How To Find Freedom

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,

 If ye continue in My word, then are ye My

 disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, 

and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him, 

We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage 

to any man: how sayest Thou, Ye shall be 

made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, 

Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth

 sin is the servant of sin. And the servant 

abideth not in the house for ever: but the 

Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall 

make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:31-36 

 

     Two points in the above Scripture: 1. The statement that they as Jews were never in bondage is not true as they were in bondage to the Assyrians, and the Babylonians, and now to Rome. Yes there were free in other ways, but not politically. 2. How could Jesus say that He could make them free? Really? How can we be assured that, if you believe as do the Jehovah Witnesses that Jesus is a created being, that He has the power to make us free eternally? We are to put our faith in another being that also has free will? There is a third point: An Authentic Christian will "continue" in the word of Jesus. This is a sign of an Authentic Christian, one who holds Authentic Christian Faith. Do you want to be free? Do you want your sins to be forgiven so that you have the freedom that Jesus offers? If so, keep the commandments. What is the word as to Jesus? The Scriptures are clear and plain on this point: 1. Jesus is God. 2. Jesus is the promised Messiah. 3. The death, the cross of Jesus is our assurance that our debt of sin is now paid. 4. The resurrection is our assurance that Jesus has taken His body, a new body, inasmuch now that body is immortal, and this is promised to all Authentic Christians. We have more than 500 witnesses to the fact that Jesus ascended into heaven. Freedom can be mine and yours if we believe on the word of Jesus, truly repent, and receive the Holy Spirit and be led by the Holy Spirit. You can have freedom now, and eternally. Freedom does not come free, it costs, just ask any soldiers, and other such events that have cost men and women, think of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, etc., and you will have you answer, freedom is not free, but it is FREE! You are now as an Authentic Christian free even though the world wants and does at time stomp on your freedom: They cannot take the freedom given to you by Jesus Christ. This is the love of God in action.

     God does not wait for a person to pay some price for their sin, although there are consequences, no all a person has to do is to receive His free gift of faith. Salvation is free! You cannot earn it, you can only accept it! Did not God the Father send His Only Begotten Son into the world? Yes! Did not God allow Jesus to go through the excruciating pain on the cross as an innocent man? Yes! So why would anyone think that God loves you so much that you will not go through some pain in this life? 

     Modern, liberal preaching is complacent on this point: they hardly ever, if ever, preach and teach the cross. Liberal teachers and preachers teach some form of experiential faith that is not to be found in Scripture. The cost to God is all but ignored and other "gifts" become the mark of a Christian. Wait a minute!!!! Jesus said that we must remain, continue in His word. Again: the word as to Jesus is that He is God, the Messiah, the Savior, the Intercessor and repentance by us according to His word and that is found in Scripture. The Holy Spirit inspired men to record this word. Euphoric expressions as practiced by the Pentecostals, the Charismatic, the Bethel Church of Redding are not Scriptural. They seek a joy to be found in the one practicing euphorical expressions. The Joy of God, this true joy to men that is being sought by liberal Christians cannot be found in any other way than than being repentant of your sins, continue in the word of Jesus. A person may speak in some gibberish sounds, may even give testimonies of healing, go around praying for healing, praying those things that tickle the ears, but they are not doing what the word of Jesus commands. Look up Acts 1:8 and see what it is that is for an Authentic Christian and you will find that it is the Gospel that is to be preached and this around the world. What part of that cannot  a person understand? An Authentic Christian, the one who has Authentic Christian Faith will be in some way involved in spreading the Gospel. Do this and you will be continuing in the word of Jesus. 

     Life is full of joy even in the middle of a crisis. Yes, it may take time to overcome something so serious as a death, or a divorce, but if a person continues in the word of Jesus they will find the joy of the Lord. Here is the greatest joy a person can have: eternal life! As an Authentic Christian you have that now, death does not have a hold on you for Jesus destroyed death. We will soon, if not already singing: "Joy to the world, the Savior comes let every heart rejoice." 

REJOICE, REJOICE, REJOICE: YOU ARE SAVED AND ARE FREE!

 

It is joy to the just to do judgment:

     but destruction shall be to the 

workers of iniquity. 

        Proverbs 21:15

He that followeth after righeousness

     and mercy shall findeth life,

righteousness, and honor.

       Proverbs 21:21

 

Continue in the word of Jesus

 

Richard L. Crumb