[Word Count: 1097]
Second Word
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” -- Jesus Christ, John 8:31-32 KJV
It's interesting that right after Christ made this statement He got into an intense argument with His new followers because they were under the delusion that because they were Jews in covenant with GOD, they were not sinners and therefore in no need of a savior to free them from the power of sin (even though they were sinning all the time).
Sin's Solution
If you want to understand the writings of the Apostle Paul, study the Words of Jesus. Nowhere else in Scripture are the deepest and most profound spiritual truths communicated in simpler language than in the discourses of Meshiach.
Sin has doomed us all to the Lake of Fire and Sulfur for Eternity; in just a few simple words the Lord Jesus has revealed to us the Secret of being freed from sin once and forever, and thus becoming forever free of the Wrath of GOD...
...to be free of sin the Truth must set us free from sin. For the Truth to set us free from sin we must "know" the Truth...
...this the same "know" spoken of in Part Three of this series: a highly intimate relationship that exists at all levels (spirit, soul and body).
This state of intimacy is only granted to true disciples of Jesus who CONTINUE in His Word: those who make the Words of Jesus the Foundation for all intent, thought, speech and behavior.
To succeed as a disciple of Christ i must be willing to throw away all that i think i know and adopt Christ's Knowledge as my own...this the Jews who claimed to believe in Jesus were not willing to do:
“They answered him, 'We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?'
Jesus answered them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the House for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My Word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.'
They answered and said unto Him, 'Abraham is our father.'
Jesus saith unto them, 'If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father.'
Then said they to Him, 'We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.'
Jesus said unto them, 'If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do ye not understand My Speech? even because ye cannot hear My Word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not. Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the Truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God's Words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.'
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, 'Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?'
Jesus answered, 'I have not a devil; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me. And I seek not Mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My Saying, he shall never see death.'
Then said the Jews unto Him, 'Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and Thou sayest, If a man keep My Saying, he shall never taste of death. Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest Thou Thyself?'
Jesus answered, 'If I honour Myself, My Honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of Whom ye say, that He is your God: yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His Saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My Day: and he saw It, and was glad.'
Then said the Jews unto him, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?'
Jesus said unto them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.'
Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” -- John 8:33-59 KJV
It is impossible to be a sinner and not harbor in your heart some lie that you cling to as truth. Do you even now yet see yourself as a "good person" who could "benefit" from having an "advisor" such as Jesus at your side? Or are you willing to admit that you're a child of the Devil, by your very nature damned for Wrath and in DESPERATE NEED of the Only-Begotten Son of GOD's Mercy, Forgiveness and Saving Grace?
You cannot have it both ways; either you must face the GODHEAD on your own on the Day of Judgment and risk everything on your own idea of good and evil, or throw yourself face down at the foot of Christ's Cross, accepting Jesus' Lordship over your wretched, deceitful heart and committing yourself to Him in total obedience and submission in the hope of being transformed into Something so pure, holy and glorious you wouldn't recognize yourself in a mirror!
In Part Seventeen Jesus continues His assault on our self-image, values and traditions.