I am reading in Acts 12:1-19, and it is long, so I will summarize some of it, and I will quote some of it. Herod was the king of that time period, and he stretched out his hand to mistreat some of the church (the people of faith in Jesus Christ). And he killed James, the brother of John, and he seized Peter, and he put him in prison. But the church was praying for Peter. And that night an angel of the Lord delivered Peter out of the prison and set him free.

Acts 12:12-17 NKJV

So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”

16Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

In Prison to Sin

And that is an awesome account of God’s grace, is it not? But as I read this account from the Scriptures this morning, I could not help but see a parallel here over to the grace of God in delivering us out of our bondage to sin. For to be living in addiction to sin is to be in prison to sin with no way out that we can create on our own, in our own flesh. And the “king” who put many people there is their own selfish will, and their unwillingness to be set free. Pride and self-glory and stubborn rebellion will keep many in prison to sin.

But the church was praying for his deliverance. And the church should indeed be praying for the deliverance of all people who are living in bondage (slavery, addiction) to sin. But sadly, in our day and time, at least here in the USA, much of what is called “church” is actually placating people in their sin who profess faith in the Lord, keeping them still bound in sin but convinced that all their sins are forgiven and that heaven is their eternal destiny. So, in a way, “the church” serves as the jailers which keep people in prison to sin.

Set Free From Prison

But, praise be to God, Jesus Christ was put to death on a cross to put our sins to death with him, and he rose victorious over death, sin, Satan, and hell, on our behalf, that we might now die with him to sin and live for him and in his righteousness in walks of surrender to our Lord in obedience to his commands. For Jesus taught that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) him wherever he leads us in doing all that he commands us to do.

Don’t Give Up!

And many of those who have truly been set free from their imprisonment to sin are knocking on the door of “the church,” and they are requesting to be let inside so that they can share with them the message of the gospel of our salvation from sin. But so much of what is called “church” here in America is not listening to the one knocking, and is not believing them, and so is not letting them inside. And sadly, if the Lord chooses a woman to be his messenger, she is often treated as though what she says is worthless.

But if we do not give up, and if we keep knocking on the hearts of the people of this world, including on the hearts of many who profess Jesus as Lord, but who are still living in prison (bondage, slavery, addiction) to sin, perhaps some of them will let us inside (not inside buildings, but inside their lives). And they will listen to us share with them how Jesus sets us free from our prisons. And they will, in turn, repent of (turn away from) their sins and they will now serve the Lord Jesus with their lives in surrender to his will.

And then we should encourage them to go and to share the good news of our salvation, that we can, by the grace of God, in the power of God, and by biblical faith in Jesus Christ, be crucified with Christ in death to sin, and be raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but now as servants of righteousness in walks of obedience to our Lord in doing all that he commands us and he leads us to do, for his purposes, and for his glory, and for the salvation of human souls from hell.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

There’s a New Song in My Heart

By John W. Peterson

Once my life was filled with discord, sadness reigned within,
For my heart was heavy laden with a weight of sin.

What a wondrous transformation in my life was wrought
When I trusted Christ as Savior and His pardon sought.

Someday, I will go to heaven where the angels sing,
And I’ll join their happy chorus, praising Christ the King.

I shall never cease in praising Jesus Christ my Lord
For the wonderful salvation that He did accord.

There’s a new song in my heart
Since the Savior set me free;
There’s a new song in my heart,
‘tis a heavenly harmony!
All my sins are washed away
by the blood of Calvary;
O what peace and joy nothing can destroy:
There’s a new song in my heart!

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Just Keep Knocking
An Original Work / May 28, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love