A Judge or a Saviour?

The Lord raised up judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned away from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the Lord's commands. They did not do as their fathers did. Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, The Lord  was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn away from their evil practices or their obstinate ways.
Judges 2:16-19

We can see that the power of man's sinful nature is the governing force and without a redeemer, it wins.

Paul the apostle wrote in Romans: 'who shall deliver me from this sin? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!' Romans 7:24

The sin nature cannot be tamed, controlled or changed. It must die! As I die to sin I live to righteousness but not in my own strength, in His. Amen!

Israel needed a saviour and the judges were temporary measures, they were men and women, just as they were but with a heart for God and His ways, usually.(some struggled)

Religion cannot save me. I can lock myself away in a monastery but still be held captive by sin. Jesus paid the price for my salvation, my righteousness. I am right, because of Him. Therefore I live in Him. In Him I live and move and have my being.

I am so grateful I live now and not then. In Christ I am free from the law of sin. Yes! Yes! Yes!

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