Set Free Forever
Set Free Forever
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Each weekday morning, we’re going to spend a few minutes in a passage in John. Here’s the goal: read it, pray it, share it. Every post will have a passage of Scripture, a short prayer, and a question to meditate on and talk about. In a few minutes every day, we can prepare our hearts for all that God has planned in this season of Lent.
Read: John 8:31-38
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [33] They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
[34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [35] The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. [37] I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. [38] I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (ESV)
Sin is slavery. It was as shocking to hear then as it is now; maybe even more so. Jesus said this to the holy people. The Jews standing before Jesus didn’t have a lax view of sin, nor did they take it lightly. They followed the rules, made the sacrifices, and kept up appearances. So how could Jesus say they were slaves to sin?
In vs. 34-35, Jesus clarifies; anyone who sins is a slave to sin because they live in the house of sin. Everyone who has ever sinned has taken up residence in the house of sin. But those who are Christ’s disciples live somewhere else. In vs. 31, Jesus says, “If you live in my word, you are truly my disciples.” If you sin, you are a slave in the household of sin, but if you trust in Christ, you are a child in the household of God. In the household of God, you are free forever.
This is one of Jesus most powerful metaphors. When you turn to Christ, you change households. You change your allegiance, your environment, and the way you behave. You’re in a different household now, serving a different master, and abiding there forever. Jesus is the only way into the family. Everyone who keeps his word - and lives it - is adopted into the forever family of God.
Pray:
God, you are my father and I love to live in your word. Bring it to my mind and heart every day. Help me not just to read it but to live it. Help me not just to obey it but to love it. Thank you for the joy of living in your household forever. Amen.
Share:
It’s hard to hear that sin is slavery, but it’s important to remember. Do you have people in your life who see your sin, hold you accountable, and love you unconditionally?
Do you have any stories of being set free from sin? How can you share the joy of freedom with someone who has never experienced it?
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Each weekday morning, we’re going to spend a few minutes in a passage in John. Here’s the goal: read it, pray it, share it. Every post will have a passage of Scripture, a short prayer, and a question to meditate on and talk about. In a few minutes every day, we can prepare our hearts for all that God has planned in this season of Lent.
Read: John 8:31-38
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [33] They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
[34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [35] The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. [37] I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. [38] I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (ESV)
Sin is slavery. It was as shocking to hear then as it is now; maybe even more so. Jesus said this to the holy people. The Jews standing before Jesus didn’t have a lax view of sin, nor did they take it lightly. They followed the rules, made the sacrifices, and kept up appearances. So how could Jesus say they were slaves to sin?
In vs. 34-35, Jesus clarifies; anyone who sins is a slave to sin because they live in the house of sin. Everyone who has ever sinned has taken up residence in the house of sin. But those who are Christ’s disciples live somewhere else. In vs. 31, Jesus says, “If you live in my word, you are truly my disciples.” If you sin, you are a slave in the household of sin, but if you trust in Christ, you are a child in the household of God. In the household of God, you are free forever.
This is one of Jesus most powerful metaphors. When you turn to Christ, you change households. You change your allegiance, your environment, and the way you behave. You’re in a different household now, serving a different master, and abiding there forever. Jesus is the only way into the family. Everyone who keeps his word - and lives it - is adopted into the forever family of God.
Pray:
God, you are my father and I love to live in your word. Bring it to my mind and heart every day. Help me not just to read it but to live it. Help me not just to obey it but to love it. Thank you for the joy of living in your household forever. Amen.
Share:
It’s hard to hear that sin is slavery, but it’s important to remember. Do you have people in your life who see your sin, hold you accountable, and love you unconditionally?
Do you have any stories of being set free from sin? How can you share the joy of freedom with someone who has never experienced it?
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