Pensamientos sobre el Verso de Hoy
Gracia y libertad no son una licencia para pecar (Judas 4). El pecado nos esclaviza. El pecado es adictivo (Juan 8:34). Como somos los que hemos muertos y hemos sido sepultados como el viejo hombre con Jesús en el bautismo, no debemos permitir que el pecado sea nuestro dueño, ya que hemos sido liberados por la gracia (Romanos 6:1-14). Busquemos el poder del Espíritu Santo para limpiarnos (Hebreos 9:14) y poderosamente librarnos del pecado (Romanos 8:10-15). Utilicemos nuestra libertad para bendecir y edificar a los demás. Utilicemos nuestra libertad para ofrecer nuestros corazones y vidas a la obra de Dios.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Paul wrote to help the new believers keep their true freedom in Christ: freedom from trying to earn their righteousness through law-keeping (Galatians chapters 3 and 4). The law could not justify them before God. Only faith in Jesus offered them freedom to be all Christ had re-created by grace to be (Galatians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). They were God's children through faith, led by the Spirit to take on the character of Jesus (Galatians 5:16-27). We, too, must realize that since we are God's children, we have been freed from law-keeping and sin because of our faith in Jesus and our participation with him in baptism through faith (Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 6:3-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7). We must never return to justifying ourselves through works of any law, set of rules, or someone's religious expectation. To do so is to give up our freedom and return to the bondage. Paul begs us to rely on what Jesus did for us, not on works of the law. It is the cross of Christ and the empty tomb that liberate us from sin, death, and slavery to what cannot save us.
Mi oración
Santo y Justo Dios, mi Abba Padre ¡gracias por librarme de la culpa y poder del pecado! Dame poder y transfórmame con tu Espíritu para que pueda dejar mi pasado pecaminoso atrás y vivir una vida de carácter y bendición para mi familia, en mi trabajo y en tu mundo. En el nombre de Jesús, oro, Amén.
My Prayer...
Holy and Righteous God, my Abba Father, thank you for freeing me from the guilt and power of sin! Thank you for liberating me from trying to earn my salvation through law-keeping. I trust that you will empower and transform me by your Spirit. By the Spirit's power, I know I can now leave my sinful past behind. I want to honor your grace by living a life of character and blessing in my family, in my work, and in your world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
