Theological Seminar on Studying the Bible, "Welcome to the Family!" (Pastoral Emphasis for 8/10)

You asked for it! Dr. Ben Merkle, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, is returning to teach part 2 of "How to Study the Bible." Join us for this theological seminar on Saturday, August 23rd, from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Come out and learn how to properly read and study Scripture. Light refreshments will be served. Please register for the seminar online.

Sunday afternoon, the Men's choir and I traveled to Virginia for my speaking engagement at Lovingston Baptist Church for their Family and Friends Day. Thank you all for your prayers as we were able to travel to and from and have a great service.

My text was John 8:31-38 with the subject "Welcome to the Family". Sin is a harsh slave master that oppresses and tortures us. And ultimately sin kills us (for the wages of sin is death). What we need is liberation. We need freedom but we cannot free ourselves. Christ is our great liberator and redeemer who sets believers free from the bondage of sin!

But freedom from sin is applied to you when two conditions exist: belief and abiding. You must believe in Jesus. You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came in the flesh, He died to pay your debt for your sins in your place on the Cross, and He rose from the dead. You must abide in Christ. All true believers will abide and endure to the end. Believers endure to the end not because of themselves but because of Jesus who will keep them until the end. The result of believing and abiding is to know the truth and the truth will set you free. A true and obedient disciple will know the truth by knowing the One who is the truth. The truth is a person and that person is Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. Are you a slave or are you free? Do you have a permanent place in God’s family? Jesus is the true Son and seed of Abraham. He remains in the house and in fact is over it. People can become truly free by becoming sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Welcome to the family!

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