Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Ignorance enslaves! Truth liberates!
Universities charge students thousands of dollars for a good education. Yet, Jesus offers truth from heaven free of charge - I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence.
Every autumn, thousands of students vie for acceptance in the best colleges and universities. It is a wonder so few seek to enroll in the University of Jesus.
It was the same when Jesus walked the earth. And the reason is the same. People are ignorant of their need to be set free.
Here’s what the Jews said to Jesus – We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?
Jesus leads His students to freedom. Freedom from the final penalty of sin through His death on the cross! Freedom from death by His resurrection!
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Being a disciple – a student of Jesus - means living in the light of His teaching and experiencing increasing freedom in life. A freedom to become the person our better nature desires to be. Increasing freedom from the restraints that vie to keep us from pleasing God!
To be a student of the Teacher is to be Set Free!
"A freedom to become the person our better nature desires to be"...we can measure our progress by comparing our attitudes and behavior to the qualities we are called to in Galatians 5, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
ReplyDeleteThe Jews seemed confused about their heritage.
ReplyDeleteFirst they say Abraham is their Father.
Then contradict themselves with "The only Father we have is God himself."
Jesus had mentioned that they were doing the things of their father. he knew the truth about who their father was - Satan.
Unfortunately, they thought they were just fine and didn't need to change. They had their heritage figured out - only they were wrong.
It took boldness for Jesus to speak up and tell them that they were wrong.
Many in the world today think they have salvation figured out. They "believe in God" yet do nothing about it. They live worldly lives, they rarely if ever attend church, but they believe there is a God and think they live "pretty good" lives. In reality - many are lost - as were in Jesus day - thinking they are just fine.
What will it take for us to speak up and reach out to the lost around us who have been falsly convinced that they are ok in God's eyes?