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Wilderness Voice
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Posted: Thu Jul 19th, 2007 04:46 am |
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John 8:
[31] Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him [Christians], If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
[32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [In today’s world it would be said: “We are Christians and Jesus has paid the price for everything we do, how can you say we shall be made free when we are already free?]
[34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
[35] And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
[36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
I spent years in bondage to sexual sin. The Grace and Mercy that I thought I understood and possessed were not mine. I was not free, the Son had not made me free. I was committing sins and was the servant of sin and could not abide in the Son’s house forever. I called myself a Christian but did not continue in Jesus’ word and was therefore not His disciple. I did not know the truth that would make me free. As in Romans 1:18 I was not the of the just that lived by faith – I was the opposite: the unfaithful who are filled with sin - what truth I held I held in unrighteousness.
And then God in His Mercy and Grace intervened and brought me face to face with the truth. The truth of the awfulness of my sin. The eternal crimes I had committed. The stripes I caused to fall on Jesus’ back. The horrid treatment of my wife. The disobedience fostered in my spirit. The molestation of myself over and over again. Hurting myself daily, sometimes more than once a day. Making the image of God submit to the filthy, lewd lust of my heart. Polluting my mind. Causing my hands and members to do those things which are abominable in the sight of God. No excuses – no explanations – no shared blame: my sins against God. My love of the pleasures of being unrighteous. My love of lust and its fire in my body.
This truth brought me to the repentance that brought down Mercy’s great hand of deliverance. The Grace to continue in the word. The forgiveness of the past but the most wonderful ability to go forward and sin no more. No falling, no bondage, no longer a servant of sin. Sin had no more dominion because the utter truth of sin had been revealed.
This is why I tell you what I’ve seen and heard, because real Victory in Jesus exists. Victory beyond recovery, beyond maintenance, beyond fear of falling back. The Victory of Jesus wrought by the hearing of the Word of Truth. (see My Testimony in Intro for further details)
That said, I feel led of the Spirit to discuss some of this truth. Those who do not wish to hear this can ignore it if they choose. Perhaps there are those however, who desperately want to know the truth that will bring them real freedom. The next post I make as a continuation of this one will be titled “Lust and the Flattery Connection.”
Last edited on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 04:47 am by Wilderness Voice
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dennis1soil
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Posted: Thu Jul 19th, 2007 07:17 am |
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Wilderness Voice,
I remember about a year ago maybe recognizing the distinction you pointed out in that very famous passage.English Standard Version John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Usually I hear only verse 32 quoted.
My wife told me tonight it has been almost 3 months since I have changed so radically. I began getting more consistent victory only after I finally "got it" about how bad I was hurting her. Maybe before that realization, I didn't believe I am so bad a sinner that I absolutely must receive Mercy and Grace?
To abide in Jesus' word, or continue in his word - for me, I think will only be possible as I continue to count on the amazing grace He provides (personally to me).
-Dennis
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Wilderness Voice
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 09:47 am |
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Just a further post:
Eph.5
[1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
[2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
[3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
[4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
[5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
[6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
[7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
[8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
[9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
[10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
[11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
[12] For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
[13] But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
[14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
[16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
[17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
What sweet counsel: "Dear Children." We should run to obey this Word and be not partakers of such sins: "a shame to speak of those things which are done of [us] in secret." Let us walk into the Light that makes manifest and reprove the works of darkness within ourselves having no fellowship with them.
Last edited on Fri Jul 20th, 2007 09:47 am by Wilderness Voice
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