What a day yesterday was! Thank You, Father, for keeping us safe and for happy reunions. May we make the most of the time we have together. Amen.
John 8:31-32 (<<click here to read the passage)
Interestingly, this is one of the passages of Scripture from one of my July 4th sermons from a few years ago. On this date here in the U.S., we celebrate Independence Day when we formally declared our separation from the rule of King George and England. In and of itself, it’s an important date in our history, but a day that is of the utmost importance to followers of Jesus is the day we believed in Him.
Freedom from things we as a collective body find oppressive is cause for celebration, but freedom from something we could never overcome—not even with a collective effort—brings joy and celebration that cannot be measured!
In Romans 6:23 the Apostle Paul communicates the truth with which many are familiar. It begins, For the wages of sin is death…
There is not a single “maybe” in the phrase. It is not just a possibility. It is the absolute truth, though grave it may be. Any effort we may make as individuals or as a whole cannot overcome the fact that sin equals death. But I’m so glad that Paul’s proclamation contains a “but”!
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. NLT (emphasis mine)
It doesn’t have an exclamation point, but I’d put one there if it were me!
And that is where today’s verses come in.
So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” AMP
That, my friends, gives us no wiggle room whatsoever! Jesus requires far more than part-time obedience. We are called to continually obey His teachings.
Accordance means agreement and that is a harmony of opinion, action, or character. We are to live in accordance with Jesus’ teachings. There is no room for picking and choosing. We cannot just abide by what we are comfortable with, and we cannot omit things we don’t agree with.
Note, too, that there is a point of division in who Jesus spoke to and what they – and we! – must abide by. Jesus was talking to those who believed Him. The belief was already there, but believing wasn’t enough…action was required, as well.
Let me close with the note for verse 32 in my Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation reads,
Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free (8:36). He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from continued slavery to sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus, Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be.
Amen!
(June 30th, 2021, Wed, 8:25 pm)
July 3rd, 2024, Wed, 12:02 pm
