Whether we realize it or not, earth is a prison. It seems funny to be living in a prison and not even realize it. There is a time coming when there will be a pardon for the inmates. Do we unintentionally attempt to put each other back into prison? What we will see is that there are different prisons mentioned and releases at different times. If we had an ant farm, the ants in our little clear plastic case would not realize there was an entire world outside of those plastic walls. We are essentially the same as ants in that we are imprisoned as Isaiah and Jesus both mentioned. The Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and Prophets understood our plight in the same way. They believed that we were bound for someplace better. Souls and Spirit are immortal and will either be set free from our bondage or put into further bondage. We are awaiting our final release by ransom. Meanwhile Christ set us free from the curse of the law, and we are free in Him, but there are some who insist on pronouncing judgment on others from their own personal morality. There are others who build prisons outside the POW camp. Paul fills us in on this understanding.
The Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and Prophets looked forward to the day that their real lives could begin. We studied the subject of death and the philosophies of this time period a while back. Let’s re-read Josephus regarding the Essenes.
Wars of the Jews 2:8:11. For their doctrine is this: That bodies are corruptible, and that the matter they are made of is not permanent; but that the souls are immortal, and continue for ever; and that they come out of the most subtile air, and are united to their bodies as to prisons, into which they are drawn by a certain natural enticement; but that when they are set free from the bonds of the flesh, they then, as released from a long bondage, rejoice and mount upward. …..which is built on this first supposition, that souls are immortal; and thence are those exhortations to virtue and dehortations from wickedness collected; whereby good men are bettered in the conduct of their life by the hope they have of reward after their death; and whereby the vehement inclinations of bad men to vice are restrained, by the fear and expectation they are in, that although they should lie concealed in this life, they should suffer immortal punishment after their death. These are the Divine doctrines of the Essenes about the soul, which lay an unavoidable bait for such as have once had a taste of their philosophy.
The Works of Flavius Josephus.
The body is considered a prison and the earth is considered a prison. It was prophesied that the Messiah would do several things, one of which is to free the prisoners. The earth is a virtual prison, one we are set free from when we believe on Jesus. Even though we are no longer inmates under the current prison system, we live under the rule of one who would like to put us back into prison. Let’s explore.
As we have studied in the past, in Isaiah 61:1, the Masoretes took out the phrase “recovery of sight to the blind” so that they could continue to name people as the messiah and they would not have to heal the blind. Therefore all translations that use the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament are incorrect. Jesus quoted Isaiah correctly as noted in Luke. But our concern here is the pardoning of the inmates.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV) 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to
- preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me
- to bind up the brokenhearted,
- to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
- the opening of the prison to them that are bound; recovery of sight to the blind
- 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and
- the day of vengeance of our God;
- to comfort all that mourn;
- 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
- to give unto them beauty for ashes,
- the oil of joy for mourning,
- the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
- that they might be called trees of righteousness,
- the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The Messiah would have the Spirit of Yahweh and would be anointed to preach good news to the meek. That meek person who receives the good news, receives thirteen benefits. “C” above states that the Messiah will proclaim liberty to the captives. The word translated liberty means “pardon” or “dismissal”. We were POW’s until Jesus came. Now we can live outside the prison. However, the same prison warden rules the world, so while we are no longer bound inside the POW camp, we are still contending with the prison wardens antics and prisons on the outside of the camp.
Isaiah 61:1G4151Spirit G2962of the lord G1909is upon G1473me, G3739 G1752because G5548he anointed G1473me G2097to announce good news G4434to the poor. G649He has sent G1473me G2390to heal G3588the ones G4937being broken G3588in the G2588heart; G2784to proclaim G164[2to captive sG8591a release], G2532and G5185[2to the blind G3091recovery of sight];
164 LSJ Gloss: αἰχμάλωτος taken by the spear, captive to one's spear, taken prisoner
Dodson: αἰχμάλωτος a captive, prisoner a captive (in war), a prisoner.
Thayer:
1) a captive
αἰχμαλωτός aichmalōtos aheekh-mal-o-tos' From αἰχμή aichmē (a spear) and a derivative of the same as G259; properly a prisoner of war, that is, (generally) a captive KJV Usage: captive.
859LSJ Gloss: ἄφεσις a letting go, dismissal
Dodson: ἄφεσις deliverance, pardon, complete forgiveness a sending away, a letting go, a release, pardon, complete forgiveness.
