Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Chain-Breaker of Agape-Love: Call to Take up the Legacy of Christ in Breaking the Chains of the Oppressed





·         Christ came to rescue humanity from our Enemies
o   “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He has come to help and has redeemed His people. For He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from long ago, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember His holy covenant – the oath that He swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him for as long as we live. And you, child [John the Baptist], will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:68-79).
§  Jesus Christ came to save humanity and bring us into peace with God. To save humanity from what? Our enemies. Yet who is our enemy? Is it God who is our enemy and hates us? No. According to the passage this salvation comes from God as an act of love not of hate (John 3:16-17). Even though humanity had become enemies rebelling against God’s will, God in His love for us sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to set us free (Rom 5:8-10). So who is the enemy of humanity that seeks to keep humanity from living without fear in holiness and righteousness before God?