EVIL BURDEN

Acts 15:10-11

So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

Why did Christ come?

Romans 3:25-26

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

The truth is that if the law and prophets could save, Christ would need not have come neither would His sacrifice be necessary.

Hebrews 10:4-7

For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, 

“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.

You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.

Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”

The reason the Bible, (that is the collection of the Torah, the prophets, the account of Christ's life on earth, the letters from His Apostles and finally the revelation of the end time) is important is because unlike many other books that religious people claim to be from God is a mere work of one man. I used to laugh when I hear some discredit the Bible when what they rely on is the testimony of one person. How can the writting of a mere man who lived and died, some of them came as freedom fighters, some as communist, some just mere trouble makers now counter the testimony of multiples of prophets, kings, and disciples. Literally it makes no sense. (If only they know the origin of those books)

That is the danger of religion (it is man made), it is man trying to keep other humans in a sort of bondage, see they may reference God but not truly for the focus is actually carnal.

Luke 11:43-46

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces.

Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”

“Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”

“Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.

That is religion for you. However what did Christ bring:

Luke 4:18-19,21

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, 

that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come.”

Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Christ came to set us free, religion seeks to put us in bondage again.

Colossians 2:20-23

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,

“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?

Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Now Listen, does this mean that you go around eating unclean foods, wearing indecent clothes, speaking anyhow, living anyhow. NO. Listen you have been called into royalty, you live in a higher realm.

Romans 8:11-14

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

What happened at your salvation (many are not taught this) is that you are empowered to live the God life. Listen:

John 1:12 

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

You received power to live the God life, you are free from the power of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Glory to God.

See the nature of the Spirit that lives within you.

Galatians 5:22-24

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Does it mean you are not tempted anymore. No, but you are empowered, thus you declare who you are and resist any form of temptation.

James 4:7 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Hello, Christ has set us free, let no one put you in any form of bondage again, whether financially, psychologically, forcing ablution and all other outward shows that breeds self righteousness. For if you could help yourself, you would not need the Heavenly Father in the first place. He would not have allowed His Word, His Son to be separated from Him awhile to die for you and me.

Matthew 23:4-7

They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.

And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.

They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

Christ has set me free, I will not be put in bondage again. I will not put anyone in bondage. So help me Good Lord.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher