Freedom Through Faith in Christ Jesus

“Can we talk about something serious?”

“What do you want to talk about?” 

“I’d love to talk about faith in Christ Jesus,”

“Ok, yeah.  That sounds cool.”

“To do that, we’ll have to talk about our idolatry too.”

“Oh!  On second thought, I’m kind of busy right now.  Maybe later.”

Discussing personal idolatry is not usually a popular topic for conversations.  In our text this week, we see personal idolatry holding many of the characters back from the truth about Paul, themselves and faith in Christ Jesus.  What might be holding you back from living in truth today or from redeeming faith in Jesus? 

The Bible is clear that humans love to exchange the truth of God for a lie so we can live anyway we want.  When that happens, we are sinning against God.  Sin and idolatry are one in the same.  It has often been quoted that sin will take you farther then you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.  For such a serious matter, why is it so hard to talk about?  I think it’s because in the dysfunctional cycle of loving our idols we have trouble discerning the truth from the lies and our sin enslaves our thinking.

But thanks be to God, He grants us faith in Christ that will set us free to live in the truth!  Living in the truth means admitting our idolatry early and often.  It means claiming our right standing with God is found through Christ alone.  It means trusting in the judgment of Him who sent His own Son as the once for all payment for sin.  It means living by His Word and Spirit as He leads us on His way for us.  In this gospel cycle, we are compelled to love Him because He first loves us.  In Christ, we are free to live and love as we were intended by our Creator!

So while we read through the text this week may we see there is spiritual freedom available through Jesus that most deeply effects our physical existence.  Let us confess our idols each moment so our minds will be re-directed to the Author and Perfector of our Faith!  I mean why would anyone want to hear us talk about idolatry with them when we aren’t very good at facing our own issues with it.  May we be a freed people who are free indeed and can’t help but share the news of our Messiah so that other captives may also live free!  

Grateful and hopeful in Christ, 

Jon