Jesus said that we are no longer slaves but friends (John 15:15). Paul wrote that we have been made coheirs with Christ because of the sacrifice Jesus made (Rom. 8:16–17). The punishments and rules have taken a backseat because God got what He was originally looking for—a place to give His heart. The Bible is not a set of rules and regulations that must be followed to earn a place near God. It is a picture, painted over thousands of years, of God’s pursuit of mankind. It is the story of the Bridegroom seeking His bride. Is He going to strike you with lightning or pull all His blessings from
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