Tuesday 5 November 2013

No Longer Bound...

I read a blog post earlier today titled Unlearning by Joanne Sher at An Open Book. I found it an interesting post given that becoming a Christian doesn't mean that we instantly turn into new peace-filled and holy beings; we struggle and toil and fight the enemy and the old ways of our sinful life.

Joanne writes in her post that "Almost the entirety of the seventh chapter of his book to the Romans deals with breaking the sin habit, if you will." So I looked up Romans 7, where Paul writes about the woman whose husband died and she was then free to marry again. Paul used that example to illustrate how when we die in Christ (accept Him into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour) we also die to the power of the law (see Romans 7:4).

This concept has always blown me away, and I know it's because I am a mere human and I cannot reinvent myself to be holy without God, without Jesus, without the Holy Spirit.

I. CANNOT. DO. IT.

So how can I do it? How do I release myself from being bound to the law of my past?

It's a testing experience to free oneself from the bondage of evil when living in such an evil world. The world that wants to bring you down by constantly reminding you of your faults, your sins, and your failures. And that's where a life in Christ comes into it. By prayer, petition, meditating on and memorising His word, by having it written on my heart.

Living daily in this evil world is a constant battle. It's easy to just give up and go with the flow, but that's when the Holy Spirit convicts me of the change I made in my life. Of the freedom that following Jesus brings. Of the reality that I have been freed from the bondage of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Unlearning a life filled with the habits of sin, the nature of sin that we were born with, is why Jesus died on the cross. It's why His blood was shed for us so that we can no longer be bound to the enemy.

Thank you Joanne for such a thought-provoking post!

2 comments:

  1. I'm honored and humbled that my thoughts would make you think - and write a post - like this, Paula! The reminder that we CAN'T do it only reinforces our need for Him. And that is NEVER a bad thing. :) Thanks again!

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    1. You're welcome Joanne! It was a wonderful revelation reading Romans 7. I'm so thankful that I clicked on your blog yesterday.

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