Saint Nicholas
Greek Orthodox
Church
San Jose, California
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©
1999-2006 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of
San Jose, CA
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
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Sunday before the
Exaltation - September 7,
2003
[Click here to see past Church
bulletin messages] FINDING TRUE FREEDOM BY BECOMING A SLAVE TO GOD Freedom is one of those words which evoke strong feelings and emotions. This is especially true for Americans living in the "land of the free and the home of the brave." The Statue of Liberty, standing proudly in New York Harbor, continues to welcome immigrants from all over the world who view the United States as a land of opportunity -- a place where they will no longer live in fear of oppression. The Scriptures, however, speak of freedom in a different light. To be sure, if we consider freedom as meaning "equal opportunity," then it is truly a noble state. But if we think of freedom as "doing whatever we please," we will find that, in reality, we are enslaved to sin, and not free at all. In his Letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul has this to say about freedom: "FOR YOU, BRETHREN, HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LIBERTY; ONLY DO NOT USE LIBERTY AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH, BUT THROUGH LOVE, SERVE ONE ANOTHER. FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, IN THIS: YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YOU SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH," (Galatians 5:13-16) If we are true followers of Christ, we DO NOT have the freedom to choose to embrace the evil ways of the world. St. Paul tells us plainly: those who live self-indulgent lives -- live based on indecency, jealousy, lewdness, hatred and other such things WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. On the other hand, those who exercise their God-given free will to choose to live according to HIS WILL will have their reward. Through baptism, we have been set free from sin. May we all find true freedom by becoming a slave to God. |
[Click here to see past Church bulletin messages]
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St. Nicholas Greek
Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street - Church
986 Chapman Street - Office
San Jose,
California 95126