Listen All You Christians
As children of God, we must follow Christ, be cleansed by His blood, and live a pure life guided by the Holy Spirit.
The preacher in Ausbund, 114 urges Christians who have been born again to follow Jesus and take up their cross, emphasizing that the blood of Jesus cleanses those who believe and leave all to follow Him. Believers receive the Holy Spirit through faith and baptism, enabling them to overcome the flesh and find peace with God. Those washed by Christ's blood walk in the Spirit, guided by Him, and are reminded to stay pure and not be deceived, knowing that righteousness comes from doing what is right while sin leads to bondage.
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Listen all you Christians who have been born again! God's Son from the Kingdom of Heaven died on the cross and suffered death and shame. Let us follow him! Let us take up our cross! The blood of Jesus washes away the sins of those who leave all to follow him, and who believe on God alone -- even though they have sinned much. The Holy Spirit is given to those who believe and are baptized, if they follow Christ. With the Spirit they kill the flesh and find peace with God. Those who are washed and made free from sin with the blood of Christ walk in the Spirit with broken hearts. The Spirit rules them and shows them the way. Therefore, purified children of God -- born again -- keep yourselves pure! Let no man deceive you! The one who does right is right. The one who sins is a slave to sin.
Those of us who have been washed with the blood of Christ and made free from sin, are tied together in our hearts. We now walk in the Spirit who shows us the right way and who rules in us. The Spirit rules in our sinful bodies, that are now dead. And in Christ we become members of his body (eingeleibt), and buried with him through baptism in his death. Now we live for him and keep his commandments.
-- Ausbund, 114
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Following Christ
- The Power of Jesus' Blood
- The Role of the Holy Spirit
- Living a Pure Life
- The Spirit's Guidance
- The Spirit shows us the right way
- The Spirit rules in our sinful bodies
Key Quotes
“The blood of Jesus washes away the sins of those who leave all to follow him, and who believe on God alone -- even though they have sinned much.” — Ausbund
“The one who does right is right. The one who sins is a slave to sin.” — Ausbund
“We now walk in the Spirit who shows us the right way and who rules in us.” — Ausbund
Application Points
- We must follow Christ and take up our cross to be cleansed of our sins.
- The Holy Spirit guides us in the right way and rules in our sinful bodies.
- We must keep ourselves pure as children of God and not be deceived by sin.