Jesus is talking...
Illustration
Object:
Jesus is talking to Jewish believers and makes the promise that if they are faithful to his teachings then they will really be his disciples. A disciple is a student -- one who is learning from the master. Later they may be "sent" to do God's work. Then they are called apostles. We should all be disciples, but some of our members may become apostles! Exciting thought!
What are we set free from if we are disciples? We are set from ignorance, from the desire to sin, from impure thoughts and deeds. We are no longer bound by Satan if we know the truth of God -- which is Jesus.
They claimed their dissent from Abraham as proof that they were free and had never been slaves. That was false historically! They were slaves in Egypt for one, plus to the Chaldeans, the Persians, and the Romans. So their claim was false from the start!
Jesus points up their slavery to sin (which is the worst slavery)! By our actions we show that we are still slaves to sin! We confess it every Sunday in church and hopefully we mean it! By admitting it, we acknowledge that only through Jesus, who is the truth (the way and the life also), can we ever be truly free.
Some will claim their freedom by showing their baptismal certificate. That should also prove that we are really children of Abraham. At least that is a start, but it is not the end. Have we learned the truth? Only a true disciple will know the truth. That is something we learn in our lives (as well as confirmation class -- and in the Sunday sermon).
It is not anything we can do or say or think that frees us from Satan's power. It is only the Son who can set us free! That is the truth! He is the truth.
What are we set free from if we are disciples? We are set from ignorance, from the desire to sin, from impure thoughts and deeds. We are no longer bound by Satan if we know the truth of God -- which is Jesus.
They claimed their dissent from Abraham as proof that they were free and had never been slaves. That was false historically! They were slaves in Egypt for one, plus to the Chaldeans, the Persians, and the Romans. So their claim was false from the start!
Jesus points up their slavery to sin (which is the worst slavery)! By our actions we show that we are still slaves to sin! We confess it every Sunday in church and hopefully we mean it! By admitting it, we acknowledge that only through Jesus, who is the truth (the way and the life also), can we ever be truly free.
Some will claim their freedom by showing their baptismal certificate. That should also prove that we are really children of Abraham. At least that is a start, but it is not the end. Have we learned the truth? Only a true disciple will know the truth. That is something we learn in our lives (as well as confirmation class -- and in the Sunday sermon).
It is not anything we can do or say or think that frees us from Satan's power. It is only the Son who can set us free! That is the truth! He is the truth.
