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“To the cut who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV)
According to the Lord Jesus, the primary fruit or evidence of accepting, following, abiding in, holding fast unto, or obeying His teaching is “FREEDOM.”
Jesus pointed this out when He said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV).
Jesus came into the world to save, deliver, or redeem all humankind from the captivity of sin and Satan (1 Tim. 1:15). He came to deliver us from the bondage and curse of the law. He came to bring us from slavery into sonship (Gal. 4:4-5).
Jesus came into the world to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, set at liberty those oppressed, and proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:18-19).
Christ was manifested in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 – NKJV
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
By Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and triumphant resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ has purchased for all humankind freedom from sin, from the flesh, from the world, and Satan and all his demons.
The life of Jesus is worth much more than all the creations. So, by His death on the cross, Jesus has fully paid for the salvation, redemption, or deliverance of every person and person who will still come into the world (1 John 2:2, Gal. 3:13-14).
Because of the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ, no believers in this world should remain in any bondage. However, it is sad but true that many believers today are still in bondage.
The Scripture reveals that Christ has called us to liberty, having fully paid for our freedom.
Paul states, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Gal. 5:13 NKJV).
Therefore, Paul admonishes, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1 NKJV).
Why are many believers today still languishing and groaning under some grievous yokes or bondages?
Why are many believers today who desperately seek deliverance being exploited and subjected to various inhumane treatments in the name of deliverance?
Ignorance!
Lack of revelation knowledge of the truth!
Unbelief!
Failure to wholly trust in the finished work of Christ and appropriate the benefits or blessings of the finished work of Christ!
A mere intellectual understanding or knowledge of Christ’s death and resurrection cannot produce deliverance or freedom from sin, flesh, world, Satan, and all his works. This is why many believers who know about Christ’s death and resurrection are still groaning and languishing under the grievous yoke of demonic oppression.
What sets free is the revelation or experiential knowledge of the truth, which is not just some correct information but a divine person Jesus Christ (John 14:6 NKJV). Therefore, your freedom depends not on what you know about the Lord Jesus intellectually but upon your experiential or revelation knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
The more you grow in the revelation knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more freedom you will know and experience. As you increase the revelation knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished in you and for you by His sacrificial death and His triumphant resurrection, you will increasingly experience true freedom in every aspect of your life.
Paul testifies, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3:18 NKJV).
Therefore, it is not enough to become born-again; you must also desire and pursue, after revelation, knowledge of the truth—Jesus Christ.
God does not just want you to be saved; He also wants you to grow in grace or increase in revelation or experiential knowledge of the truth until you come to the full knowledge of the truth Christ Jesus.
Paul writes, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3-4 WEB).
When you diligently and prayerfully seek the Lord Jesus daily by reading, hearing, studying, meditating in, confessing, and obeying His word or teaching, you will grow in grace and revelation knowledge of the truth. And the truth you know, understand, and act upon will result in your freedom.
Therefore, the freedom His word produces in your life is the primary evidence that you abide in, continue in, or obey Jesus’ word or teaching. You cannot genuinely abide in Jesus’ teaching and remain in bondage. The truth always sets free!
True disciples of Christ are known for the freedom they experience in Christ. Freedom is the mark of those who truly follow and obey Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus pointed out this truth, saying, “If you hold to my teaching, you are my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV).
Do you desire true and total freedom in every area, aspect, or sphere of your life?
Then, seek to know, abide in, hold fast unto, obey, follow, and conform wholly to Jesus’ word, teaching, or doctrine.
This is the truth that will set you free indeed!
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me know, understand, receive, appropriate, and enjoy the authentic and absolute freedom that is mine in Christ Jesus, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our mandates is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.
Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.
AWH, blogs
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