Authenticity. It’s always been a big deal. Perhaps today, in an age of Photoshopped images and a plethora of fake news sources, it’s an even bigger deal. Sometimes it’s really hard to know what’s really real and what’s really not, what’s really true and what really isn’t. Big deal for Jesus too. Especially when it came to really being a believer.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’? “

Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

(John 8:31-36 CSB)

Many believed in Him, but not all really believed. Many were ready to sign up if it meant they wouldn’t die in their sin (Jn. 8:24), but Jesus knew that not everyone who was willing to signup was willing to enlist. Not all who really wanted to dodge judgment had really decided to follow Jesus. And so, He provides a simple authenticating test.

Continue in My word? You really are My disciple.
Really my disciple? Then you are no longer a slave to sin, you really will be free.

Really my disciple. Really free. That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

If the word that we said we believed in, is the word we continue to abide in, then we’re really His disciples. If the truth that turned us to Jesus, is the truth that tethers us to Jesus, then we’re for sure His followers. Not to oversimplify, but that’s a pretty good initial test of whether our confession of faith is really real.

But wait, there’s more.

Continuing in His word, abiding in the truth, is authenticated by a life marked by being free from sin. Not talking free of sin but free from sin. Not without sin — for “If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1Jn. 1:8) — but a life where sin doesn’t perpetually rule over us or master us. Where, when sin entraps us or trips us up, by confessing our sin and repenting of sin, sin is nailed again to the cross. And at the cross we are forgiven our sin and cleansed from all unrighteousness (1Jn. 1:9).

Thus, free from sin. Free indeed — really free — because, while we may not yet be delivered from the presence of sin, nor from the old nature’s propensity to sin, through abiding in His word and His word abiding in us we have been released from the power of sin.

Really His disciples, really free, if we really remain . . . abide . . . not depart . . . continue in His word.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.