“So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where
they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it
and were glad for its encouraging message.” Acts 15:31
So what did the letter say? Why were the people glad?
In the early church, there arose a movement to put believers back under the law in some fashion. Convening what would become to be known as the Council at Jerusalem, however, the early church leaders decided they “should not make it difficult” for believers, for it “seemed good ... not to burden” them with works righteousness.
Whew! Two thousand years later, I’m glad too!
On our own, righteousness is unattainable; nothing within our human nature even approaches it. But when we discover the grace of God lavished on us through the miracle of “Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27),” our hearts leap for joy in freedom, because a righteousness unattainable through us has been forever gifted to us.
And Paul declared the great news of Jesus Christ in this one sentence: “I have been crucified in Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20” Jesus is our very life, so all he is, he is in us.
In this Confession of Freedom, be encouraged not only by what Christ has done for you, but also what he is and will always be – your life, and your hope of glory.
Confession of Freedom
By nature, I am captive, but there is no captivity in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is freedom.
By nature, I transgress, but there is no transgression in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is redemption.
By nature, I am fearful, but there is no fear in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is confidence.
By nature, I am inadequate, but there is no inadequacy in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is competence.
By nature, I am anxious, but there is no anxiety in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is peace.
By nature, I am weak, but there is no weakness in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is strength.
By nature, I am foolish, but there is no foolishness in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is wisdom.
By nature, I am prideful, but there is no pridefulness in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is humility.
By nature, I am despairing, but there is no despair in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is hope.
By nature, I am impure, but there is no impurity in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is holiness.
By nature, I am sinful, but there is no sin in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is righteousness.
By nature, I am condemned, but there is no condemnation in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is salvation.
By nature, I am dying, but there is no death in Christ.
Christ is my life. Forever.
(To read the story of the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15:1-35, click here.)
So what did the letter say? Why were the people glad?
In the early church, there arose a movement to put believers back under the law in some fashion. Convening what would become to be known as the Council at Jerusalem, however, the early church leaders decided they “should not make it difficult” for believers, for it “seemed good ... not to burden” them with works righteousness.
Whew! Two thousand years later, I’m glad too!
On our own, righteousness is unattainable; nothing within our human nature even approaches it. But when we discover the grace of God lavished on us through the miracle of “Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27),” our hearts leap for joy in freedom, because a righteousness unattainable through us has been forever gifted to us.
And Paul declared the great news of Jesus Christ in this one sentence: “I have been crucified in Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20” Jesus is our very life, so all he is, he is in us.
In this Confession of Freedom, be encouraged not only by what Christ has done for you, but also what he is and will always be – your life, and your hope of glory.
Confession of Freedom
By nature, I am captive, but there is no captivity in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is freedom.
By nature, I transgress, but there is no transgression in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is redemption.
By nature, I am fearful, but there is no fear in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is confidence.
By nature, I am inadequate, but there is no inadequacy in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is competence.
By nature, I am anxious, but there is no anxiety in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is peace.
By nature, I am weak, but there is no weakness in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is strength.
By nature, I am foolish, but there is no foolishness in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is wisdom.
By nature, I am prideful, but there is no pridefulness in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is humility.
By nature, I am despairing, but there is no despair in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is hope.
By nature, I am impure, but there is no impurity in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is holiness.
By nature, I am sinful, but there is no sin in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is righteousness.
By nature, I am condemned, but there is no condemnation in Christ.
Christ is my life, and Christ in me is salvation.
By nature, I am dying, but there is no death in Christ.
Christ is my life. Forever.
(To read the story of the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15:1-35, click here.)
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