The Trinity of Abiding

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Pete

In his first letter, John tells his readers that “God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him” (1Jo. 4:16 CSB). The CSB calls it remaining, but I’ll go with the ESV this morning and refer to it as abiding. Those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. A whole lot of abiding going on there. It kind of captures the essence of what I just read in John’s gospel. There, I think I saw the trinity of abiding — serving, sitting, and sacrificing.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

(John 12:1-3 CSB)

Six days before the Passover. Sister, sister, and brother had probably already set aside their sacrifice in preparation for the annual remembrance, “an unblemished animal, a year-old male” taken from either the sheep or the goats (Ex. 12:5). But six days before the Passover they would host heaven’s once for all sacrifice, Jesus, the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29, 36). Jesus, God in flesh. For God is love. And God sent His one and only Son into the world — and into their home — so that they might live through Him. God loved them and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for their sins (1Jn. 4:9-10). So, Jesus entered their home. He came for dinner. He came to abide with them. How would they abide in return?

Martha was serving. Lazarus was sitting. And Mary was sacrificing.

The practical older sister, Martha, was doing what she did best. She set a table fit for a king as a tangible way of honoring the King. She’d fade into the background as she busied herself making ready a meal from her kitchen for the One who had come to her as the Bread of Life from heaven (Jn. 6:32-35). Martha was serving Jesus.

Baby brother, Lazarus, was reclining at the table with Jesus. The living dead guy quietly communed with the Resurrection and Life (Jn. 11:25). Taking in everything Jesus had to say. All ears and overwhelmed as he considered again that, though he had been four days in the tomb, he still had ears to hear. Lazarus was sitting with Jesus.

And Mary? Oh, over-the-top, upset-the-apple-cart Mary — she could only have been the middle child. She audaciously and extravagantly fills the house with the fragrance of perfume. A pound of perfume! Whew! Pure and expensive, poured out and encasing the feet of Jesus. Poured out and filling the air with its pungent aroma. Poured out as she used her hair as a washcloth to wipe Jesus’s feet. Bowed low at His feet in order to lift up her Head. In unbridled worship, Mary was sacrificing to Jesus.

How’s that for a trinity of abiding? Serving, sitting, and sacrificing.

Works, wonder, and worship.

Busy for the Savior, beholding the Savior, bowing at the Savior’s feet.

Each loving Him because He first loved them.

Abiding by His grace. Abiding for His glory.

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Seen in the Shadows

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Pete

There’s a lot in Ezekiel that I don’t get. And it’s not just trying to make sense of Ezekiel’s description of things he sees which are beyond description. Even some of the things clearly described are still mysterious shadows within his prophecy.

Case in point? Ezekiel’s description of a future temple in chapters 40 through 44. Nothing much left to the imagination here. It’s a concrete description of a massive building project, with spec’s laid out to the inch. But the question arises, what is it referring to? Is it to be understood figuratively or literally? Is it something that should have been built in the past, exists in symbolic form in the present, or is yet to be built in the future? Or does it point to something which exists beyond the future, something which describes something in the eternal? Even though I have my thoughts, like I said, there’s a lot I don’t really know for sure.

But something I do know. That when I get to the specifics of what the priesthood is doing in Ezekiel’s vision of the temple, I’m reading, at least in part, my job description as a follower of Jesus.

As you come to Him, a living stone ​— ​rejected by people but chosen and honored by God ​— ​you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

(1Peter 2:4-9 CSB)

A holy priesthood. A royal priesthood. A priesthood, holy and royal. That’s who we be.

And so, when I read in Ezekiel’s vision about what the priests are doing as part of their priesthood, I find myself taking note of what I should be doing as part of this priesthood. This is what the LORD God says (Ezekiel 44:9a):

They will approach Me to serve Me (44:15)

They may enter My sanctuary and approach My table to serve Me (44:16a)

They will keep My mandate (44:16b)

They are to teach My people (44:23)

They will officiate as judges (44:24a)

They are to observe My laws and statutes (44:24b)

That’s what the priests in Ezekiel’s vision were to do. And in there is instruction as to what we priests in Jesus are to do.

