Okay. Por favor, vayamos a su biblia a Romanos catorce, vesiculo trece a dieciocho. Please turn your Bibles to Romans chapter 14, verses 13 through 18. Romanos capitulo catorce, vesiculo trece a dieciocho. Romans chapter 14, verses 13 through 18. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Así que ya no nos juzguemos más los unos a los otros, sino más bien decidir no poner tropiezo o acusación de caer al hermano. Yo sé, y confío en el Señor Jesús que nada es inmundo en sí mismo. Mas para el que piense que algo es inmundo, para él lo es. I know, and I am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But as I, brother, be grieved with thy knee, now walkest thou not charitably? Destroy him not with thy meat for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things severeth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. Verse 15, but if because of the food your brother is sad, do you no longer walk according to love? Do not make that for the food you still lose the one for whom Christ died. No sea, pues, pituperaro vuestro bien, porque el reino de Dios no es comida ni bebida, sino justicia, paz, y coso en el Espíritu Santo. Porque el que en esto sirve a Cristo agrada a Dios. Es aprobado por los hombres. Por favor, tome asiento. Please be seated. This evening, as we resume our study on the Baptist distinctives, and it's been a little bit, we come to the theme of individual soul liberty. In some ways, this is very closely related to the priesthood of the believer, which you saw, I think it's now almost two months ago. Esa noche, a reunir, a anudar en nuestra estudio sobre los distintivos batistas, llegamos a temer la libertad individual de alma. Under the role of the priesthood of the believer, We examined our privilege of coming directly to God in confession of sin. We're also reminded of our responsibility of pleading with God for men and with men for God. Individual soul liberty is the principle by which we as individuals answer to God for the decisions which we make. In the autonomy of the local church, we as a church do not answer to another group of believers for the decisions we make. We answer to one head, Jesus Christ. This is a similar principle. The believer is privileged, based on his knowledge of the Scripture, to make decisions which are consistent with his knowledge and his faith. However, as we will see in Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians, the privilege of liberty, as in normal life, comes with responsibility. Liberty is not a license to sin. This is a similar principle. The believer has the privilege of basing himself on his knowledge of the writers to make decisions that are consistent with his knowledge and faith. Sin embargo, como veremos en Romanos, Corinthians y Galatians, el privilegio de la libertad como en la vida viene con responsabilidad. La libertad no es una licencia para pecar. It's my desire that we will properly exercise the spiritual liberty which we have received. Es mi deseo que ejerzamos adecuadamente la libertad espiritual que hemos recibido. Spiritual liberty allows me to live according to my faith. Please read with me verses 1 through 3 of Romans chapter 14. Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye. but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Recibid ardebior en la fe, pero no para contender sobre opiniones, porque un cree que se ha de comer de todo. There is an issue where someone is weak in the faith, but both would be accepted. The one who eats is not to despise the one who will not eat. The idea is that you're not to look down on that person as being inferior in their knowledge to you. They're not a lesser Christian because they don't eat meat. The other person does not eat meat. He's not to judge the person who does eat. And verse four makes this very clear. Verse four. Who art thou that judges another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holding up, for God is able to make him stand. Both are servants, and servants are not the judge of each other. Both stand in judgment of their master. I keep losing my notes today, for some reason or other. ¡Ambos son sirvientes, y los sirvientes no se juzgan entre sí! ¡Ambos juzgan a su amo! Leave a finger here and look at 1 Corinthians 8. Por favor, de un dedo aquí y mire y vamos a 1 Corinthians 8. I'm going to use a pencil. I'm going to use a piece. 