This being the 4th of July weekend when we celebrate the birth of the United States of America, I have been thinking about the concept of independence and freedom.
One of the definitions for freedom is the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic (tyrannical) government.
Romans 8:2 states “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Sin and death are definitely despotic or tyrannical governments. A fatal sentence on our heads. And what is the law of sin and death:
Romans 3:19-20: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
The law of sin and death is guilt before God and guilt before God is eternal death.
Here is the interesting point: Freedom from the law of sin and death is only valid if you know about it. A prisoner in an unlocked jail cell who doesn’t know the door is open is just as trapped as a prisoner in a locked cell. Until the prisoner learns the door is unlocked can he escape the confines of the cell bars.
Until we realize Jesus has destroyed the law of sin and death, we remain its victims. And that is the purpose of missions – to tell the good news Jesus has unlocked the cells but He needs us to reach them.
Without our mission dollars, our missionaries cannot spread the good news the cell door of sin and death is unlocked and they are free through Christ Jesus. What a privilege it is to be part of the Great Commission in such a tangible way.
#offeringthoughts
Copyright © 2017, David A. Zimmer, All Rights Reserved