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If I had to go back and check this passage in John Chapter 8 last week, before I sent it off, I have had to return and check the words of Jesus for this week’s study, and that is never a waste of time. We come to verse 34.

Verse 34. Everybody who sins is a slave to sin. We are all slaves. We are either slaves to sin or slaves of Jesus, and Paul makes that so clear in his letter to the Romans, and in other passages too.

This truth can be painful to those who think they are free and liberated. Unconverted people detest this sort of thing, but it is true.

There is no such thing as freedom, especially if a person means, by freedom, that I am free to do whatever I want. That person is a slave to sin.

Then come immediately the healing soothing words of Jesus Christ in verse 36. If the Son sets you free, you will free indeed. This is liberty. This is freedom to serve the living God.

This is what Jesus means when He says, that if you do what I say, then you will know by experience that you are free, and that you are free to do what God wants you to do. This all flows from believing that Jesus is who He says He is.

He not only saves us from our sins, but He releases and liberates from any chains which are holding you down, or keeping you back, and Jesus is saying that we can prove this for ourselves.

This is an amazing spiritual truth. Continue in My Word. Then you are my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you or make you free. And, there is no other way whereby a man can be free. Now, if you happen to know any other way do let me know.

In this passage Jesus tells us that two things will happen. The first is that we will experience real freedom, and there are so many people so needing to be set free from all sorts of things.

How many wake up every morning only to face addiction? It could be addiction to alcohol or drugs or gambling or one of the many other addictions. How many face fear or envy or anger. How many have to deal with some disability or disease, or they have their minds occupies with the memory of something happened years ago? How many are crippled by the burden of increasing debt?

Jesus Christ can help in each of these various areas. This is where the Church of Jesus Christ has to be so caring and compassionate and concerned and gracious.

If the first things Jesus is offering us in this passage, the second thing is this. If you continue in My Word and obey My Word, not only will you experience real freedom, but you will reflect God’s Fatherhood.

Jesus has something to say to the people. You are Abraham’s seed, but you seek to kill me. You want to get rid of me, because My Word has no place in you.

If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did. Abraham would not have wanted or tried to kill the Son of God. As Abraham had obedient faith, you would reveal obedience and faith in the same way. If you were children of Abraham, your outlook and attitude to Me would be very different.

These people were behaving so differently from the way Abraham behaved.

Abraham believed deeply, obeyed My Word, and was faithful to God in the most difficult and challenging situations. If you were children of Abraham you would love God’s son. Abraham was a friend of God. Abraham is my friend.

Abraham knew God would provide a lamb and what Abraham was asked to do, God has done in and through Christ Jesus our Passover Lamb.

Now if you are a friend or a son of Abraham, you will be a friend of mine. You will reflect that, and you will have a place for My words.

There is real verbal anger here from these Pharisees speaking with Jesus. They even accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan – a non-Jew, and being demon possessed. Jesus does not answer back. This did not appear to bother Him overly much, but Jesus moves the conversation on.

Jesus made no effort to correct what these men were saying. He does not try to placate them or calm things down by taking even more time to explain, because He knows that they will not accept what he is teaching.

A child of God loves Jesus, and listens to Jesus, and does what Jesus says. There is such a logical rational flowing here.

The false idea that everyone is a child of God is not a teaching of the Bible.

There are so many who are trusting in what is no more than wishful thinking. There are so many who have a kind of superficial faith, and that will one day prove inadequate.

Believe in Jesus. Believe in the Jesus of the Bible, because there is no other Jesus! Continue in His Word. Obey what He says, even when it is hard. Enjoy the freedom, and reflect the Father’s Love and Care and compassion.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

Not Many are Thirsty for More of God If You Are, Come and Drink!