation from God.(6)

But God offers us freedom from sin. Jesus Christ, God’s unique son, died and rose from the dead on behalf of anyone who would come to God through faith in him.

Through Christ, God offers us freedom from sin’s penalty.(7)   Jesus, the only sinless person ever, allowed himself to be treated like a sinner on behalf of those who would believe in him.(8)   And through Christ, God offers us freedom from sin’s power.(9)   We become, for the first time, able to do the right thing and not let the actions of others or our own weaknesses control us.(10)

We are invited to respond to this good news from God by faith, not by trying harder to do good nor by trying to prove to others or God that we are good or "go'na get good." Because God’s offer is based on His grace, not on how much we deserve it, we can be confident in it.

This faith involves being sorry for what you have done, turning from it, believing what God has said is true and making Christ lord of your life. When you believe this, God declares you right before Him and frees you from the judgments of others.(11)

If you want the peace with God and freedom from sin offered in God’s good news, tell God right now by praying to Him. Tell him you believe His good news and ask Him to strengthen your faith.(12)  Even if your not positive, start praying and earnestly seeking, knocking, the Lord will answer, but you must ask, yes, start now.

If you have a friend or family member whom you know has a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ, tell him or her about your decision.

Begin to know God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible. Many people have found reading Mark’s gospel and the Psalms great places to begin.

You are now part of a family—the family of God. Find a church family near you that can provide a place of acceptance and can nurture your faith. Especially, find a church that provides nurturing in God’s word—the Bible—so you learn more about how to glorify God and enjoy Him.

May God strengthen you in your new faith and your continued growth so that He will be glorified in your life and so that you will experience the peace of His blessing!
 

(1) Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11, all Bible quotes are from the New American Standard Bible unless indicated otherwise)   (Back to text)

(2) For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:25)   (Back to text)

(3) “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)   (Back to text)

(4) “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.” (Galatians 5:19-20, NIV)   (Back to text)

(5) “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.” (James 3:9)   (Back to text)

(6) “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)   (Back to text)

(7) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) “And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)   (Back to text)

(8) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

(Back to text)

(9) “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2)   (Back to text)

(10) “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.” (Romans 6:17)   (Back to text)

(11) “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)   (Back to text)

(12) “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’” (Mark 9:24) “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and be planted in the sea”; and it would obey you.’” (Luke 17:5-6)   (Back to text)

Telephone

903-342-1800     if no answer 903-629-3034

Physical address

720 East Coke Road, Winnsboro, TX 75494      MAP IT

Send mail to  info@winnsboro-reformed.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 01/17/08