Transparent Freedom

Via dictionary.com:

absolute: free from imperfection, complete, perfect, pure, outright, free from restriction or limitation, not comparative or relative, ultimate, intrinsic, positive, certain…

A grand debacle that has existed for decades: is there such thing as an absolute truth?

I questioned this myself for a very long time and believed that the answer was no because I have seen and experienced too many situations in life that would lead me to believe that people reason, act, think, and live in relative terms.

What is the gospel?

The good news that Jesus has fought the battle on your behalf and won so that you can be liberated from slavery.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

News of what Christ has done first and principles on how to live second.

Not primarily what Christ has taught, but what Christ has done.

Not watching Christ loving everybody else in spite of them, but loving you in spite of you.

The essence of every other religion is a way of life…this is how you should live..

For us…it is not this way, rather it is this is the life that has been lived for you.

How do we know it’s true?

1 Corinthians 15:3-9

The empty tomb.

Eye witnesses.

Changed lives.

If you create a “god” that is fulfilling to you, ironically he/she/it cannot fulfill you because you are the creator.

The only way to be changed or transformed is through a God that contradicts you and makes every part of your selfish, earthly being want to crucify Him because only then are you able to die to live.

What will be the fruit of our trusting and submitting?

Truth & Grace.

Truth

AND

Grace.

Moralism (truth over grace) leads to acts getting you somewhere vs. Relativism (grace over truth) leads to you choosing what really is “truth” if God really exists (and again if you have any control…you cannot be transformed).

Jesus was completely full of truth and grace…He was more absolute than any moralist can imagine and more loving than any relativist can imagine.

I’m so filthy that Jesus had to die to save me.

I’m so loved that Jesus was glad to die to save me.

There has been a battle fought and won on your behalf so that you can be free from slavery to sin and eternal death.

This is the absolute truth that will never let you down.

*Thank you Luke for encouraging me to listen.

*Thank you Halim for spreading the Word in God inspired ways (this was just my summary of his sermon from this last Sunday – you can listen to it fully here).

*Thank you Paul for your example and your words.

*Thank you Jesus for creating it all.

What is the difference to you between relative and absolute ______?