St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Freedom and discipline

How can sinners be set free from their sin?
How can righteousness find entry within?
How can dirty hearts be cleaned, forgiv'n?
How can goodness fight and win?

I know that Christ can take our sin upon the cross.
By his passion Christ can pay for loss.
I'm sure that Christ can enter and meet our deepest need.
So I'm trusting Christ to save indeed.

How can selfishness and pride be cast out?
How can lives be changed when old natures shout?
How can ancient hurts be healed, forgiv'n?
How can sin be put to rout?

I know that Christ can take our sin ...

Good that I would do, I can't: for I find
evil crouching there at work in my mind!
How can I be changed, made fit for heav’n?
Who will come to save mankind?

I know that Christ can take our sin ...

Some people wonder if there’s a deep contradiction at the heart of Lent, when we try to “mortify the flesh” and subdue it to the spirit? For the bible tells us we are unable to do that by our own strength, and without Jesus we are helpless. So what’s the point of Lent?

Well, the same bible also tells us that God is a gentleman, who will not force himself on us without our inviting him into our lives. He will allow us to make mistakes and hurt ourselves, even though it distresses him, if we want to assert our independence. He will only give us the power of his Son to clean us, and his Spirit to change us, if we take conscious steps to ask him.

Lent is a chance to do this. We can’t improve ourselves by an act of will, a giving up sins, and a resolve to show greater patience and kindness. But we can invite Jesus into our lives and allow him to touch us with his presence ... and that’s what Lent is about.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. February 2008, Page 2.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (February 2008) Service books, Hymn, Prayer, Question. More about this hymn. Other hymns.	Freedom and discipline How can sinners be set free from their sin? How can righteousness find entry within? How can dirty hearts be cleaned, forgiv'n? How can goodness fight and win? I know that Christ can take our sin upon the cross. By his passion Christ can pay for loss. I'm sure that Christ can enter and meet our deepest need. So I'm trusting Christ to save indeed. How can selfishness and pride be cast out? How can lives be changed when old natures shout? How can ancient hurts be healed, forgiv'n? How can sin be put to rout? I know that Christ can take our sin ... Good that I would do, I can't: for I find evil crouching there at work in my mind! How can I be changed, made fit for heav’n? Who will come to save mankind? I know that Christ can take our sin ... Words copyright © John Hartley 2008. Some people wonder if there’s a deep contradiction at the heart of Lent, when we try to “mortify the flesh” and subdue it to the spirit? For the bible tells us we are unable to do that by our own strength, and without Jesus we are helpless. So what’s the point of Lent? Well, the same bible also tells us that God is a gentleman, who will not force himself on us without our inviting him into our lives. He will allow us to make mistakes and hurt ourselves, even though it distresses him, if we want to assert our independence. He will only give us the power of his Son to clean us, and his Spirit to change us, if we take conscious steps to ask him. Lent is a chance to do this. We can’t improve ourselves by an act of will, a giving up sins, and a resolve to show greater patience and kindness. But we can invite Jesus into our lives and allow him to touch us with his presence ... and that’s what Lent is about. John Hartley
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