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Jesus Saves Us From Bondage to Sin |
2009-05-28 |
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Did you know that in psychological circles, toddlerhood is described as “first adolescence”? Obviously, the teenage years are adolescence, but much of what happens in parenting in the years between 18 months and 4 years is much like being a teenager. It is a battle of the wills
between parent and child. Toddlers and teens wrestle with their parents about who is in charge! The authority of the parent must be firmly established, and hopefully if in toddlerhood the parent’s voice is one of authority then theoretically teenage years should be a bit easier to navigate. Christian life is a struggle between us and
our heavenly Father. Who is in charge? Does God’s voice have authority over our choices and how we live our day to day lives? Scripture is the living Word of God. Jesus, in the Gospel of John, is referred to as the “Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. Many issues confront the church today. Some of these issues are to be taken up at our Synod Assembly in Sioux Falls and at the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis in August. Although the issues on the forefront are about human sexuality, they are at the core, really issues about the Authority of Scripture. Jesus tells the Pharisees in Matt. 19:4-6, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,’Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one
flesh.What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” The Church has always understood Scripture to teach that sex is a gift to be shared only and exclusively between one man and one woman within marriage. The fruit of this union is not only their own intimate joy, but the possibility of new life in procreation. This
orthodox understanding of Scripture is now under attack in our culture and in our church. Do we, like rebellious teenagers who fight
their parents’ authority, reject the authority of Scripture because we may not like what it says regarding sexual or any other conduct?
Any conscientious parent knows the importance, and the difficulty, of saying no. What does the authority of Scripture have to do with our daily lives? These are questions of obedience and discipleship for
us to wrestle with as we live out our call to life in Christ. We must know the Bible to come to understand its role in our lives. It is in God’s Word that we have guidance, strength, comfort and hope. Scripture doesn’t make us perfect people, but as we grow in God’s Word our faith and Christian life grow and mature. This is why Sunday School, confirmation and Adult Bible Study is important to feed a growing, maturing faith. So is hearing God’s Word in worship and feasting at the Lord’s Table. Christian life in a world of sin is a battle of wills. We want to go our own way. We want our will to be done and not God’s. We want the way of comfort and ease; Jesus calls us to a life of discipleship that demands sacrifice and suffering. Our rebellious nature seeks to serve ourselves, our wants, our desires. "We are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves." God saves us from sin in the death and resurrection of Jesus. God calls us to follow our Messiah, who became obedient to God, even suffering death on the cross for me and for you!
PS...Please remember to come to hear God’s Word throughout the summer... worship on Sundays at 9 am and Wednesday at 6:30 pm. See you in church! |
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
Click Here
401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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