1 Corinthians 8. Romans chapter 8 verses 4 through 8. As concerning therefore the eating of those things which are offered in sacrifice unto idols. We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other god but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there be gods many and lords many, but to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit, there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with conscience of the idol, and to this our edict is a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But me commanded this not to God, for neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse. Primero de Corintios Pedro 8, Pesilo 4-8. Acerca, pues, de las viandas que se sacrifican a los ídolos. Sabemos que un ídolo nada es en el mundo, y que no hay más que un Dios. Well, although there are some who call themselves gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, for us, however, there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come, and we are for Him. And a Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we are through Him. ¿Pero no entorros a este conocimiento? Porque algunos, habituados hasta aquí a los ídolos, comen como sacrificado a ídolos, y su conciencia, siendo deleterio, se contamina. Si bien la vianda no nos hace más aceitos ante Dios, pues ni porque comamos herremos más, ni porque no comamos herremos menos. Here, Pablo gives a little bit more clarity on why the issue of eating or not eating meat is an issue. The issue is not whether or not someone ought to be a vegetarian or a vegan. That is not the issue at hand. Matter of fact, and I will go on record here, Except I'm not in Spanish, so good luck. There is a problem with the position of being a vegan, biblically. Es problema biblicamente con la persona solamente no carne porque es cruel a animales cuando come carne. Es problema biblicamente. The issue of eating at hand is that of eating meat which has been offered to an idol. Remember the issue in Romans and here is based on what we No. We know that meat offered to idols is still meat. The idol is nothing. It's not a god. It has no godlike qualities to be feared. El tema que nos ocupa es el de comer carne que se ofrece a los ídolos. Recuerden, el problema en romanos y aquí se basa en lo que sabemos. Sabemos que la carne ofrecida a los ídolos sigue siendo carne. El ídolo no es nada. Others, they struggle with this knowledge. When they see meat that's offered to an idol, it's to them offered to what that idol represents. Even believing that there's only one God, they cannot eat the meat. Otros luchan con este conocimiento. Cuando ven carne ofrecida a un ídolo, se les ofrece a los que representa el ídolo, incluso creyendo que hay un solo Dios. No pueden comer la carne. Who's right? ¿Quién está correcto? It doesn't make a bit of difference. No hace ninguna diferencia. Okay, come, alaba a Dios y come para Dios. Okay, no come la carne, alaba a Dios y come. Come otros alimentos. Ambos comen según su fe. Doesn't make any difference. The one who eats praises God and eats to God. The one who does not eat the meat praises God and eats other food. Both are eating according to their faith. Okay, pastor. This is an old issue. We don't have this problem today, right? Ah, es bien, pastor. Este es un tema antiguo. Realmente, no. Not really. Let me give a personal example, and you can make up your own mind on where your conscience is. Permitanme darles un ejemplo personal y ustedes podrán decidir dónde está su conciencia. Several years ago, a restaurant opened here in the village, and it is now closed. Hace varios años abrió un restaurante en el pueblo. Ahora está cerrado. When it opened, the news made a huge deal about it. It was front page news. It opened with sacrifices that were made to the pagan gods which they worshipped. Their opening feast was dedicated to their god. So I chose not to eat there. Not because I believe their god exists. It doesn't. But because they believed that God would give success to their business, I could not in conscience support the work of an idol. Others in our church, family, they disagreed with me and they enjoyed their food. They bragged about how good their food was. He offered sacrifices to his pagan gods. His opening party was dedicated to his gods. I chose not to eat them there, not because I believe their gods exist. It's not like that. However, because I believe their gods would give success to their business, I could not support in good conscience the work of an idol. Otros miembros de la familia de nuestra iglesia no estuvieron de acuerdo conmigo y disfrutaron de su comida. Guess what? In faith, I didn't eat. In faith, they ate and enjoyed their meal. Both of us did so with a clear conscience before God. I do not judge them for eating there, and I hope they didn't mock me for not. ¿Adivina qué? En la fe no comí. Con fe comieron y disfrutaron de su comida. Ambos lo hicimos con la conciencia tranquila ante Dios. No los juzgo por comer allá. Y espero que se borren de mí por no hacerlo. Diferencia de opinión. Now come back to Romans before we come back to this passage. So you can leave a finger. Darro en primero de corintios, ocho. Come back to me with, to Romans. Ahora regresemos a Romanos. Antes de regresar a ese pasaje. Vesículo cinco. El vesículo cinco. One man esteemeth one day above another. Another man esteemeth every day alike. Hmm. