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It’s no secret that the body of Christ is divided today. There are all manner of sects, churches and ministries to fit any particular tribe, taste or temperament that exists. There are even entire ministries dedicated to specific topics and categories. Personally I think that there should only be one category: Christ and His Finished Work – and from that, everything else will flow and every problem solved. Now, not surprisingly, when I mention this, some people get put-off and offended… they think that it is narrow-minded to say that the finished work of Christ can solve every problem, and when they tell me that, I typically respond by telling them that they have a very limited view of what He accomplished.
Sometimes that statement makes them curious and they want to know more; and sometimes it offends them even deeper – especially if they have been a believer for many years. Yet regardless of how long someone has been a believer, that doesn’t change the fact that there are countless people who have not been properly shown what the finished work of Christ actually accomplished, and so they have a dim view of what Jesus has really done for them.
Now whether these people realize it or not, this lack of a solid foundation of the finished work of Christ for them, ends up sabotaging not only their intimacy with God, but also with each other, and furthermore, can hinder every other area of life… and no, I am not over-stating that – not even a little! I have spoken with many people, who make poor life choices, all because of an improper foundation and a wrong belief or idea about God and His character.
Some examples of this, are choices based off of fear, choices based off of uncertainty, choices based off or doubt – that’s right; good old FUD! But FUD can be very powerful when a person is operating without truth. Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free in John 8:32. I want you to take notice of the specifics of that statement. He didn’t say that you will know a truth, this isn’t just abstract knowledge that He’s talking about here – He didn’t just say “a truth” but “the truth” and when you know “the truth”, then the truth will make you free. I want you to notice also that the truth is what makes you free… this is why so many people are still held captive today, in their spirit, soul and body, because of lack of the truth.
You see, many of us get side-tracked, sidelined and otherwise distracted because we start focusing on the wrong things. They look more important or more beneficial to our eyes than the truth that will make us free. It’s the same scenario as the Garden of Eden – the same exact thing, played out every single day for us. The setting may have changed, but the players are all the same. Adam and Eve had the chance to eat from the Tree of Life, but as Genesis 3:6 says, Eve saw that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was pleasing to the eye, and also desirable to make one wise. And so both her and Adam ate from that tree instead, and as you know, the results were disastrous.
Many people are doing the same thing today, judging things by their appearance, and also by their own desires and intellect. Adam and Eve wanted knowledge to “be like God”, but they were already like Him. They were made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). All He wanted them to do was to trust Him and fellowship with each-other and with Himself in complete innocence. He never wanted them to eat from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil! That may shock some people, but it’s true. It was twisted desire as they listened to the lies of the enemy, that caused them to want that knowledge; they were trying to attain something that they already had, and in so doing they lost bigger than they ever thought they would win.
There are millions of believers on the exact same path today, looking to “the knowledge of Good and Evil” to save them or make them to become like God. It’s just as much of a trap and a death sentence today as it was back then! Although they might not admit it, many people hold this thought secretly in their heart: tell me what is good, and tell me what is evil, so that I can perform better, and through my performance be more like God. It’s the exact same lie from the Serpent in the Garden! And it brings the exact same results: Separation from God and death!
Notice in John 8:32, Jesus said that you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. He didn’t say that you shall know how to perform, and your performance will make you free. He also didn’t say any of the other things that the modern Christian tends to believe… He didn’t say that your prayer will make you free, nor did He say that your Bible reading plan will make you free, or how many chapters you read today will make you free. He also didn’t say that your fasting will make you free, or your tithing and giving will make you free. Only one single thing will make you free: The Truth. Definite article.
So what is this truth? What exactly is this truth that makes us free? Well, when Jesus made this statement in John 8:32, He was speaking to Jews who already knew the Law, we covered this a bit last week as well… they had the Law of Moses, they had the commandments, they had the rituals and the rules…. And Jesus says you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. And then a few verses down from that, in John 8:36 He says if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
You see, the Jews had the Laws, and the rules and the traditions passed-down by their forefathers. The Law is true, they had truth – but it was not the truth. The Law was not the truth that would make them free. A lot of people today are still trusting in their religious service to save them. They are trusting in the practice rather than the Person. You see, the truth that makes you free, is not a “thing”, it is a person. And the way that you have communion with that person is not through religion, but through relationship.
