John 8:33-36 -- They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
Keeping it in context, Jesus has been going back and forth with a group of religious leaders, while also talking to a crowd mixed with believers and non-believers. He had just turned from the religious leaders and addressed those who believed. He told the believers if they abide in His Word then they'll know the truth and the truth will set them free.
In today's verses we find those religious leaders again stepping in to respond to what Jesus intended for believers. We see once again their thoughts are rooted in their earthly identities and ways. "What do you mean we'll be free, we're descendants of Abraham, and have never been slaves to anyone." Their response is unthinking, arrogant, and even a flat out lie. The Jewish people had been enslaved under Egypt, Babylon, and they even now sat under the heel of the Roman Empire.
Jesus doesn't bother to list off all time they'd been enslaved, instead He cuts right to the heart of things. "Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.". It doesn't get any clearer than this and He could've stopped there, but He lovingly goes on to warn what will happen in the end to those who continue practicing sin and remain a slave to it.
"The slave does not remain in the house forever, but the Son does. So, if the Son makes you free, you are without question free."
As you continue reading in chapter eight, we see Jesus' words go in one ear and out the other of the religious people. They never run out of questions and arguments to deflect and ignore what Jesus has to say. They had their religious rituals and memorized knowledge to keep them insulated from the conviction and confrontation Jesus' words bring.
Christian, do you have ongoing, habitual, sin in your life? Do you continually find yourself resisting being obedient to God's Word and direction? This isn't just about did you kill someone or rob a bank, please don't do those things, this is also about, are you abiding in His Word like he commanded? Are you walking as Jesus walked as commanded? Has the Lord given you direction and you're not doing it? Do your excuses for not abiding with Him regularly come quicker than the verses where He's commanded it?
Look, this isn't me trying to be holier than thou. This is me saying I spent years running and hiding from these things. He gave me directions, like this very website Jesusccc.com, back in 2018, yet it didn't get started until this year. You know what changed in 2022 for me? I started walking in His Word and talking with the Lord every single day without fail. It has been tough and many times it was out of sheer obedience, but He's changed me from inside out because of it.
Beloved, I ask you again to step back from your past, your present, your circumstances, your excuses, your very real reasons, and look at where you are right now in comparison to where the Lord has told you to be. I'm talking about relationship with Him, not a city or place. Ask the Lord to reveal to you any ongoing sin in your life. Ask a good Christian brother or sister to walk with you through it as well.
It's time for the church to move beyond the four walls and comfortable religious rituals. It's time to walk with our Lord in His freedom, power, and joy!
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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