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. When I say, diferencia entre día y día, otro juzga y guarda todos sus días. Cada uno este plenamente convencido en su propia mente. Verse 5 and following continues with a similar theme. Now it's in regard to various states. Whether referencing specific days of the week, once a year is not stated, it could be referenced the need to keep the Sabbath still, or the Day of Atonement, or some other special holiday. Um, el versículo cinco y siguientes continúan con el tema similar. Ahora se trata de varios días. No se indica si se hace referencia a un día específico de la semana, mes, o año. Eso podría ser referencia a la necesidad de guardar el día de resposo, Both are operating in an area where there's no clear, direct command from God. By knowledge, the law commanded one day to be set aside for rest, remembrance, and worship. However, this was not reiterated as a command to the church. The church started Jewish and quickly became Gentile. You know, Jew and Gentiles. Gentiles didn't worship on the Sabbath. The early church appears to have set aside the first day of the week to celebrate the resurrection as is seen in 1 Corinthians 16. However, there is no command in the Bible that we must meet on this or that day, only that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. La iglesia comenzó como judía y rápidamente atrajo a los gentiles. Los gentiles no adoraban el sábado. La iglesia primitiva parece haber reservado el primer día de la semana para celebrar la resurrección, como se ve en 1 Corintios 16. Sin embargo, no hay ningún mandamiento de que debemos reunirnos en este día o en ese día, solo que no debemos dejar de reunirnos. En realidad, la iglesia determinó el día para la memoria de Cristo, el día para predicar la Escritura, es lunes. El problema para la iglesia, el mandato, es no The reality of the matter is this. We as a church can say, we're going to set aside Mondays as the day we want to meet to worship God, to remember the Savior, to preach the scriptures. And we can do so. En realidad, la iglesia ilustra reunirnos en domingo. The reality is that the Bible illustrates that the church met on the first day of the week, met on Sunday. But no mandamiento. It's not commanded. We need to understand that. Okay, so pastor, you're saying we shouldn't meet on Sunday. No, no, no. There's other reasons why I think we should. But I can also fellowship with believers that would hold to a different opinion. Pastor, you say no more communion on Sunday. No, no, no. Otra razón es porque yo creo domingo es el día mejor para reunirnos. Es posible para mí la comunión con otros creyentes con diferentes opiniones en esta área. Normalidad, otros problemas con otras personas. Okay. Normally there's other issues with that. Under the autonomy of the Church, we have set aside a day to worship. However, how do we treat that day? Is it a high, holy day so one cannot work? Is Resurrection Sunday or Passover such high importance as a day in which a person is not able to work at all? That is the faith of song. Es un gran día santo para que uno no puede trabajar. Es el domingo de resurrección o pascuar de tanta importancia que es un día en el que una persona no puede trabajar. Esa es la fe de algunos. There are some people who will not pump gas on Sunday. They will not go out to eat on Sunday because they will not work or call somebody else to work on Sunday. Others, they take time to go to services, not forsaken the assembling, and then they return back to work to come back out in the evening if they can. Who's right? Algunas personas que no ponen gasolina los domingos, ni salen a comer porque no van a trabajar el domingo. Otros se toman el tiempo para ir a los servicios sin renunciar al montaje y luego regresan al trabajo para salir por la noche. ¿Quién está correcto? Who's right? Yes. Sí. Quien es correcto? Si. So long as both are living by faith to God. Siempre y cuando ambos vivan por fe en Dios. Liberty is not earned by knowledge and faith. La libertad se rige por el conocimiento y la fe. Leave a finger here in Romans 14, let's turn back over to 1 Corinthians 8, verse 1. Now, as touching things off are done to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge? Puff it up. But charity edifies. En cuanto a lo sacrificado a los ídolos, sabemos que todos tenemos conocimiento. El