FREE INDEED!

“If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8: 36

Free from what? He explained in verse 34, “Verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is a servant (slave) of sin. I believe it is an appropriate time to ask the professing believers in Christ Jesus, can you say in all truth, you are free indeed?

If we consider the fact that many of those who consider themselves born again Christians, are quick to admit they sin often. For it has become the norm of today's Christianity, and the acceptable answer in many congregations today. They will say, we are under grace. As if grace makes it ok to sin, grace is not given to make us comfortable in sin. Grace is the means of salvation from sin. Grace is the Gift of God that enables us to be free indeed of sin. Christ in you that is grace.

In Ro.6: 1- 9 we read: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”

This is, the good news, all those who will deny themselves and take up the cross and follow Him are free from sin. Because Jesus is no longer on the cross, He has conquered the death of the cross and the grave. Now all who believe and repent (literally change directions) are able to receive the resurrected Christ. It is an abomination to say you are in Christ and you are continuing in sin. Jesus didn't ever sin, even before, much less in resurrection life.

It is no wonder we are being chastised. Please consider what is happening. The professing believers are saying the Holy Spirit is with them and Jesus is their Lord and Savior but they have much sin. How did we get to this degradation of the gospel? Many sincere and even loving people are involved in this err, of our age.

What can we do? Pray with me for understanding and let us go back to the gospel of John chapter eight, verse twenty nine. Jesus said: “And He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I always do those things that please Him.” If you recall, the believers today also have this same assurance for He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. It's also important to understand, the one who is truly born again is born to do the will of God.

Read John 1: 13

Our Lord Jesus wants us to realize that in the same faith that He demonstrated for us, we can also say, “I always do those things that please Him, believe me, I have not always done that which pleases Him, but I am assured that all believers can. Therefore I believe I can forget the past. Now, It is my greatest desire, to always do that which pleases Him. it seems impossible and it is, for me in my own strength, but in Christ Jesus all things are possible. See Ma.19: 26

Don't write me off as a heretic yet, let us Read more.

“As he spake these words, many believed on him.Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 8: 30,31 Many hear the word but not so many continue, some say they believe but fail to obey, obedience is how we continue in His word. Having an understand alone is not evidence of faith in the word.

Vs 32 says:

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Knowing the truth comes with embracing the truth, loving it and living in it, allowing the truth to do her work, of making us free indeed. Knowing truth is knowing Jesus, for;

“He is the way the truth and the Life and no man cometh to the Father but by Him.” John 14: 6

Sin is the works of darkness.

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. John 8: 12

Those who walk in darkness are abiding in darkness and not continuing in His word. It's understood there is allowance for failure.

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Prove. 24: 16

Notice he riseth up again, he doesn't continue in sin. John wrote: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” John 1: 9,10

The promise is He will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus knows how to get to the root of our sin and transform us.

Back to the question, how did we get so far from the truth?

We like to think because of the works of darkness or Satan is so crafty, even though these have a great play in our deception. It is more serious than you might think, for you see in most cases it starts with deception in our own hearts.

It is truth that sets us free from sin and it is the lack of truth, in our own hearts, that allows deception to come in. Human reasoning can be very convincing; The wisdom we need is given in proverbs, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” PR.3: 5-8

If we allow our hearts to wander they will lead us into great deception. Because; “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doing? Jer.17: 5

The liberal soul will say let us go out this far; it is not sin, more than likely on the edge of destruction. People like living on the edge but what they don't realize is, once sin comes in, it will always take you much further into wickedness than you ever intended to go. Often they think, I won't go there or do this particular thing, but I will lust for it a little. Then the next time it's a little more than......you can imagine. How do we get here? Simply by setting our eyes (hearts) in the wrong place.

The person who has lust in his heart is easily drawn into sin.

“Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.” James 1: 14,15

The liberal soul will be redeemed when they turn back to seek the Lord with all their heart. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col.3:2 Instead of looking for something that is not too sinful, let us learn to love that which pleases God and seek it with all our hearts.

In many instances, it is the faithful man like David, who was known for having a heart after God. You might question, how can a man like that get so far, into sin? We are all very capable of such deeds. I say if it were not for the grace of God, there goes I.

The one who has been faithful for a long time is, vulnerable in spite of his track record. When he begins to look at his. Achievements, he may be lifted up in pride and believe he should be entitled to rest or change of pace. Then begin to delegate his responsibilities to others, he often becomes lazy, and in his inactivity falls into temptation.

No one knows what is in his own heart until he has been tempted. The saving grace of Jesus has been extended unto all believers, including those who are not aware of their sin.

King David understood that the grace of God was capable of keeping him from these sins. He said:

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” This is a prayer of a wise and sincere man of God. We can learn to pray in this manner.

Perhaps you think I must do better; that is not the meditation that is acceptable in His sight. Even if we did our very best, it would never be enough. May we all confess how weak we are and cast ourselves upon the one who can change everything. He is able; faith is the victory. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5: 4-6

The liberal man fails because he is looking at what he can or cannot do. The legalist fails for the same reason, just a little different focus, but he also has his eyes on his performance. Beloved let us not think of our performance, we have proven that we are failures.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim. 1: 12

I am convinced in Christ, I am free indeed, and I am fully expecting to continue.