Daily Readings from the Presbyterian Church USA:

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

RANSOMED FROM OUR ANCESTORS

Text: I Peter 1:17-23 You know you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors with the precious blood of Christ.

1. Prison

A. Place of fear, vigilance
B. We all long for freedom
C. Most of us aren't really free

II. Peter tells us of freedom:

A. Verse 17: "We live as pilgrims, not tourists

1. "This world is not our own"
2. Mother Teresa
3. Pilgrim has purpose/God's presence

B. Verse 21: Freedom is a state of mind

1. Jesus was always free
2. "Happy Expatriation" Travel Agency

C. Verse 19: True freedom comes from Christ
D. Verse 18:Many are imprisoned by the past

1. Our refusal to let go of grudges
2. Ancestors, lack of meaning

III. We are set free for a new life

A. Verse 23: We are new creations
B. Verse 20 Christ ransoms us: "LYTRON"

IV. We CHOOSE to be free (or not)

A. Many remain enslaved
B. Hebrew Passover – freed from Egypt
C. Christ is our lamb – our freedom

V. Freedom is in our hearts

A. Freedom has little to do with life
B. It has everything to do with God