Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36, NRSV)
“We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone…”
I seem to recall that the descendants of Abraham were slaves in Babylon and Egypt…
Or am I confused…
It seems like they had been in charge of their lives for so long that they didn’t even see the servitude they were currently in with Rome!
How many of us are the same way?
We are held captive to the sins that Jesus came and freed us from.
He didn’t free us from committing sins, but He freed us from the guilt and enslaving power of the sin we find ourselves in. We do not have to be held captive by it, but can confess it knowing the love of God is stronger than any sin we could possibly commit. We do not need to be held in the power of the guilt and shame our sin causes, but freed to live in the love of Christ.
The reformation was and is the thing that helps us see that the love of God is stronger than any of our guilt or shame, and Luther helped us see the love that Christ actually has for all of us.
Those who acknowledge their sin and those who still have the wool pulled over their eyes…
God loves us and His love is stronger than anything any one else will tell us. So remain faithful to God even in the dark times, because His light will dispels the darkness and free you to live the life He has in store for you!
aSacredRebel 