conocimiento embanece. Pero amor edifica. In this verse we are reminded that our liberty to eat of meat is based upon our knowledge. In verse 7, someone who does not have that knowledge, do not eat. We're warned, knowledge, it puffs itself up. If you're not careful, you can make yourself think you are more important than you are through your knowledge. Back to Romans chapter 14, verse 23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. This is the conclusion of the whole matter. Whatever is not of faith is sin. If your actions are not out of faith, you are in sin. If you cannot eat meat offered to idols of faith that you're eating something that is pure before God, you are in sin to eat meat. This is an area which we tend to forget. Our society embraces liberty. but it does not measure up to genuine liberty. Liberty gives me the freedom to do. But it expects that I will use that liberty with wisdom and concern for another. Esta es un área que tendemos a olvidar. Nuestra sociedad abraza la libertad, pero no está a la altura de la libertad genuina. La libertad también es de la libertad de hacer, pero espera que use esa libertad con sabiduría y preocupación por los demás. Can you eat meat offered to idols? Yes. ¿Puedes comer carne ofrecida a los ídolos? Sí. Can you see every day as being equally honorable before God and work regardless of what the holiday is? Yes. ¿Puedes ver todos los días como igualmente honorables ante Dios y trabajar sin importar cuál sea la festividad? Sí. If someone does these things, can you judge them for doing that? No. Si alguien hace estas cosas, ¿puedes juzgarlo por hacerlas? No. If someone does not do them, can you despise them for not? No. Si alguien no los hace, ¿puedes despreciarlos por no hacerlo? No. However, there is another principle at play here, and this is where Christian liberty really works. You can't despise me, and I can't judge you. However, we must consider one another. In Romans, we're going to read verses 14 through 23. Sin embargo, hay otro principio en juego. Aquí y aquí es donde trabaja la libertad cristiana. No puedes despreciarme y yo no puedo juzgarte. Sin embargo, debemos considerarnos unos a otros. Lea los versículos 13 a 23 en Romanes 14. It's a longer passage. Let me read through it. We'll go back and forth between the two languages. Let us not therefore judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Así que ya no nos juzguemos más los unos a los otros, sino más bien decidir no poner tropiezo en ocasión de caer el hermano. Yo sé y confío en el Señor Jesús que nada es inmundo en sí mismo, más para el que piensa que algo es inmundo, para él lo es. I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that it seemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably? Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. Pero si por causa de la comida tu hermano es contristado, ya no andas conforme a amor. No hagas que por la comida tuya se pierda aquel por quien Cristo murió. In verse 15, but if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably? Destroy him not with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not mean drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved to man. Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. En versiculo 18, porque aquel que en esto sirve a Cristo agrara a Dios y es aprobado por los hombres. Así que sigamos lo que contribuye a la paz y a la mutua edificación. ¡No destruyan la obra de Dios por causa de la comida! Todas las cosas a la verdad son limpias, pero es malo que el hombre haga tropezar a otros con lo que come. Verse 19, let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For me, destroy not the work of God. All things in need are pure. But it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin. ni beber vino, ni nada en que tu hermano tropiece o se ofenda o se debilite. ¿Tienes tu fe? Tenla para contigo delante de Dios. Bienaventurado el que no se condena a sí mismo en lo que aprueba, pero el que duda sobre lo que come es condenado porque no lo hace con fe, y todo lo que no proviene de fe es pecado. I know that this is a longer passage. Let me summarize it if I can for you. The kingdom of heaven is not about whether you eat meat or not. You will not be saved if you do not eat meat. And you will not lose your salvation if you do eat. However, it is possible in your decision to cause your brother to sin. This is a hard issue. Are you more concerned for eating meat or ratifying your brother? Your liberty is controlled by your love for one another. Having knowledge that you can do something does not mean that you should do something. Having faith that you can do something does not mean that you ought to do it. Even in Corinthians, As we look at the ministry of the pastor, Paul reminded the church they were required to support the man of God. In his liberty, he refused that support from them. Ironically, while ministering to a rich church, Paul was supported by a poor church who met his needs. Incluso en Corintios, cuando miramos al ministerio del pastor, Pablo recorrió a la iglesia que estaban obligados a apoyar al hombre de Dios. In his freedom, he denied this support. Ironically, while ministering to a rich church, Paul was supported by a poor church that satisfied his needs. 