Thayer:
1) release from bondage or imprisonment
2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty
2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty
ἄφεσις aphesis af'-es-is From G863; freedom; (figuratively) pardon KJV Usage: deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.
5185LSJ Gloss: τυφλός blind
Dodson: τυφλός blind blind, physically or mentally.
Thayer:
1) blind
2) mentally blind
2) mentally blind
τυφλός tuphlos toof-los' From G5187; opaque (as if smoky), that is, (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally) KJV Usage: blind.
309LSJ Gloss: ἀνάβλεψις a looking up
Dodson: ἀνάβλεψις recovery of sight.
Thayer:
1) recovery of sight
Notice that the word #164, aichmalōtos, means “prisoner of war”. #859, aphesis, means “pardon”. Jesus our Messiah came to pardon the prisoners of war. How is it that we are prisoners of a war which we are not even aware of? We have been held captive since the day of our birth and we do not know of anything different. Isn’t that a shame? The Messiah came to preach the good news that we have been set free.
Think of it this way. Our great great great grandfather (Adam) committed an act of treason, thereby enslaving him and all his future heirs to a usurper (the satan). We grew up in slavery under the prince of this world (the satan), but we didn’t understand that this was not the way it was supposed to be. The plan to birth an heir of our great great great grandfather (Jesus) who could pardon us from slavery was announced, but only partially fulfilled when the heir went into the grave and took back the keys to hell and took back the keys to death. The only place left under the control of the usurper (the prince of this world, the satan) is the earth. The usurper has no control over hell, death, or paradise any longer. So when a human dies, it is He (Jesus) who holds the keys that the passing soul meets. The next part of our redemption to be fulfilled will be when the heir of Adam (Jesus) calls up the saints. When the heir of Adam is crowned and announced as the Kingdoms of the world belonging to our Lord and Christ, Jesus will set in motion the last part of the pardoning of the inmates. It will be the day of vengeance or payback. We could say that Jesus has set in motion a prison break. Wouldn’t that make a great movie? It seems to have an overtone of an action movie where the POW’s are broken out of the prison camp, then they join with the one who set them free to destroy the prison system and political system of the evil oppressor.
Let’s read this section in the Septuagint for clarity.
Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; 2 to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompence; to comfort all that mourn; 3 that there should be given to them that mourn in Sion glory instead of ashes, the oil of joy to the mourners, the garment of glory for the spirit of heaviness: and they shall be called generations of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for glory. Marshes Septuagint
Jesus quotes this section of Isaiah. Jesus healed at least 10 blind people, maybe more. Jesus the Nazarene/Essene was teaching in the synagogue. He was formally educated among the Essenes, which took until he was thirty years old. It wasn’t like he just picked up a scroll and had never taught a day in his life. He was well educated at this time. But if we remember, Jesus was Bar Mitzvah’d at age twelve in the temple which was the custom of the Essenes, and then started formal schooling or first level schooling. Some people finish their schooling at twenty-one, but some such as Jesus and John continued until they were thirty years of age. John finished six months ahead of Jesus, declaring to people to repent and be baptized, and prepare the way of the Lord. Jesus left schooling six months after John. However, the Essenes did not normally teach in the synagogues. The synagogues were for followers of the Pharisees.
By this time, Jesus had just been baptized by John and then went into the wilderness to be tempted. After that he went to Galilee and then Nazareth. Jesus may not have been around Nazareth for 18 years, but he was well qualified to teach. Jesus walks into the synagogue and teaches the non-Essenes, or should we say the followers of the Pharisees.
Luke 4:15-22 (KJV) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
Hearing this section read by Jesus and then being told that it was fulfilled that day the people freaked out. They were Pharisee followers, not Essenes. They did not understand that the Messiah was in front of them. They, like the Pharisees, thought the word of God had been broken. They did not understand the ways and order of the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and Prophets, even though they lived in a place we are calling Nazareth. The Nazarenes and Essenes lived in rural communities, technically there was no city called Nazareth until later. The region stretched from Carmel to Galilee, technically a countryside. There was also a Roman garrison in the area. But there was no “town” of Nazareth until many years later. Nazareth was simply the land area between Carmel and Galilee which was home to many who were Nazarites and had taken Nazarite vows. But the Nazarites did not follow the Pharisees. There was a synagogue, but the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and Prophets did not build a synagogue, the Pharisees did. Now we can understand the people being resistant to this new idea.
