So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31-32
The knowledge of the truth that comes only from a yielded and obedient disciple is a truth that frees that believer. But what exactly is that believer free from?
This is something that God has been working on in my life of late, that I thought I might share here. Just a quick warning or two though. I'm not posting this in order to debate. I'm simply sharing the wonders of God's word and the truths therein in love. And also, it might be a lengthy post! Don't worry. I'm not turning into A4C!
What is it that I, as a believer, am truly freed from? Jesus gives us the answer in the verses following:
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:34-36
Simply put, I am free from
SIN[/b]. This is a concept that many struggle with, yet is a concept that God graciously gives His word for us to understand. Let us leave notions and philosophies at the door and see God's word for what His word says. Shall we?
His word says that I am free from
SIN'S PENALTY[/b]:
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"
When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:1-14
What was sin's penalty?
DEATH The law by its very nature condemned. If not those who failed to obey and come to God on the basis of belief, then upon the sacrifice that those who
did believe brought. There was always blood. There was always death. The law demanded such - even physical death for those who failed in keeping certain commandments!
Yet when Jesus died on the cross, He did what no sacrifice ever could have done. Jesus performed the Day of Atonement sacrifice. He, as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedec, brought the blood,
His blood, to sprinkle on the mercy seat. Not the blood of goats and calves which merely covered, but did not remove sin, but
His blood, which takes all sin away. As the priests of old would symbolically lay the sins of the people on the head of the remaining, and living goat (Leviticus 16), so Christ took our sins upon Himself. As the goat was led away from the camp year after year taking the sin of the people with it, so Jesus took our sin away - not for a year, not for a decade, but once, for all time. The sins that used to mount up year after year and required by God the shed blood of the goat and the scapegoat to take the sin away, have now been abolished. Christ died once for me. That death was perfect, His sacrifice was complete. The Old Covenant and its practices are done away. The New Covenant and its blessings have been ushered in.
If God has so completely met the price He Himself demanded in the sacrifice of His Son that He Himself bid come...how then could such a sacrifice require my adherence to a law
COMPLETED[/b] by Jesus in order to be maintained? I do not seek debate. I ask only that you consider this truth. My friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ,
this truth
will set you free.
CONTINUED