1 Corinthians chapter 8 reiterates this limitation. 1 Corinthians 8 reiterates this invitation. Your Christian liberty is limited by your love for one another. Do not destroy the work of the ministry for that which is not essential. I would remind you, Christian liberty does not apply to doing that which is in clear violation of the Bible. This is in areas where there is no instruction or areas where growth in our knowledge of the Bible gives us license. Often standards would fall under this area. Les recuerdo que la libertad cristiana no se aplica a hacer algo que es una clara violación de la Biblia. Finally, turn in your Bibles to Galatians chapter 5, verse 13. Galatians 5, verse 13. Galatians 5, verse 13. For brethren, we have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh. but by love serve one another. Porque vosotros, hermanos, alibetar fuisteis y amarros solamente que no eseís alibetar como ocasion para la carne, sino servios por amor los unos a los otros. The church in Galatia was addressed regarding Christian liberty. from a different perspective. In Romans 1 Corinthians, the warning was exercised care toward others because of the readiness to use one's liberty. La Iglesia de Galatas se dirigió a la libertad cristiana desde una perspectiva diferente en Romanos y Primeros de Corintios. La advertencia era tener cuidado con los demás debido a la disposición a usar la libertad de uno. The church in Galatia, following the example of Peter, was quicker to surrender their liberty to the law. Remember, in the beginning of Galatians, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles? La iglesia en Galatas, siguiendo el ejemplo de Pedro, se apresuró a entregar la libertad a la ley. Recuerde, en Galatas, capítulo uno, Pedro no come con gentiles, cuando judíos arriben. They were not exercising liberty, but became strict in their adherence to the law. So consequently, in Galatians, Paul rebukes them for surrendering their liberty. However, notice the verse we just read. Liberty, then, is not the freedom to live according to our lusts. We are to use Christian liberty as an occasion to not, we're not to use Christian liberty as an occasion to enter into sin. Sin embargo, observe al vesículo que acabamos de leer. La libertad no es la libertad de vivir de acuerdo con nuestros deseos. No debemos usar la libertad cristiana como una ocasión para pecar. Liberty is the freedom to live in love toward one another. You do not surrender your liberty because you must. You surrender your liberty because you love your brother. Ar la libertad es la libertad de vivir en amor a uno por otro. No entregas tu libertad porque debes hacerlo. Entregas tu libertad porque amas a tu hermano. Aplicación, application. This evening we have spent some time looking at Christian liberty. It's something which we believe in as a church. I cannot guilt you into following my standards. You must live according to faith. However, it is inevitable that times will come when we will disagree on areas where there is insufficient evidence or in areas where deeper knowledge is required and acquired. Esta noche hemos pasado algún tiempo examinando la libertad cristiana. Esto es algo en lo que creemos como iglesia. No puedo ocuparte por seguir mis estándares. Debes vivir de acuerdo con la fe. Sin embargo, es inevitable que lleguen tiempos en los que no estemos de acuerdo en áreas donde no hay evidencia suficiente o en áreas donde se requiere y se adquiere un conocimiento más profundo. In those areas, we do not browbeat people to stop doing what they're doing to make us happy. We are not their judge. Nor do we force others to adopt our more libertine behavior. We cannot look at them askance, but rather choose to shower them in love. For us all, it is by faith. And we will answer to God for our decisions. en esas áreas no intimidamos a las personas para que dejen de hacer lo que están haciendo para hacernos felices. No somos sus jueces. Tampoco obligamos a otros a adaptar nuestro comportamiento más libertino. No podemos mirarlos con recelo, sino más bien optar por bañarlos en amor. Para todos nosotros, es por fe y responderemos a