Luke 4:23-30 (KJV) And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
Jesus calls Nazareth a country. However, there was another cultural oddity present at this time. The northern region of Israel was looked down upon by the southern region, Jerusalem/Judah. In between these regions was Samaria. The Assyrians repopulated Samaria with mixed people which made the southern people angry. They called the Samaritans dogs. The northern people were stuck in a cultural war. To insure their own holiness, they would travel around Samaria; going east, crossing the Jordan, and over the mountains then back west to Jerusalem, or west by sea. No self respecting Jew would travel through Samaria. But Jesus did. So the northerners near the Roman garrison were making an allegiance to the Pharisees and the temple, and attempting to be “liked” and “accepted” by the southern Jews. The southern Jews didn’t like Galileans either as we know from the Gospels and Acts. Therefore just because people lived in that region did not mean they took the Nazarite vow or were part of the Essene community. They were simply other Jews who were trying to be accepted by the southern Jews.
These people attempted to kill Jesus, but he just walked away. Now notice where he went. He went to another synagogue. Jesus was bringing the good news of pardoning the inmates to all the Pharisee learning centers. It seems that these learning centers were prisons and we might think that Jesus’ arrival opened the prison doors for people, but as we know not everyone left when the prison was opened. Today, there are plenty of people who keep trying to put others back into prison.
Luke 4:31-37 (KJV) And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
The Pharisees were part of the imprisonment. Demons were part of the imprisonment. The earth is a prison. Our bodies are a prison. Learning centers can be prisons. Jesus came to free prisoners of war who were born into prison camps. Mark records that John came with an immersion of repentance for the pardoning of sins.
Mark 1:4G1096John came G* G907immersing G1722in G3588the G2048wilderness, G2532and G2784proclaiming G908an immersion G3341of repentance G1519for G859a release G266of sins.
Jesus tells us that all sins shall be pardoned except for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we should not attempt to walk into that prison ourselves.
Mark 3:28G281Amen G3004I say G1473to you G3754that, G3956All G863[2shall be forgiven G3588 G2651sins] G3588to the G5207sons G3588 G444of men, G2532and G988blasphemies G3745as many as G302they should G987have blasphemed;
29G3739but who G1161 G302ever G987should blaspheme G1519against G3588the G4151[2spirit G3588 G391holy] G3756has not G2192 G859forgiveness G1519into G3588the G165eon, G235but G1777is liable to G1510.2.3 G166eternal G2920judgment.
They said Jesus had an unclean spirit, but he was filled with the Holy Spirit. How many times has one human said that about another human who may have been walking in the power of the Holy Spirit? It happens a lot. That is blasphemy and is un-pardonable. That does not mean the blasphemer of the Holy Spirit does not have eternal life, it means that they are going to carry the penalty of that sin with them for eternity. It is the rejection of the Holy Spirit’s power, not necessarily the Holy Spirit itself.
Jesus speaks about the necessity of his fulfilling all things for the release of sins.
Luke 24:44G2036And he said G1161 G1473to them, G3778These are G3588the G3056words G3739which G2980I spoke G4314to G1473you G2089while still G1510.6being G4862with G1473you, G3754that G1163it is necessary G4137to fulfill G3956all G3588the things G1125being written G1722in G3588the G3551law G*of Moses, G2532and G4396the prophets, G2532and G5568the Psalms, G4012concerning G1473me.
45G5119Then G1272he opened wide G1473their G3588 G3563mind G3588 G4920to perceive G3588the G1124scriptures.
46G2532And G2036he said G1473to them G3754that, G3779Thus G1125it has been written, G2532and G3779thus G1163it is necessary for G3958[3to suffer G35881the G55472Christ], G2532and G450to be raised up G1537from G3498the dead G3588in the G5154third G2250day;
47G2532and G2784[5to be proclaimed G19096in G3588 G36867his name G1473 G33411repentance G25322and G8593release G2664of sins]G1519untoG3956allG3588theG1484nations,G756beginningG575fromG*Jerusalem.
These are some of Jesus’ last instructions before his ascension and the soon coming Day of Pentecost. Proclaim repentance in Jesus’ name for the pardon of sins, and that is exactly what Peter started doing.
Acts 2:38G*And Peter G1161 G5346said G4314to G1473them, G3340Repent, G2532andG907be immersed G1538each G1473of you G1909in G3588the G3686name G*of Jesus G5547Christ G1519for G859a release G266of sins! G2532and G2983you shall receive G3588the G1431present G3588of the G39holy G4151spirit.
