Release from Bondage
At Christmas we celebrate the Incarnation of God. God became a man, Jesus Christ, so that He could die for our sins. However, we often forget what else He did by shedding His blood and giving His life for us. He defeated Satan once and for all, and He released us from the bondage of sin and the fear of death forever.(Hebrews 2:14-15) Let's consider what this means.
Satan had the power of death over those who sinned. The wages of sin is death. When he led Adam and Eve to sin, they died, and that spiritual death passed to every person who was ever born, because they received the sinful nature which led them to sin. Jesus came to defeat Satan, so that he would no longer have that power over us. The verse uses the word "destroy." It means He rendered him ineffective. He broke his power. He overcame death, and now, He gives life to all who trust in the Lord. Also, He releases us from the bondage to sin. We are not simply forgiven our sins by trusting Christ. We are released from the power of sin. We can live righteously. We do not have to sin. We are free to allow the Spirit to fill us and to do the right things, instead of sin. Therefore, we don't need to fear death. Once we know Christ, we have eternal life. We do not die and go to Hell, separated from God. We simply go from here to be with Christ in Heaven.
This Christmas, I pray that each of us will have a grand appreciation for all that Christmas means. It was the beginning of the end for Satan, and it was the beginning of forever for those who trust Christ. That is why Jesus came down from glory to become a man and die for us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 3-5.
Satan had the power of death over those who sinned. The wages of sin is death. When he led Adam and Eve to sin, they died, and that spiritual death passed to every person who was ever born, because they received the sinful nature which led them to sin. Jesus came to defeat Satan, so that he would no longer have that power over us. The verse uses the word "destroy." It means He rendered him ineffective. He broke his power. He overcame death, and now, He gives life to all who trust in the Lord. Also, He releases us from the bondage to sin. We are not simply forgiven our sins by trusting Christ. We are released from the power of sin. We can live righteously. We do not have to sin. We are free to allow the Spirit to fill us and to do the right things, instead of sin. Therefore, we don't need to fear death. Once we know Christ, we have eternal life. We do not die and go to Hell, separated from God. We simply go from here to be with Christ in Heaven.
This Christmas, I pray that each of us will have a grand appreciation for all that Christmas means. It was the beginning of the end for Satan, and it was the beginning of forever for those who trust Christ. That is why Jesus came down from glory to become a man and die for us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 3-5.