Watching the old movie of Will Rogers, called Roping Fool, gives us a bigger picture of the way sin ties us up. One trick he performed was throwing three ropes at the same time at a cowboy on a running horse.  Long ropes, short ropes, soft ropes, small ropes, Rogers mastered the use of each.  And that is exactly what the Bible tells us that sins does.  Two sins that cause bondage in a Christian are condemnation and confession.  In the body of Christ there is usually too much condemnation and not enough confession. The sins of condemnation and not confessing are like Rogers throwing two lopes and each one catching a different part of our soul.

First is condemnation. 

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The guilt of our past and never reaching the perfection we expect of our selves ties us up, paralyzing our spiritual growth.  Jesus Christ never condemns his kids and it is wrong when we live in guilt over what we are or what we have done.  God hates sin, but is incredibly patient with His kids that are sincerely trying to obey Him.  

Second is confession. 

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Within the body of Christ, confession is avoided.  We are told to confess our sins, so that we may be healed.  (James 5:16)  Often, we don’t like to admit we are sinners.  (1 John 1)  Too often when someone is told they need to confess their sins, they stiffen their back and become defensive saying, “I’m trying to be a good person, isn’t that enough?”  Perhaps the reason for this is because we are so full of self condemnation we can’t deal with anymore things that we’ve done wrong.  Or there is always pride keeping us from admitting how much we have goofed.  Often it is easier to blame someone else than accept the responsibility of our actions.  To be free in God’s kingdom, we must get tough, face the facts, and accept and acknowledge when we are wrong!

In our spiritual lives, we have responsibilities and God has responsibilities.  It is freeing to know whose job is what.  There are some things we can’t do!  This is hard for many of us independent cowboy types who live life cowboying up, bearing down and getting the job done.  The truth is, no matter how tough we think we are, we can’t kick ourselves free from sin and the mess it causes in our lives.  That’s God’s job.  Jesus saves and forgives.  The Holy Spirit comes along side and gives the comfort, counsel, and teaching we need.  Strength to persevere and not give up in our spiritual lives comes from our tight relationship with God.  No matter how busy or how bad we think we have been we have to go to God, fall in his lap, cry, confess, or rest, never drawing away.

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.  God who calls you, is faithful, He will do this.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

God’s job is to make us holy in every way.  He wants to do this work in us.  He wants to give us the strength, comfort and guidance necessary to become blameless.  Our loving God is faithful and will never leave us.  He will never quit on us, His perseverance is endless.  (Philippians 1:6)  He never quits working on our behalf, no matter what.  (Romans 8:28)

Be encouraged, be strengthened.  When we know we aren’t perfect and sin, we are on our way to freedom.  When we get the strength from God to freely admit we’ve blown it, we’ve taken the next step.  The last step is to make the choice to get tight with God and let nothing come between us and our relationship with Him.  Your Freedom in Christ is on its way.



At one time we too​

were foolish,
Disobedient,
Deceived
and Enslaved
by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
We lived in malice and envy,
being hated
and hating one another.
But
when the kindness and love of God our Savior
appeared,
He saved us,
not because
of righteous things
we had done,
but because
of His mercy.
Titus 3:3-5