The prison’s we have observed are our bodies, the earth, demons, learning centers, religious leaders’ doctrines, and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. How hard is it to gain a release of sins? We gain the release by ransom through Jesus’ shed blood; then we gain the release, the pardon of sins because of his favor.
Ephesians 1:7G1722by G3739whom G2192we have G3588the G629release by ransom G1223through G3588 G129his blood, G1473 G3588the G859release G3588 G3900of transgressions, G2596according to G3588the G4149riches G3588 G5484of his favor,G1473
629LSJ Gloss: ἀπολύτρωσις a ransoming
Dodson: ἀπολύτρωσις redemption, deliverance
release effected by payment of ransom; redemption, deliverance.
Thayer:
1) a releasing effected by payment of ransom
1a) redemption, deliverance
1b) liberation procured by the payment of a ransom
1a) redemption, deliverance
1b) liberation procured by the payment of a ransom
ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrōsis ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis From a compound of G575 and G3083; (the act) ransom in full, that is, (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation KJV Usage: deliverance, redemption.
Favor is something we are given but didn’t know we would need. Just like a flashlight. We might not need it today, but one day when the electricity is out we will need it. Grace and mercy are different. Mercy is a pardon for intentional sins, and grace is a pardon for unintentional sins. Jesus’ blood releases us and His favor pardons us. Paul explains it again in Colossians.
Col 1:12G2168giving thanks G3588to the G2316God G2532and G3962father, G3588to the one G2427making us fit G1473 G1519in G3588the G3310portion G3588of the G2819lot G3588of the G39holy ones G1722in G3588the G5457light;
13G3739who G4506rescued G1473us G1537from out of G3588the G1849authority G3588of the G4655darkness, G2532and G3179changed us over G1519to G3588the G932kingdom G3588of the G5207son G3588 G26of his love; G1473
14G1722in G3739whom G2192we have G3588the G629release by ransom G1223through G3588 G129his blood --G1473 G3588the G859release G3588 G266of sins;
15G3739who G1510.2.3is G1504the image G3588of the G2316unseen God, G3588 G517 G4416first-born G3956of all G2937creation;
Paul explains our predicament well. We were rescued from out of the authority of the darkness and changed over to the kingdom of the Son. We changed our allegiance, and we now await the next phase of the plan, but our waiting is not in vain. We are awaiting for the number of nations to be fulfilled. We may be standing outside the prison compound, but the ruler of this world still attempts to push us back into the prison system. We should not attempt to become repeat offenders. Once outside we are still under the oppression of the prince of the power of the air, but we are no longer imprisoned by way of Jesus’ blood. Hebrews explains that blood cleanses all things.
Hebrews 9:22G2532And G4975nearly G1722[2with G1293blood G39561all things] G2511are cleansed G2596according to G3588the G3551law, G2532and G5565separate from G130blood-letting G3756there becomes no G1096 G859release.
Hebrews 10:18G3699But where G1161 G859there is a release G3778of these, G3765there is no longer G4376an offering G4012for G266sin
Because blood was the price demanded, blood was the price paid for our ransom. We were released by ransom, and where there is a pardon there is no longer a need for a blood offering. No amount of blood we can offer is capable of matching the sinless blood of the Son of the Living God. Therefore, since Jesus our High Priest entered into the temple with his own blood offering, there is no longer a need to make a sin offering. We are pardoned. Even the creation will be freed from the slavery of corruption.
Romans 8:21G3754that G2532even G1473[3itself G35881the G29372creation] G1659shall be freed G575from G3588the G1397slavery G3588 G5356of corruption, G1519unto G3588the G1657freedom G3588of the G1391glory G3588of the G5043children G3588 G2316of God.
22G1492For we know G1063 G3754that G3956all G3588the G2937creation G4959groans together, G2532and G4944suffers distress together, G891as far as G3588the G3568present.
23G3756[2not G34403only that G11611And], G235but G2532also G1473ourselves G3588[2the G5363first-fruit G35884of the G41515spirit G21921having], G2532even G1473we G1473ourselves G1722in G1438ourselves G4727moan, G5206[2adoption G5531awaiting] --G3588the G629release by ransom G3588 G4983of our body. G1473
1657LSJ Gloss: ἐλευθερία freedom, liberty
Dodson: ἐλευθερία freedom, liberty freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery.