Dios por nuestra decisión. Let me close with one example. Permitanme cerrar con un ejemplo. I have a dear family friend who agrees with me on the matter of alcohol. However, their conviction is so severe that they will not enter into a restaurant that serves alcohol. I make a distinction between a bar that serves food and a restaurant that serves alcohol. One I will enter, the other I will not. I have a dear friend of the family who agrees with me on the theme of giving water. However, their codeine is so severe that they will not enter a restaurant that serves water. I make a distinction between a bar that serves food and a restaurant that serves water. One will enter, the other will not. First, no. Second, yes. When they visit with me, there are very few places in this area I can take them to eat. Go to a restaurant, and you're out of luck. We can go to Wendy's and McDonald's, maybe Burger King. We're stuck. We can't go to many places. This is how Christian Liberty worked with this family. In deference to them, I took them to a place where I believed that no alcohol was served. I did not realize that this particular restaurant, the New Windsor Cochin, served alcohol. And so we took them there. My fault. Upon entering and ordering, we learned that I erred. I had taken steps to not offend, and they were gracious, and we enjoyed the meal together. Cuando me visitan, hay muy pocos lugares a los que puede llevarlos en esa zona para salir a comer. Así ha funcionado la libertad cristiana con esta familia. Por diferencia de ellos, los llevé a un lugar donde creía que no se bebía alcohol. When the coach came. Oh, Coach Taino. Yo no correcto. Al entrar y ordenar, nos enterramos de que me había equivocado. Tomé medidas para no ofender. Fueron amables y disfrutamos de la comida juntos. When they visited in the future, we chose to eat in the house in order to not replicate the problem. No feelings were hurt. We continued to enjoy a loving relationship. Cuando nos visitaron en el futuro, optamos por comer en la casa para no repetir el problema. In the same manner, there are areas where we can choose to disagree because the Bible is silent on that exact issue and our standards are driven by principles and not precepts. In these areas, we need to demonstrate love for one another. We willingly surrender our liberty, not of obligation, but of love for one another. De la misma manera, hay áreas en las que podemos optar por no estar de acuerdo porque la Biblia guarda silencio sobre el tema exacto y nuestras normas se rigen por principios, no por preceptos. En estas áreas debemos demostrar amor los unos por los otros. Renunciamos voluntariamente a nuestra libertad. No por obligación, sino por amor de uno a otro. Will you demonstrate your love for one another in how you exercise your Christian liberty? Te mostrarán su amor mutuo en la forma en que ejercen su libertad cristiana. Vamos a orar. Let's pray. Father, I thank you that there are some areas which we struggle to know Father, I truly am convinced, the more we study the Word, the more clear some of these issues become. But times, Father, there's areas where we disagree. And there's insufficient, inconclusive biblical evidence for us to prove our point. Sometimes, Father, we can become so proud of what we know that we try and force our knowledge on others. We try and encourage them that they can do certain things. We'll do things and rub their faces in it. Father, it's sin. Other times, Father, we're so weak in our faith that we cannot live in joy before you. But Father, at the same time, because our faith is weak, we cannot do it. We must not. I ask, Father, that we would not judge those that, as they study your Word, they're convinced that your Word allows them. And that, Father, we would also not despise others who They don't think they can, and we know they can. That we would not place them and treat them as if they're lesser Christians. And I ask fathers, we work with one another, that what would stand out? When somebody visits our church and enters through the door, may the first thing that they notice be that our church family loves one another because we love you. Father, you've been so gracious and kind to us. You've forgiven us when we don't deserve it. You showed your love to us when we were wicked, despicable sinners. How can we do anything less towards one another? So I ask that you would help us to grow in our love for one another. May we use our liberty not to sin, but use our liberty to edify one another, use our liberty to demonstrate our love for one another, that we might point others all the more to the love of God who sent his son for us. We ask these things in your son's most precious name. Amen.