Thursday, November 14, 2013

Man is Free in Christ, Limited Government or Not

"Man is not free unless government is limited. As government expands, liberty contracts." -- Ronald Reagan

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8: 36)

Conservatives are fighting from the wrong premise.

Liberty is not just the lack of restraints in our lives from the government, but freedom from sin and death which holds every human being in bondage from birth.

A new birth in Christ breaks us free from death, and in His life, and that more abundantly, we are free indeed.

We have this new freedom, this new life, as members of His blessed, eternal kingdom:

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3: 3)

Paul later writes about the Spirit:

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3: 17)

Man is a spirit, breathed into life by Almighty God.

When we understand who we are, and where we come from, then we stop fearing governments on earth, because we know and receive that our citizenship is in heaven, and that everyone of us is seated in Christ, at the Father's right hand.

We are in this world, but we are not of this world.

Let us establish this fully, people.

Jesus did not die on the Cross in order to make it easier for us to be of the world.

He has brought us into His Kingdom

"12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 
 
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Colossians 1: 12-14)
 
We are part of a  New Kingdom, so why do we live as if this world can be saved by our efforts?
 
Paul reminds us over and over that our identity, our status is in Christ, in heaven, in eternity:
 
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)
 
Most of us have too small an understanding of the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom is forever, and in Him and His Kingdom we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3)
 
For this reason, Peter exhorts us to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18), and that grace and peace are multiplied to us in our knowledge of Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1: 2).
 
Man is free not because there is limited or little government. Man is free because of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3: 17)
 
Instead of trying to fix the political forefront as the only front on earth, let us consider Paul's warm exhortation:
 
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)
 
Man is free in Christ, and you Beloved who believe on Him are citizens of His Heavenly Kingdom, adopted into His royal family, and so He invites you and me today to reign in life with His Son, receiving his gift of righteousness and abundance of grace (Romans 5: 17)
 
Stop trying to fix the state. Fix your eyes on Christ, and watch Him bless you, even in the midst of trying times.

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