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Eileen Beckett

Blowin' in the Wind!

Eileen Beckett 3 min read
205 Articles
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Eileen Beckett
Eileen Beckett 3 min read
205 articles

Summary

Contrasting 1960s cultural idealism with biblical truth, the author reflects on how secular notions of freedom, peace, and love fall short without God's foundation. True freedom comes through Christ's truth (John 8:32-36), genuine peace flows from justification by Christ's blood and the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1), and authentic love is sacrificial and Christ-centered rather than self-gratifying. The author emphasizes that the Holy Spirit, like the wind in John 3:8, works invisibly yet powerfully in spiritual regeneration, transforming believers into new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What does the Bible say about freedom in Christ?

The Bible teaches that true freedom is found in knowing the truth and is given through Jesus Christ.

According to the Scriptures, true freedom is defined not as liberation from societal constraints but as emancipation from the bondage of sin. In John 8:32, Jesus declares, 'And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' This truth comes through a relationship with Christ, who says in John 8:36, 'If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.' Thus, the freedom we experience as Christians is a freedom to serve the Living God rather than returning to a life of sin. It entails a real change in our status, where we are liberated from guilt and condemnation, enabling us to walk in the light of God's grace.

John 8:32, John 8:36

Why is peace important for Christians?

Peace is central to the Christian faith as it reflects our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.

In Christian theology, peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a profound sense of well-being, rooted in the relationship we have with God through Christ. Romans 5:1 tells us, 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' This peace manifests itself in our lives as we navigate the complexities of the world, surpassing all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and offering us a firm foundation amid trials. It encompasses righteousness, joy, and the love of God, as described in the Kingdom of God. This lasting peace is vital because it points us back to the sacrifice of Christ and the assurance we have of His presence and grace in our lives.

Romans 5:1, Philippians 4:7

How do we know God's grace is effective in our lives?

God's grace is evident in our regeneration and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

The effectiveness of God's grace in our lives is demonstrated through regeneration, as the Holy Spirit works in us to bring about a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, 'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' This passage highlights that the presence of the Holy Spirit, likened to the wind in John 3:8, is the source of our spiritual rebirth. While the workings of the Spirit may be unseen, their results—transformation, conviction of sin, and a desire for holiness—are manifest in believers' lives, affirming the power and effectiveness of God's grace.

2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:8

Yesterday I listened to a variety of music from my younger days and Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits was one of the albums. Of course we all remember one of his greatest and most enduring of songs; “Blowin’ in the Wind".

In the sixties, the hippie generation of which I was a part claimed all the messages as their own, messages with deep philosophical meaning, messages that transcended all other generations’ wisdom and knowledge of what life and living was all about, or supposed to be about. Oh did we think we had all the answers of peace and freedom and love of our brother. However, they were all answers without God; I didn’t know that in the sixties.

I still like to listen to some of the songs from the sixties but I have different thoughts run through my mind when I do.

I think of freedom, not as in free from the establishment but in terms of Truth; “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free and if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 32&36) We are free from the bondage and servitude to sin and instead we are free to serve the Living God.

I don’t think of peace as there being no war and no killing but of the peace described throughout the bible, the peace we have with God through our Lord Jesus because we are justified by His blood (Romans 5:1). It is the peace that passes all understanding and to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Peace is not in meat and drink but in the Kingdom of God, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us what true peace is.

The Word also tells us how we are to love our brother and it isn’t at all like the love the sixties brought about. It isn’t in the idea of free love, being a free spirit and doing whatever makes you feel good. It is in the sacrificial love of Christ for His people and in His people when we begin to think more highly of our brothers and sisters than we do ourselves.

Mostly when I was listening to the song in the blog title I thought of the wind, not the wind that blows in the cool air, the Northern, or the wind that blows and causes the snow to be a blizzard, instead I thought instantly of the scripture In John 3:8 which says “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirt”. The Spirit is likened to the wind, where the wind comes from and where it goes cannot be seen nor ascertained; so it is with the Spirit of God.

He is like the wind when He comes in regeneration, we cannot see Him but as the wind is sometimes, this coming in regeneration is powerful and cannot be resisted. He brings his grace and we are born anew from above. And my thought as I listened...... thank you dearest Lord for the Wind, the Holy Spirit sent to me.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Co 5:17)

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