I’m not talking about something that you wake-up in the morning and try your best to become or to improve at, like a skill or a hobby, or even a vocation… No, I’m talking about your identity and the place that you live in and live from every single moment of every day; not because it is something you are striving for or something that you must do, but because it is simply who you are.
I’m going to be very real and open with you here, I don’t wake up in the morning and try not to sin… sin isn’t even on my mind. I also don’t wake up in the morning and purpose to try and fight Satan, or bind demons or anything like that. They aren’t on my mind either. That may or may not surprise you – because a lot of people are more conscious of sin and Satan than they are of Jesus, and they spend all day trying to defeat an enemy who has already been defeated and rendered powerless according to Colossians 2:15.
Instead, I wake up every day and I say thank you Jesus that you have taken my punishment, guilt, sin and shame on the cross and that my old self died on that cross and the life that I now live today I live through Jesus Christ and you see me in Him and I am righteous and sanctified with the very righteousness and holiness of You, and you see Me in Him and the Spirit of God is in me; the very same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me and gives life to my mortal body revitalizing, regenerating and rejuvenating me. You have already won the day, you have made it and I am alive in You.
I don’t say that exact thing every morning – it’s not a dead ritual – it’s not vain repetition – I am baring my soul before my Heavenly Father, my Dad up in Heaven, and I am declaring and giving thanks for the New Creation that He has made me. It’s not empty, and it’s not a mask that I put on to impress people or a fake church smile, this is my real identity, and my reality in Christ.
Is this just high-minded, spiritual-sounding talk with no substance or foundation? Not at all! Take a look at Romans 6:1-7:
“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 you 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 from now on we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
This is the foundation and this is the reality. Many preachers have used verse 1 to try and preach people away from sinful actions, however that is totally backwards, because the word “sin” in Romans 6:1 here is a noun! This isn’t talking about sinful actions… this isn’t talking about outward behaviors, but something far deeper and richer than that! This is talking about the very place of sin, the mark and stain of sin. Everything that you were in before Jesus Christ. Romans 5 (the previous chapter) talks about how when we are born, we are all born into the place of sin, because of Adam from the Garden of Eden. We were all born into that fallen, sinful dead status and place.
Now however, because of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, He has moved our position, from the place of sin, to the place of His righteousness. He has changed us from dirty to divine, from sinner to saint – that is why Jesus says “you must be born again”. And now that phrase should make perfect sense! The old you died on that cross with Jesus, and you are a completely new creation, born again by His Spirit. Simply put, you are no longer who you used to be!
So the verses here say: should we continue [abide, or live in the place of] sin? God forbid! There’s no reason for it, because Jesus quite literally made all things new. You are not even that person any longer, and you do not live in that place! Your old self died with Him, and your New self lives through His life.
Look at verse 7, For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Take a moment and really meditate on that sentence, let it sink in down deep. Because your old self is dead, you have been totally freed from the prison of sin. The mark of sin, the stain of sin, the guilt and shame and even the effects of sin are all included in that freedom. Christ is now your identity. His righteousness, His sanctification, His Spirit of power, love and a sound mind and absolute peace is inside of you! (2nd Timothy 1:7).
The truth that makes you free, is the truth of what Jesus has done for you, and who you are in Him. The thing that you are freed from, is everything having to do with sin and your old self. The prison and jail-cell of sin. And the love which you have today, is the love of God in you, on you and permeating through you. That is the truth and love for you to live in, every single moment of every day. His Spirit inside of you testifies that you are His child (Romans 8:15), and that you are righteous (John 16:10); the spirit doesn’t show you your sin or make you a slave – because Jesus has completely removed your sin (Hebrews 10:14, 22), and He no longer even remembers your sin! (Hebrews 10:17) So we have absolutely no business or right to hold onto something that Jesus purged and that the Father doesn’t remember!
We are to do as Hebrews 10:22 says and to draw near to God, with full assurance of faith, knowing that we have been washed, and have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.
An evil conscience is one that is marked with sin – that is precisely what Jesus has cleansed you from. So you have every right today, to live in the truth and love of God – and to share that truth and love honestly, simply because it is who you are.
Be blessed.