There is always a lot of talk in our country about "freedom." Actually, what men do with the earthly freedom they have reveals that they are yet in bondage. True freedom has to do with God, our sin and our relationship to His law and justice. It is also a matter of the conscience. We are never "free" until we are enabled to worship God in Christ and ascribe to Him the glory for all our salvation. Only a redeemed, liberated people can praise Him. Only those forgiven of all their sins will praise Him as the God of all grace. Only an emancipated people can serve the Lord of glory. "And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me." (Exodus 8:1) All of God's elect have been set free from the curse of the law, the bondage of sin, the slavery of Satan and the power of this world through the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ. They enjoy the blessing and experience of that freedom when He brings them to truly believe the testimony of God's grace in the gospel of Christ crucified, the word of truth. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) Just as Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage by means of blood and power, so are all God's elect delivered through the redeeming blood of Christ and the work of the Spirit. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) Most in our nation, while enjoying earthly freedom, no nothing of that liberty in Christ! God be thanked for the earthly freedom which we in His good providence enjoy but oh to see Him setting those around us free from superstitious, works religion. Free from legalism that enslaves the conscience. Only by God enabling us to believe on Christ and only Christ, enabling us to rest in His finished work and to plead His blood alone can there be freedom to enter God's holy presence or to enjoy peace in our conscience. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14) He who made peace by the blood of His cross has set His people free to worship and serve God our Savior and given liberty and justice for all His people! Men may talk of freedom but there's no true freedom apart from Christ!

Gary Shepard

DEICIDE

"They kept shouting—Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Luke 23:21

The Word of Truth declares that "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). Men do not believe it—in fact most of them pretend the very opposite. Nevertheless, at Calvary—they gave proof of their hatred of God.

Not only was Christ unwelcome here—but men hated Him—and that "without a cause" (John 15:25). He gave them every reason to admire and adore Him—but they had an inveterate detestation of Him!

Multitudes go through the form of paying homage to God—but it is a "god" of their own imagination. They hate the true and living God, and were it possible—they would rid the universe of His existence! This is clear from their treatment of Christ, for He was none other than "God manifest in flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). They hated and hounded Him to death—and nothing short of His cruel death by crucifixion would appease them!

Here at Calvary the real character of man was revealed, and the desperate wickedness of his heart was laid bare. There it was shown, that man was capable of the blackest of all crimes!

As evil as man had shown himself all through his history—the coming of Immanuel to this earth brought sin to such a head—that all that which had gone before, was relatively but a trifling thing—when compared with the monstrous wickedness which was done against Love incarnate! In the treatment which the Son of God received at the hands of men—we see sin in its true colors, stripped of a disguise, exposed in its hideous reality; revealed in its true nature as contempt of God, and rebellion against Him. Here at Calvary we behold the climax of sin—and the fearful and horrible lengths to which sin is capable of going! That sin which germinated in Eden—culminated in the crucifixion! Here at Calvary, we see sin at it's apex—Deicide—in the slaying of the Lord of Glory!

"They kept shouting—Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Luke 23:21

Arthur Pink

Divine sovereignty and human responsbility lie side by side in scripture, often in the same verse such as this one: The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. Mark 14:21

JESUS CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. God of grace and God of glory,

Grant that we would worship Thee;

Thou hast gathered us together,

Now reveal Thy majesty.

Send to us Thy sovereign Spirit,

Speaking through Thy Word in might;

Showing us the bless-ed Savior,

Making Him our one Delight.

2. Prophet, Priest and reigning Monarch,

Friend of sinners, what a Name;

Word of God made flesh for sinners,

Came to bear our awful shame.

See the perfect, blameless Savior,

Bearing guilt, sins not His own;

Sacrifice of God most precious,

For His sheep He died alone.

3. By the blood of the Redeemer,

All our sins were washed away;

He arose and death was conquered,

For His sheep who went astray.

Saints of God bow down and worship

Him who purged our sinfulness;

Let us joyfully adore Him,

Jesus Christ our righteousness.

Jim Byrd Tune "LOVE DIVINE" 8.7.8.7. D

My times of sorrow and of joy, great God are in Thy hand; my choicest comforts come from Thee and go at Thy command.

If Thou shouldst take them all away yet would I not repine; before they were possessed by me they were entirely Thine.

Nor would I drop a murmuring word, though the whole world were gone, but seek enduring happiness in Thee and Thee alone.

What is the world with all its store? ‘Tis but a bitter sweet; when I attempt to pluck the rose, a prickling thorn I meet.