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Living In Grace

A Christ inspired work dealing with American Christian Culture in the New Century.

Monday, June 27, 2011

The United State of Man

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Patrick Henry, 1775

We in America have a long history of autonomy, rugged individualism, pragmatism, and the pull yourself up by your bootstraps mentality that many ( not all ) relate to.  We want to be our own person, do our own thing, and go our own way without the government, our elders, or any authority directing our actions or limiting our " freedom ", but are we truly free?

Romans 8:19-21 (NASB)

19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

The very creation that we live in is bound in slavery to corruption because of the hope ( not hope unseen or without cause ) that it will one day be freed into the glory that accompanies the children of God.  It actually groans waiting upon its redemption from the curse that it was subjected to at the Fall of Man.  The dirt brings forth thorns and thistles and we only eat by the sweat of our brow.  We are not free and never were to laze about without tending to the things that God originally set before Adam.  We must work to eat and eat to live as it is the natural order of things in this world.

Romans 3: 9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written,
   “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

Not only the created order but we ourselves are subject to the Fall and the resultant sin.  We are all shut up under sin, bound to unrighteousness, and apart from the goodness of God.  We are
  • Slaves to sin: John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
  • Dead in sin: Ephesians 2:1 and you were dead in your trespasses and sins
  • Humanity is blind: 2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
  • We all were children of wrath:  Ephesians 2:3 them  we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
  • We suppress the Truth: Romans 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness
We are slaves to our nature which are contrary to God and it is not something that is found without but rather within us. 

James 1:14-16 (NASB)

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

It touches every aspect of sinful man's life rendering him dead in the flesh and unable to please God.  We wear our chains proudly while touting the freedom we do not have.
  • The freedom to kill the unborn
  • The freedom to redefine marriage
  • The freedom to go along to get along
  • The freedom lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead
  • The freedom to neglect others because of our love of self
  • The freedom to squeeze our eyes tightly shut against the evil swirling about us
  • The freedom to abandon families and homes
  • The freedom to call evil good and good evil
  • The freedom to reinterpret the Word of God
  • The freedom to gather teachers around us to tickle our ears
  • The freedom to heap condemnation upon ourselves before a Holy Judge
We are free to do what is within our natures to do.   Or rightly stated we are bound to the depravity in which we are born.  We are not free.  We drown our cares in substances that do not fill, in relationships that tear down rather than edify, and we chase headlong after the sins that mock and destroy us.  That is not freedom.  That is slavery.  Slavery to selfish and loathsome desires that separate us from the Righteousness of God.  If the good deeds that we do while in this flesh are as filthy rags how severely do you think Christ will judge us in our corruption?

We are lost not misguided.  We are not sick  but dead.  We are not merely in the shadows we are blind.

Romans 7:24
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Romans 7:25 (NASB)

 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Mark@3-foldCord said...

Excellent post here Luther!

I learned long ago that man devoid of God is wicked and wretched in all his ways. The illusion of freedom is what ultimately binds many. For the reality is: we all serve someone or something. The freedom found in Jesus Christ is the one thing that can free us from the shackles of sin and the worlds system. The hoodwink of sin is something many are reluctant to shed.

June 28, 2011 at 11:05 AM  
Anonymous Luther@Living In Grace said...

Mark,

anyone who denies the sinfulness of man has never watched the evening news have they.  As you said we all will serve others, self, or God.  The seasonal pleasure of sin has a firm hold on humanity.

June 28, 2011 at 2:57 PM  
Anonymous Duane Scott said...

Mark, what you said about we all serve something is so true. I'm thankful my Something is God because it used to not be. 

June 28, 2011 at 5:37 PM  

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