Forgiven and Set Free Episode 7 - Steps to Freedom

Welcome back, y'all. We're getting to the good stuff right here, and we are so happy you are continuing this journey with us. And because we are getting to the really good stuff, we want you to make sure that you really understand all of it. So if you are just joining us for the first time, I want you to go back to episode one and watch these in order, because each episode builds on the one before, and we want you to get the full experience. That's so true. Please go back to the episode, first episode. Okay. In the last episode, we talked about forgiveness and what it costs and how it frees us. So today we are going to talk about freedom, but not as something that we achieve, but as something that has already been accomplished. That's so good. Before we begin, I want to say something clearly to y'all. Today is a special day. It is a clear and intimate invitation to accept the gospel. Look, this doesn't mean to be rushed, nor are we forcing you. And you know what? It doesn't matter how you feel in this moment. Let me read a verse to you real quick. Romans 10, 13 says, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That means you too. Look, if today is not your day, that is okay. Our God is so patient. Let's pray. Father God, we long for truth and we long for our hearts to be at rest. Your word tells us that you are greater than our hearts. Would you search us?

Would you draw us close? Would you lead us into truth today? We ask all of this in the name of Jesus, amen and amen. In the last episode, you were invited to write a letter to a woman who has an abortion in her past. Many women discover something that's really unexpected when they do that. The compassion that they offered, the grace that was spoken, the truth that they wrote. These are often things that we needed to hear ourselves. This is what God wanted them to hear, wanted you to hear. It's not a coincidence. So in John 14, 26, we are told the Holy Spirit will teach you all things and will remind you of everything that I have said to you. God speaks personally, gently, intimately, and he speaks with purpose. Look, everything we've talked about, grief, anger, forgiveness, leads us to this one central truth. We cannot heal ourselves. I always tell Jill, we can't fix people, nor can we fix ourselves. Romans 3, 23 tells us, for all, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That includes you, Jill, and myself. Sin isn't just about what we've done. It's about separation. All right, so here's the problem. Romans 6, 23 says, for the wages of sin is death. Death. That's what we get paid. Wages are earned, and that cause is more than any of us can pay. Okay, that's the bad news. But Romans 6, 23 doesn't end there. It continues. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Romans 5, 8 tells us, God demonstrated his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up. Isn't that great news? On the cross, he paid it all. The debt is paid. It's paid in full. Amen. We want y'all to hear from Peanut again, as she talks about the moment the gospel became personal for her and freedom became real. It's like I finally, for the first time, was able to start speaking about everything from my past. I was never able, before this, to talk about things that I had been through, how things made me feel. I didn't get to talk about my shame, my guilt, my anger, and I was able to share my anger with the Lord. I was able to give that to Him, and He was able to show me how to let it go and to not allow the root of bitterness to take root inside of me and make me bitter and miserable, and I was able to forgive and let go. You know, forgiveness is not an idea. It's a person, Jesus Christ. Romans 10, 9, and 10 says, if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and you believe in your heart

that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. If today you are ready to receive Christ or you're ready to return to Him, we invite you to take that step. Repeat after me. God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I deserve death and punishment, but today I accept the sacrifice of Jesus for my sins. Come into my life, change me, transform me, renew me, make me a new creation. I accept you as my Savior and as my leader. In Jesus' name, amen. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see an Accept Christ button. If you're ready, I want you to press that button to declare that you made a decision to follow Jesus. This decision matters. You are not alone. So let's go right now and let's pray. Perhaps today, you just made a decision for Christ. Maybe your first one, maybe you're coming back to Him. He is so glad that you've done that, and we are so glad that you've done that. Please do not walk this alone. Let your chaplain know, let them walk with you and help you with your next steps. Let's go ahead and pray. Father God, you are so good to us. We thank you for the finished work of Christ on the cross.

We thank you, Lord God, that it doesn't require our effort, but it's all yours. And we ask you, Lord God, we thank you, Lord God, that we don't have to do it by our strength, but it's done by your grace. Father God, as we continue to just walk through the freedom that we have in Christ, walk with each one of us in each step that we have as we move forward in our faith in Jesus Christ. We ask all of this in His holy name. Amen and amen. And this is so intimate and serious to me that I may get emotional, so excuse me. But whether you made a decision today or not, hear this clearly. God's invitation remains open to you. Here's the beautiful thing. His grace does not expire. There's no expiration date. And His love does not diminish. When you're ready, continue to the next episode. And we'll be here to talk about your child and how God sees him. Listen, you are seen, you are loved, and freedom is possible. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