The Way to Stay Free

BIBLE PASSAGE Exodus 20:2–3
STORY “The Way to Stay Free”
​GOSPEL CONNECTION God didn’t give the Ten Commandments and then save Israel. The order matters. First he saved Israel, then he gave the Ten Commandments. The same pattern is true today. God doesn’t tell us to be good so that he can save us. If he did, we’d all be in a real bad spot. Instead, he saves us first, as a gift. Because of God’s great love, Jesus came into the world to crush the snake. He saves us from the power of the devil and forgave all our sins. All we have to do is believe in the Snake Crusher and we’re saved! But Jesus didn’t just rescue us from the penalty of our sins. He also saved us from the power of them. When we believe, he gives us new hearts—hearts that want to love God and love others. So when the Bible gives us commands, we don’t see them as a way to earn our salvation. We see them as the good things that the Snake Crusher’s death freed us to do. As God’s special people, Christians have a special job. What a privilege!