"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." Luke 4:18.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1.
"Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free - not free to do whatever we want, for that would lead back into slavery to our selfish desires. Rather, thanks to Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before - to live unselfishly. Those who appeal to their freedom so they can have their own way or indulge their desires are falling back into sin...." - Life Application Bible, p. 2061.
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Gal 5:13.
"Paul distinguished between freedom to sin and freedom to serve. Freedom to sin is no freedom at all, because it enslaves you to Satan, others, or your own evil desires. ‘The flesh’ is not a reference to the body, but to the sinful nature that attempts to use our bodies to lead us into sin. People who are slaves to sin are not free to live righteous lives. Christians, by contrast, should not be slaves to sin because they are free to do right and glorify God through their actions." - Life Application Bible, p. 2062.
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." Heb. 10:19.
"The Holy of Holies (‘he holiest’) in the Temple was sealed from view by a curtain ...). Only the high priest could enter this holy room, and he did so only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made the sacrifice for the nation’s sins. But now, Jesus’ death has removed the curtain, and all believers may walk into God’s presence at any time...." - Life Application Bible, p. 2171.
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:6-18.
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Life Application Bible Notes Used By Permission. Life Application Study Bible © 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved. Life Application is a registered trademark of Tyndale Publishers, Inc.
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