At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release. Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release; Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it: Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. (Deut. 15:1-5)
In addition to letting the land go fallow every seven years, at the end of that year there was to be a release of all debts owed between the Israelites. Foreigners could be retained, but the children of Israel were to be freed from their debts every seventh year that the LORD might bless the nation, not only with eradication of poverty but also in the land. If the people would obey all that God had commanded, God would bless them and the land of Israel.
Because God had freed them from their bondage in Egypt and exacted back wages owed to them, God determined that His people would be free. The people could not hold a debt over a neighbors head forever but were to release them from their debt every seven years. God could hold them to the vow they made, but the people were to release their kinsman and not to complain about the loss. Foreigners who became indebted to Israelites could be collected and charged with interest, but the Israelites were under special dispensation of grace and freed from their debt to their fellow Israelites.
Just as Israel was commanded to obey God and release their neighbor, so we are commanded to forgive those who are debted to us, not only in action and sin, but also in obligations. The principle of forgiveness is not that we can go and continue in sin, God forbid, but that we remember that we have been redeemed from the bondage of sin and are now free from its penalty, growing in Christ free from its power, and one day with Christ we will be free from its presence. The law of liberty and the grace we have by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary gives us freedom, not to sin, but to forgive others as we have been forgiven and to be forgiven as we forgive others. Those in Christ share Jesus and His Gospel with others that they may be born again by faith and set free from the burden of sin by God’s grace.
God has sent those who are His and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Because God had freed them from their bondage in Egypt and exacted back wages owed to them, God determined that His people would be free. The people could not hold a debt over a neighbors head forever but were to release them from their debt every seven years. God could hold them to the vow they made, but the people were to release their kinsman and not to complain about the loss. Foreigners who became indebted to Israelites could be collected and charged with interest, but the Israelites were under special dispensation of grace and freed from their debt to their fellow Israelites.
Just as Israel was commanded to obey God and release their neighbor, so we are commanded to forgive those who are debted to us, not only in action and sin, but also in obligations. The principle of forgiveness is not that we can go and continue in sin, God forbid, but that we remember that we have been redeemed from the bondage of sin and are now free from its penalty, growing in Christ free from its power, and one day with Christ we will be free from its presence. The law of liberty and the grace we have by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary gives us freedom, not to sin, but to forgive others as we have been forgiven and to be forgiven as we forgive others. Those in Christ share Jesus and His Gospel with others that they may be born again by faith and set free from the burden of sin by God’s grace.
God has sent those who are His and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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