Thayer:
1) liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation
2) fancied liberty
2a) licence, the liberty to do as one pleases
3) true liberty is living as we should not as we please
2) fancied liberty
2a) licence, the liberty to do as one pleases
3) true liberty is living as we should not as we please
ἐλευθερία eleutheria el-yoo-ther-ee'-ah From G1658; freedom (legitimate or licentious, chiefly moral or ceremonial)
KJV Usage: liberty.
Great, great, great grandfather Adam not only enslaved his heirs, he enslaved the creation he was to rule over. But now the creation has the same freedom of the glory of the Children of God. We are groaning, awaiting the release by ransom of our body. Our bodies are not healthy or whole, but one day we will receive a release from our earthly body, freedom from the bondage to this earth.
Because there is no longer an offering for sin which Jesus did for all of us, we are free. We have liberty. The accuser can accuse all he wants, but Jesus’ blood is our release for our ransom and our sins are pardoned. With that in mind, Paul asks a great question; why, he asks, is his freedom being judged by someone else’s conscience?
1 Corinthians 10:29G4893But conscience, G1161 G3004I say, G3780is not G3588the one G1438of yourself, G235but G3588the one G3588of the G2087other. G2444For why is G1063 G3588 G1657my freedom G1473 G2919judged G5259by G243another's G4893conscience?
4893LSJ Gloss: συνείδησις self-consciousness: conscience
Dodson: συνείδησις the conscience the conscience, a persisting notion.
Thayer:
1) the consciousness of anything
2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other
2a) the conscience
2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other
2a) the conscience
συνείδησις suneidēsis soon-i'-day-sis From a prolonged form of G4894; co-perception, that is, moral consciousness
KJV Usage: conscience.
2087LSJ Gloss: ἕτερος one of the
Dodson: ἕτερος another, different (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor.
Thayer:
1) the other, another, other
1a) to number
1a1) to number as opposed to some former person or thing
1a2) the other of two
1b) to quality
1b1) another: i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different
For Synonyms see entry G5806
1a) to number
1a1) to number as opposed to some former person or thing
1a2) the other of two
1b) to quality
1b1) another: i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different
For Synonyms see entry G5806
ἕτερος heteros het'-er-os Of uncertain affinity; (an-, the) other or different
KJV Usage: altered, else, next (day), one, (an-) other, some, strange.
243LSJ Gloss: ἄλλος alius, another, one besides
Dodson: ἄλλος
other, another, different other, another (of more than two), different.
Thayer:
ἄλλος allos al'-los A primary word; “else” , that is, different (in many applications)
KJV Usage: more, one (another), (an-, some an-) other (-s, -wise).
It seems like a rough translation, but read in context it makes perfect sense. If someone says “Hey don’t eat that food, it was sacrificed to idols”, it was not Paul’s conscience that was warning him but someone else’s conscience was warning him. Or in other words, a person giving a warning about the food, felt it was somehow unclean or religiously improper to eat, so that person warned Paul. Paul says that it wasn’t his (Paul’s) conscience but the other person’s conscience that told him not to eat the food. Paul asks why another person’s religious conscience is telling him what to do?
1 Cor 10:28 But if any one shall say to you, This pertaineth to a sacrifice; eat not, for the sake of him who told you, and for conscience's sake. 29 The conscience I speak of, is not your own, but his who told you. But why is my liberty judged of, by the conscience of others? 30 If I by grace partake, why am I reproached for that, for which I give thanks? 31 If therefore ye eat, or if ye drink, or if ye do any thing, do all things for the glory of God. - Murdock’s Syriac Peshitta
What a great thought. Why do we feel that we must be subject to someone else's conscience. Have you ever heard of the food dish “deviled eggs” or heard some religious person refer to them instead as “angel eggs”? How about a “pot luck” and here it called a “pot blessing”? Has anyone ever told you what to eat or how to eat according to what they perceive to be true? Has anyone ever told you that you are not really saved unless you do good works? Has anyone ever made you feel less than a redeemed, released by ransom, pardoned inmate if you didn’t follow the law? Well, our works cannot compare to Jesus’ blood, and our adherence to “the law” without a temple on the earth is ridiculous. No one can be pardoned or cleansed from sins other than through Jesus. The old things are passed away.
Doesn’t it seem that all the devil would like is for us to go back into the POW camp? We may have felt judged by another person’s conscience, but we should also note, are we judging others through our own conscience? Do we infringe upon the liberty of others with our conscience? Isn’t our conscience dictating to others how they should live, just as wrong as those insisting we follow the law? Isn’t that disregarding Jesus’ blood sacrifice? As Paul asks we should also ask, ‘Why is my freedom being judged by your conscience?’ We should also ask ourselves, “Am I judging another persons freedom by my conscience?”
