JOHN 8:31-32 NRSV
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you
continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free.”
Notice carefully what Jesus actually said. It is not those who
“start in the word” or “try the word for awhile” who will be
made free. You must continue in Jesus’ message — His Word. It
must be His accurate message — not just someone’s idea about
it, or religious tradition.Some translations use the word “abide” instead of “continue.”
Abide means to stay somewhere continually. Either way, the
meaning involves staying with it.Note what Jesus said in verse 32, “and you will KNOW the truth
. . .” Just hearing truth does not necessarily make you free.
You must KNOW it is the truth. When you KNOW something, you
will act on it. If you are not acting on something, you do not
yet truly KNOW it. You act on what you know.Hearing the truth is not enough. Loving the truth is not
enough. Even speaking the truth is not enough. You must
continue until you know that you know that you know that you
know. Only then are you at the point where truth will make you
free. Because only then will you be able to act with faith and
boldness on God’s Word.The devil is against you and is intent on keeping you in
bondage. Only when you KNOW where you stand will you act in
faith and overcome the strategies of the devil.You may ask, “How can I KNOW the truth? I just have weak
faith.”Jesus gave the answer: continue in His Word. As you continue in
the Word of God you will become convinced — you will know —
you will have faith. When you reach the point of knowing
something — you will act on that knowledge. In this way the
truth will make you free.This works in every area of life: your relationships, your
health, your finances — everything. Continue in the Word of
God on any subject — and you will eventually see the fruit of
freedom in that area of your life.God gave you His Word for your benefit — not for His benefit.
God already knows the truth, and always acts on it. Because God
loves you, He gave you His Word to help you.SAY THIS: I will continue in the message of Jesus Christ. As I
do I will know the truth. As I act on the truth it will make me
free.
