So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;
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So the Bible says it is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Don't go back to that old life. Watch what he says here in John chapter 8, verses 31 and 32. He says this, and I love this scripture so much. Put it on the screen. He says in John 8, 31, if you continue in my word, you will know the truth and the truth will what? Set you free. There it is. If you continue in my word, that's why. Just let me see your hand. If you are planning on doing 21 days of prayer and fasting with us, let me see your hand if you're doing it. If you didn't raise your hand, we're judging. Come on. But we are. during the fast, I want to encourage you to not just deny yourself from food, but feed yourself on the word. He said, if you continue in my word, you will know the, what was that word? Truth. And the truth will set you. You do not need what politicians or public figures have to say about life issues. You need the living, breathing Word of God to set you free on every issue. I feel like preaching to somebody that needs to understand what the Word says so the Word can set you free. Freedom is received, and then it is learned. I learn freedom. I learn truth. I learn the teachings of Jesus. I learn what the promises of God. As I learn it, then I fight for it. I will be generous. I will be a bridge builder. I will carry the peace …
… Either I surrender or I fight. Now, that's the way we find Jesus in this crowd that surrounded him in John chapter 8, verses 12 to 59. He is not around a crowd that had never heard of God. I want to make that clear. He is in a context of religion. As a matter of fact, one of the three great festivals of the year is where he was at the time he spoke the words of John 8, the Feast of Tabernacles. Remember the other time that he brought a sword? He said, Are any of you thirsty? Come to me and drink. They were pouring out the water from that sacred vessel on that sacred altar, and he said, Wait a minute! Let me tell you where real water is. It's in me, and you come to me, you'll never thirst again. Oh, that was a sword. And it started an argument that still hasn't ceased. Now, he comes to this place called the treasury, according to verse 20 of chapter 8. …
… I thought they knew it by heart. It says, you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Knowing truth makes you free. Knowing truth is so important to us. In this building, we have 44 classrooms. In the ministry center, we have 44 classrooms. Amen. And some of y'all ain't been in one. I am, I'm telling you. We want you to know the truth. When you know the truth... When you get a hold of the truth, you make choices to line up with God's will for your life. When you know the truth, and when you line up your life with the will of God and the Word of God, it changes your life. Amen. Now, I'm going to give you seven areas of truth that we focus on. I'm just giving you this. All of these can be expounded upon, but I'm just going to give you these seven areas. As a matter of fact, these seven truths is what our church is built on. …
… so far that God can't reach you. in John chapter 8 verse 31 Jesus tells us that we follow his teaching when we're obedient and we follow his commands then we will know the truth and even though lies hold us captive they're keeping us back the truth sets us free let's pray together God we are so grateful for the truth of your gospel, that you died on the cross for us, that you paid the ultimate price for our sin. And if you're here this morning and you've never made that decision to accept the truth of Jesus into your life, I invite you to pray this simple but powerful prayer with me right now. Just in the solitude of your own chair, right there where you are, pray these words. God, I admit that I'm a sinner. I believe in your truth that you died on the cross for my sin. I receive your forgiveness today. I commit my life to you. God, we're grateful for all those who made that decision this morning. …
… Verse 31. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, if you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine. How do you define a true disciple? That is one who continues in the Word, loving the Word, and obeying the Word. It's not about a sentimental attachment to Jesus, which very often is an imaginary Jesus that has nothing to do with the real one. Over in chapter 5, verse 24, Jesus said, "'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life.'" It's that simple. You hear His Word, you believe it, and you believe in the God who sent Him, you have eternal life. You don't come into judgment but pass out of death into life. That's why Romans 10, 17 says, faith comes by hearing the message concerning Christ, hearing and believing the truth. Well, they were offended by it. They were offended. Verse 61, Jesus conscious that His disciples – interesting that He calls them His disciples even though they were false, they were externally part of the group. …
… As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, Watch this. If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him. We are Abrahams of spring. and have never yet been enslaved to anyone, how is it that you say, you shall become free? Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin, and the slave does not remain in the house forever, the son does remain forever. If, therefore, the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. Now, if I were to ask you tonight, How many of you are in bondage? Some form of bondage. I wonder how many people, to be honest, would have to lift their hands and say, Well, I am. Now, I'm talking prime earthly believers because more than likely most of you here tonight are saved. …
… Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We are Abraham's descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say you will be made free? Jesus answered them, Most assuredly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin, and the slave of sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore, if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with my father, and you do what you have seen with your father. And they answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. …