Trading in the Grave Clothes for Grace Clothes
Steve Wagers
John 11:44
INTRODUCTION:
In May 1924, a shocked nation learned that two men, Richard Leopold, and Nathan Loeb, from Chicago, had killed 14 year old Bobbie Franks. What made the crime so shocking, and made the two men such household names was the reason for the crimes. The two men became obsessed with committing the perfect crime, and picked young Franks as their victim. They were both sentenced to life in prison, but Leopold was killed in a prison brawl in 1936. However, claiming that he wanted a chance to find "redemption for himself and a chance to help others", Nathan Loeb became a hospital technician at his parole in 1958. He died in 1971, but in his autobiography he wrote, "Serving that time in prison, taught me how precious, and how priceless freedom really is!" 1
I am convinced that one of the most blessed truths in the life of a Christian is that we've been set free through the atoning work of Christ. As a matter of fact, many times throughout the pages of God's Word, He informs us of our freedom. In John 8:32, we're told, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." In John 8:36, we read, "If the Son therefore make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Paul admonished us in Galatians 5:1 to "Stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
However, as you know, in our day, there are two extremes of this issue. One is Legalism, where you can't tie your shoe unless someone says AMEN! The other is Libertinism, where the motto is, "Anything Goes!" However, in the life of a believer, I believe that you'll find that there is a blessed medium that allows us to live in freedom and liberty. I like how Peter Marshall said it, when he said, "Lord, help us to see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right!" 2
Yet ...
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