Journey to The Journey

One of the most often misunderstood, misapplied, and misused terms in Christianity is "Christian liberty." This generic phrase can be used to describe a number of different truths we find in scripture. However, it can be, and historically often has been, used as a badge of honor for immature believers to flaunt their licentiousness. So, what do we mean when we talk about Christian liberty? What does the Bible say about it? And how should we live in light of that truth?

Several years ago, I received some sad news on Christmas morning from a missionary friend of mine. Some believers in the small province where she was ministering, joined with their brethren around the world in gathering together to celebrate the Lord's birth. For most of us, this is a joyful time with friends and family. However, for these Christians, living in a nation that is closed off to the Gospel, there is the constant threat of persecution.

With all of these different thoughts and feelings swirling around, it can be hard to understand what we should take away from these passages. How does Acts chapter 12 point us to Jesus? That's the question we always want to answer when we engage with scripture, "Where do I see Jesus in this passage?" I believe underneath all of the emotions of the narrative in this chapter, we can see Jesus in a few distinct ways.

The significance of covenants (the Bible's term for God's promises) is a key theme throughout scripture. The formal process of tracing the progression of God's covenantal promises throughout redemptive history, as they have been revealed in God's word, is called Covenant Theology. Covenant theologians distinguish between two fundamental covenants that establish God's plan for mankind. First, the covenant of works, as established with Adam before his fall into sin; and second, the covenant of grace as established through Adam (after the fall), on to Noah, to Abraham and the patriarchs, to Moses, to David, and finally consummated in Christ.

When my children were very young, we used to do family devotionals that were designed to illustrate biblical truths in fun and creative ways that were both engaging and impactful for kids. A few of those, that were particularly good at accomplishing that goal, are still emblazoned upon my children's memories even now many years later. One, in fact, we were just recently talking about over dinner. Here's the scenario:

If you take the time to study the teaching of Jesus that is recorded in scripture, you will inevitably encounter something that he said that will leave you scratching your head. Cody touched on one of the "hard sayings" of Jesus in this week's lesson when he referenced Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapter 10. Starting in verse 34, listen to what he says:

The justice of God is not typically a popular topic. It seems as if we, as believers, seem to almost feel as if we need to in some sense apologize for God's wrath...as if the whole idea of it is somehow offensive. In many churches, the truth of scripture has been watered-down in an effort to make church more appealing to outsiders. We often seek to accentuate the gracious and merciful aspects of God while at the same time minimizing our own sinfulness, and God's necessary hatred of it.