Sojourner

Thank you all for your posts. I really appreciate your comments. I was impressed by the lesson at the similarity between a "slave" and a "saint." They come at the question from different directions, but they end up at the same place! Totally committed to God - when we feel like obeying Him and when we don't. I also appreciate the verse, "you are not your own, you are bought at a price." (I Cor 6:19) Sounds like a slave to me. Two thoughts I haven't seen mentioned yet. I see both Jesus and Paul telling us we ARE slaves. But we have a cohose between being slaves to sin or slave of Christ. And for me that is a constant conflict back and forth! (Jn 8:34 and Rom 7:14. As a "slave of christ" I also so think of Peter's response to Jesus when Jesus asks if they plan to walk out on him, too. Peter basically said, "Where would we go. We have given up everything to follow you. Who else has the words of life?" If I don't want to be a slave to sin, my only option is to cling to the one who has the words of life - Jesus. He is the one who then forgives and makes me holy and acceptable to God. Juanita - I loved your quote,

Hi. Interested to see all the Methodists and former Methodists. I am 51, married to a Methodist minister and right now we live in a small town in up state New York in the US. Yes, there is more to New York than just the City! This is my first online study. I have been a Christian for 32 years and keep learning new things about Jesus everyday. We lived in Australia (Melbourne) for 8 years (officially we were missionaries, but that doesn't imply that we were any better than Australian "Natives.") We have been back in the States for 25 years. Two sons, one married living in Boston and one single, currently serving in the Army in Fallujah, Iraq. I have a degree in Pastoral Counseling but am currently unable to work due to heath factors. Looking forward to getting to know all of you as we study together!