True Freedom in Christ
During my study at Fuller Theological Seminary, I became fascinated by the stories behind the Gospels and Epistles—particularly how we know that Paul was beheaded and Peter was crucified upside‑down in Rome. These grisly details don’t appear in Scripture itself but survive in the writings of the early apostolic Fathers—Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius, to name a few. Their testimonies remind us that the faith we confess was forged by saints who counted their lives nothing compared to the gospel.
Christian Freedom Under Fire
This Sunday, we turn to 2 Peter 2:17–22, where Peter warns of “waterless springs” and “wandering stars”—false teachers who promise freedom only to lead souls into bondage. Their counterfeit liberty echoes the earliest antinomian heresies, which taught that grace nullified every moral obligation. In Peter’s day, as in ours, such distortion threatened the purity and power of the gospel.
The Nicolaitans: A Case Study in License
One of those first‑century sects was the Nicolaitans. Mentioned twice in Revelation (2:6, 2:15), they were not outsiders but professing Christians within the churches of Ephesus and Pergamum. They claimed the name of Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:5), suggesting he was their founder. Patristic writers like Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Epiphanius blamed Nicolas himself for teaching that believers could indulge in idolatrous feasts and sexual immorality without penalty. Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius, however, defended the deacon’s reputation—arguing that his name was hijacked by a licentious splinter group.
What united all accounts was their agreement on the Nicolaitans’ central error: they perverted grace into license. Under the banner of grace, they endorsed participation in pagan rituals and a disregard for moral law—classic antinomianism. Peter foresaw this, warning his readers that such “freedom” is a snare (2 Pet 2:19) and that those who fall back into sin become worse off than before (2 Pet 2:22).
Antinomianism Then and Now
Antinomianism—the belief that the believer is free from all law because of Christ—may sound liberating at first glance. Yet the New Testament consistently ties genuine grace to holy living (Romans 6:1–2; Titus 2:11–12). True Christian freedom is not freedom to sin, but freedom from sin’s power. We are liberated to pursue righteousness, to love God’s commandments, and to serve one another in humility.
Looking Ahead
As you read these words, ask yourself: What does Christian freedom mean to me? Is it in Christ’s transforming grace, or in the empty promises of the world? Join us Sunday as we unpack Peter’s vivid metaphors and learn how to discern “waterless springs” in our midst. Bring your Bible, your questions, and an expectant heart.
May our gathering be a fountain of true refreshment, and may we shine as stars fixed in Christ’s firmament. See you in worship!
This Week (July 25 ~ Aug 1, 2025)
- Tonight July 25, 2025, the Youth Short Term Mission Root Cellar team will be sharing their experience in the Main Sanctuary starting at 7:45 am. If you are interested in learning how God led and guided them to help the community in Lewiston, ME, you can join online via the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85744232540?pwd=wlbnEjXXHDe66dgIcaRrq2JBFi6zVb.1
Meeting ID: 857 4423 2540
Passcode: 2025
Join by phone:
+16469313860,,85744232540#,,,,*2025# US
+19292056099,,85744232540#,,,,*2025# US (New York)
2. This Friday, July 25, 2025, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 pm to continue “Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2025” session 1 “Noah: A faith that pleases God” (p 11-17). Bob (online) and Marina (in person) will be the discussion facilitators. Bob will provide worship songs. Please read Genesis chapters 6 and 8 as preparation for this session.
Join in person in Room A-218 or online via the following link at 7:30 pm:
https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
3. CrossPoint Community Sunday School meets this Sunday, July 27, in the Community Hall (A-202). We will continue exploring the book “Church Unique” by Will Mancini. Deacon Rick He will lead the sharing and discussion of Chapters 13&14. We will use the following link for those who wish to join online this Sunday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
4. Sunday Worship Service, July 27, 2025, at 11:25 am. Elder Jeremy Wu will be sharing message from 2 Peter 2:17-22 “The Dangers Within”. Join us for worship at CBCGL main Sanctuary.
Text: 2 Peter 2:17-22
Title: The Dangers Within
Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
5. Prosper of Aquitaine said, “Ut legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi” (Let the rule of prayer determine the rule of faith.) Each Wednesday at 7:45 pm, you are invited to join our weekly prayer meeting. We will not grow in Christ without growing in our dependence on God through conversations with Him. In July, we will be praying with a focus on our nation and community. The link is found below in the section on prayer.
https://zoom.us/j/758587937?pwd=aS9sZUdxcm1janNNM2I2aXJ6Smx2QT09
Meeting ID: 758 587 937
Password: 030086
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Other Announcement:
- 2026 – 2027 Deacon Election
The following 7 Deacons/Deaconesses will finish their terms of office at the end of 2026.
- Alan Lam (Deacon Chair)
- WenDer Wang (Treasurer)
- David Wong (General Services)
- Louise Pong (Cantonese Ministry)
- Rick He (Youth Ministry)
- Shiping Geng (Mandarin Ministry)
- Shufen Chen (Global Mission)
The Council unanimously agreed to establish the Deacon Nomination Committee to be responsible for the nomination of Deacon/Deaconess candidates for 2026 – 2027. If you would like to recommend a possible candidate, please contact any of the following nomination committee members.
- Pastor Sean Lee
- Elder Ming Chiang
- Deaconess Shufen Chen
- Deacon Shiping Geng
- Brother Jecko Li
- Brother Bob Chen
Please pray for God’s guidance in finding the appropriate candidates to be the Deacon/Deaconess for 2026 – 2027.
- Youth Short-term Mission Testimonies
Friday, July 25, 7:30-8:20pm. Come hear testimony in the main sanctuary and chapel.
- VBS is collecting materials for decoration. You can drop them off at either of these two locations:Church lobby at VBS table or Children’s wing check in point. We will prepare boxes for drop off.
The materials list includes:
- fishing lines (1 roll)
- glue dots/tapes (6)
- table cloths(color blue, light green, dark green) 4 each,
- paper latens size 12” and up (5),
- black cardboards (2)
- paper towel cores (15)
- washable ink pad (2)
- playdough set (many)
- Colorful Paper Plates (many)
- Colorful balloons (many)
- Colorful streamers (many)
- CPC upcoming events:
- Saturdays, 1:30-4pm: Open Gym for CPCM members. Please contact Joshua Zhang or Yajwu Wu (yajwu.wu@lowell.church) more details.
- Aug 16 (Sat), 12-3pm: The CPC Annual Summer Fun Day – Potluck/BBQ (Church courtyard & MPR). Activities will include icebreakers, sports, board games, etc. We welcome your ideas.
- Aug 23 (Sat), 1:30-4pm: The Hobby Bunch – Bring stuff to do your hobby! Other options are learning air dry clay from Carmen, or centerpiece arrangement from Pat. (A202 Community Hall)
- Aug 31 (Sun) , 9:45-11am: CPC connection hour (A202 Community Hall)
- Collection of Smart Devices for Uganda
We are collecting used smartphones, computers, or musical instruments to support Pastor Benjamin Owino and the ministry Let the Needy Smile, which serves AIDS orphans and churches in Eastern Uganda.
- Starting 6/22/2025, CBCGL will temporarily stop providing lunch. Lunch service will resume on 9/7/2025 after Labor Day.