Born to be free!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
This may be the best known verse in the Bible; some people call it “the Gospel in a nutshell”. I want to spend a few minutes looking at this verse, but more importantly-the message in this verse. God gave us His Son, so that we will never die; but live forever. I don’t mean a physical death because the Bible says that is appointed for man to die once, and after that judgment; but through Christ we can have eternal life.
I am a big fan of the 70’s-early 80’s TV Show M*A*S*H. I don’t know if I could or would recommend it, but I like it. Anyway, on one episode of that show, Hawkeye (the main character), says this; “There is none so free as he who has nothing to lose.” I am fairly certain that when that line was written the writer was not thinking theologically. In fact, I’m almost willing to bet my life on it; but if you really stop, and think about that line it has a very deep message.
There is none so free-!!!! As Christians we are totally free. John 8:36 says, “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” Because of our belief in Jesus Christ we are the free-est. people in the world Galatians 5:1 says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm, and do not again become subject to a yoke of slavery.” We are free in Christ, but we must keep that freedom, and not fall subject to a bunch of rules. There are rules and commands from Jesus that we must follow, but these commands are not meant to “weigh us down”, but through our faith in Him they are a way to show our love for Him and others. Galatians 5:13, “For you were called to freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ”
Sidebar-Loving one another and serving one another is a primary point of Yes, You Can Ministry because love without service is impossible. By that I mean you cannot love something or someone unless you do service for them. James had this idea in mind when he wrote in James 2:17, “Even so faith if it has no works is dead, being by itself”
As he who has nothing to lose!!!! As Christians we cannot lose. Let me say that again, AS CHRISTIANS (BELIEVERS IN CHRIST) WE CANNOT LOSE!!!!!! Several years ago Mel Gibson came out with a movie “Braveheart”. He played the part of William Wallace when Scotland won their independence from England. I don’t know how historically accurate that movie was, but there was one scene that showed Wallace (Gibson) on horseback talking to the army and he said a line that was unforgettable. He yelled to the men, “THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY’LL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!”
Satan and his demons may wreck my body with disease, paralysis, etc.; but they cannot touch my freedom because my freedom is in the hands of Jesus Christ. The closer I get to Him the free-er I become!!!!
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20
The image above from the web can be found at:
Yes, You Can Ministry 
FREEDOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
Braveheart is one of my all time favorites. I love what he says when he see’s the Scotts lined up. “I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny… What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?”
We can do all things through Christ, and the body of Christ, united, is a powerful army indeed…
As always, great stuff Steve.