Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE. Romans 6:15-18 read as follows:
"15 Then what is the implication? Should we sin because we are not controlled by God's laws but by God's favor? That's unthinkable! 16 Don't you know that if you offer to be someone's slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God's approval. 17 You were slaves to sin. But I thank God that you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings which you were given. 18 Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of."
The word "emancipate" is defined as follows:
". . . v.t. -pated, -pating 1 To release from bondage or slavery, or any physical or spiritual oppression or authority; liberate; set free. . . ." [ See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 315. ]
When one is baptized, by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of his or her past sins, he or she comes in contact with His blood ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), Romans 3:21-31 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, and Colossians 1:13-23 ( especially verse 20, for example ), for example ): this blood frees us from our sins ( see Revelation 1:5, for example ). Thus, when one is raised from the watery grave of baptism, he or she is simultaneously freed from sin and made a slave to obedience ( a slave who does what God approves of, a Christian - see Acts 11:26, for example ), as we read in verses sixteen and eighteen, above. The apostle Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ) teaches, here, that the concepts of freedom and slavery are inseparable: one cannot be freed from sin without also being made a slave to obedience.
The heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ), then, has never issued an emancipation proclamation to anyone. Such a claim contradicts what the Holy Bible teaches. We must all fear Him and keep His commandments ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13 and Romans 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 13:1-7 ( especially verse 1, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), for example ): we must submit to His absolute authority ( see Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:15, 16 ( especially verse 16, for example ), John 5:26, 27; 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ), 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 ( especially verses 7-9, for example ), James 4:7, and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ). Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
NOTE: Please read the Tuesday, June 30, 2015 and Thursday, July 2, 2015 entries, for example, to this weblog to find additional facts, with regard to what the Holy Bible teaches about the subject of slavery, for example.
