The Gospel for LifeSample

Free at Last!

Getting Our Toes Wet:

Boa constrictors wrap their prey into their coils and constrict, shutting off the blood flow of their victims, hindering oxygen, and causing loss of consciousness; which stops the heart and kills. This is what sin has done – left us spiritually dead; bound in its coils, unable to help ourselves because we aren’t even aware we need rescued. But Jesus has crushed the head of the snake. If you are a Christian, He’s given you a heart of flesh to replace your heart of stone. You’re no longer in bondage, imprisoned by sin. You’re free to choose righteousness.

Diving in Deep:

God, solely by His grace, pulls us out of the muck and mire of sin and death and saves us. The term Jesus uses for it is “born again.” This supernatural work of God gives us new life. We are not like we used to be – chained to sin, held captive by it, with no inclination to please God. When our hearts respond to the Gospel, those chains are broken, and we’re free – given a new nature and a new heart, with new desires. More and more, we’ll want to be holy and pleasing to God. We’ll still war against our old sin nature, but now, the power sin once had has been broken. We’re no longer slaves to sin; we’re slaves to righteousness. 

The Holy Spirit lives in all believers, making it evident what is sinful, helping us fight our sinful desires, producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in us; and giving us the power to crucify our sinful nature. Becoming more and more holy like our Savior is a lifelong work called sanctification. We will never be totally sanctified here on earth, but a believer will see true transformation in their life. 

Back on Dry Land:

The Holy Spirit, that same Power that raised Jesus from the dead, gives us power to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.  We are free to say 'no’ to sin and choose righteousness instead. “He breaks the power of reigning sin, He sets the captive free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.”*

*O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Charles Wesley, 1739.