2 Corinthians 3:17G3588And the G1161 G2962Lord G3588[2the G41513spirit G1510.2.31is]; G3739but where G1161 G3588the G4151spirit G2962of the Lord is, G1563there is G1657freedom.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. We are individually on a journey with the Holy Spirit. We have access to the throne of the Living God. It is not for us to be someone else’s Holy Spirit, and no human should be our Holy Spirit.
Galatians 2:4G1223And on account G1161 G3588of the G3920intrusions G5569of false brethren, G3748ones who G3922entered privately G2684to spy out G3588 G1657our freedom, G1473 G3739which G2192we have G1722in G5547Christ G*Jesus, G2443that G1473they shall reduce us to slavery; G2615
Jesus pardoned the inmates, and now there are people spying on others to put them back into slavery. Unbelievable. This spying was in the synagogues in that time period, while today the “spying” is in our churches. Spying out freedom is an intrusion done by false brethren to lead us into prison again. In the end it is all about money. Enslaving others is a money making endeavor. If we have enough slaves who follow along, we have money. If the slaves leave, then there is no financial support. So even while we are set free by the blood of Jesus and we are outside the prison, some build different prisons to corral the masses. Horrid.
Galatians 5:1G3588In the G1657freedom G3767then G3739in which G5547Christ G1473freed us, G1659 G4739stand firmly, G2532and G3361do not G3825again G2218[2with the yoke G13973of slavery G17581be pressed upon]!
Do not be pressed upon. Do not become entangled. Do not go back into the prison compound, and do not walk into a new prison. Stay free. Stand firm.
Galatians 5:13G1473For you G1063 G1909[2unto G16573freedom G25641were called], G80brethren; G3440only G3361not G3588the G1657freedom G1519in G874opportunity G3588in the G4561flesh; G235but G1223through G3588the G26love G1398serve G240one another!
14G3588For the G1063 G3956whole G3551law G1722in G1520one G3056account G4137is fulfilled, G1722in G3588the saying, G25You shall love G3588 G4139your neighbor G1473 G5613as G1438yourself.
We sometimes put restrictions on love. We love others according to our own conscience. If the other person fits our consciences’ religious model, then we love. If the person does not fit our consciences’ religious model, then we infringe upon their freedom. James says that we should speak and act as someone who is about to be judged by the law of freedom.
James 2:12G3779So G2980speak G2532and G3779so G4160do G5613as G1223by G3551the law G1657of freedom! G3195being about G2919to be judged.
James 2:10-13 (AMP) For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.
11 For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law.
12 So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ, especially about love].
13 For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment.
This should serve as a warning for us as we perceive others, as well as a time for rejoicing. We are not judged by one another, but by the law of freedom. Jesus pardoned the prisoners, but someone or something always wants to put us back into different prison compounds outside the main prison. We are not destined to live in this prison any longer. Keep in mind: mercy, forgiveness, and judgment is weighed and balanced. That means the amount of mercy we show others will be shown to us when we stand before Jesus. The amount of forgiveness that we show others will be shown to us when we stand before Jesus, and the amount of judgment that we impose upon others is the amount of judgment that we are shown when we stand before Jesus.
We have not previously noted the prison that sin puts us in. That is a self-imposed prison. We could say that it is similar to going into a private prison that the enemy established outside the POW camp. We may have thought we were going in for dinner and a show, but we soon realize that someone locked the door and we cannot leave. It is possible that once inside this private prison we do not want to leave. When we realize life was sweeter outside that prison we can use repentance to get free.
It is nice to imagine that once we walk out of the POW camp by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we walk into a beautiful field of flowers and rejoice in the sunshine, and life is peaceful and calm. But the devil is still the god of this world, and while we leave the POW camp, there are people who have established other prisons for us to enter into. We should ask ourselves, are we in prison? Are we free from the judgment of other people’s opinions and their religious or moral structures? Are we allowing ourselves to be free according to the law of freedom? And then on the other hand we need to check ourselves; are we judging others according to our conscience? Are we aware of the pardon that others receive? Are we establishing prison for others to contain them and enslave them? Jesus’ blood released us, we are pardoned inmates. We live under the law of freedom and we will be judged by the law of freedom.
