Christians are God's ambassadors in a foreign and hostile world. We are strangers and foreigners and sojourners and pilgrims. We are not here to colonize the country or nationalize the Church. We are here to reconcile the rebellious and enslaved to God.
This means we are to set the prisoner free, to help them move their citizenship to heaven, change their allegiance, to lead them out of death and into life.
We do not use the weapons of this world to conquer God's enemies since our warfare is spiritual rather than carnal, and we do not use the devices of the world to force or entice men into God's kingdom of light. We do not kill those who are enemies of the cross, because we do not stand against their principles and we endure their attacks. We fight against spiritual powers. We do not use natural force or worldly means to bring God's enemies into a faith relationship. We do not spill other people's blood, but we must be ready to have our blood spilled in service to our King.
The slaves of sin are held in captive by beliefs, thoughts, culture, politics, fear of temporal losses and attacks, love for this world and the things of this world and the love of money.
Deliverance from sin includes breaking the chains that bind them.
Deliverance from sin includes coming alive to God and dying to sin, Satan, and this world system.
Deliverance from sin includes realigning loyalties, desires, worldview, relationships, habits, understanding.
Deliverance from sin includes breaking the chains that bind them.
Deliverance from sin includes coming alive to God and dying to sin, Satan, and this world system.
Deliverance from sin includes realigning loyalties, desires, worldview, relationships, habits, understanding.
It is not a matter of simply making personal changes: it is a matter of surrendering to, and yielding to the will of our new King, Master, Savior, Lord, Deliverer. We make this change because we love Him.
The entire world is held captive by Satan and sin. Therefore, those who are doing the work of evangelism are often confronted with resistance and then rejection. This is because people become attached to their oppressors, even when their oppressors are harsh and abusive. This condition is similar to, "brain washing" or "Stockholm Syndrome," only stronger and viler. People want to hold on to their heritage, even when their heritage is destructive. People feel obliged to their providers, even if the provider is a kidnapper or trafficker or holding them hostage.
God comes to us, offering nothing but good and eternal life, and delivering us from all evil and eternal torment. Yet people cling to that which is destructive and hate that which is redemptive.
This is the kind of world we are sent into with the message of reconciliation. Men choose evil, whether they love it or they fear what other men may do to them.
We set the prisoner free by shining gospel light into their darkness; by loving the unlovely of this world; by offering hope in the place of their misery, by proclaiming forgiveness to the condemned criminal; by telling them about life in the place of torment.
We are sent into the world to rescue the perishing, to reconcile the lost, to offer sanctuary to the oppressed and afflicted.
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