We approach and we serve. We enter the holy of holies, we find our place at the table. We seek to discharge our priestly orders. We teach what we know and we exercise authority within our ranks. We follow in obedience.

There’s some to do’s there. Ours is “to do” them. Only through His enabling. Only by His grace.

But what grabs me this morning is what God reminds the prophet of about the bottom-line benefit of being a priest. It wouldn’t be in the treasures they stored up nor in the goods they possessed. It wouldn’t be found in anything they achieved or in any rank they secured in their world’s economy. Nope, their inheritance would be something far greater, something far more everlasting.

“This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.”

(Ezekiel 44:28 CSB)

I am their inheritance. I am their possession.

By some wondrous condescension of the Creator, by some unfathomable gifting of Himself, He has said that not only am I His, but He will be mine.

Now that I get. Well, at least in part (1Cor. 13:12). But soon face to face. Known today to a certain degree, but one day to be experienced to the nth degree. Seen in the shadows of Ezekiel’s prophetic mystery. To be fully known in the light of Christ’s return.

He is mine.

Oh, what unfathomable grace! To God be the glory!

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Job Asks. Jesus Answers.

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Pete

A big part of Job’s problem, and a big contributor to his struggle with God, was that Job didn’t really get the big picture. I know, kind of an understatement, huh?

From reading the beginning of the book, we know that Job didn’t know the “rest of the story” happening “behind the scenes.” From the end of the book, we know he didn’t really understand who he was addressing when he demanded a one-on-one, face-to-face debate with the Creator. And as I read this morning in Job 14, I notice something else Job didn’t quite get which, if he had, might have made a difference in how he set about processing his loss, grief, and suffering. He didn’t get the length of his life.

When a person dies, will he come back to life?
If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.

(Job 14:14 CSB)

When a person dies, will he come back to life? Good question, Job. A really important question. Jesus answers that question in one of my other readings this morning.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

(John 11:25-26 CSB)

Not to minimize nor diminish the magnitude of Job’s suffering in any way, but it makes a difference if, when a person dies, he does in fact come back to life. If all the time Job had to “live life to the fullest” was whatever time God had determined for him to inhabitant space on earth, then how much more devastating is the loss, and all the time dealing with the memory of the loss of everything you once held so dear? Pretty devastating. Pretty hopeless (Job 6:11). Perhaps so much so that you might think it better you were never born (Job 3).

But this life isn’t all of life. Any time, while here on earth, consumed by unfulfilled dreams, or unrealized opportunity, or unfair suffering is time to be factored not against this life only, but all of life — the resurrected, eternal life. When doing the math of time experiencing loss vs. the total time alive, the denominator, the number below the line, isn’t how many years are marked on our gravestone but whatever number you want to imagine conveys “forever.” In comparison to the life yet to be lived, this life really is but the blink of an eye. Thus, the losses of this life occupy but only a fraction of the blink of an eye.

Again, not to minimize, not to diminish the harsh realities of our trials and sufferings. Only by God’s grace, God’s power, and God’s faithfulness do we get through them. But with an eye to eternity, we can say with Job, if a person does come back to life, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the big picture. That those who believe will forever be. That now is less about winning and more about running the race. That now isn’t measured by what we gain here on earth but by how much treasure we’re storing up in heaven.

We will come back to life. We will never die. For Jesus really is the resurrection and the life.

Job asks. Jesus answers.

Jesus then has a question for me.

“Do you believe this?”

Yes, Lord, I believe!

By Your grace. For Your glory.

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No Longer Prey!

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Pete

Continuing to read in Ezekiel and John this morning, and the two readings come together.

In Ezekiel, while there’s been a whole lot of judgment pronounced thus far upon the nation of Israel, the Judge’s focus now turns to Israel’s shepherds. While God’s flock will be accountable for their own sin, God’s shepherds — beyond being responsible for their own iniquity — are held accountable for the manner in which they neglected to shepherd. They did not tend the flock. They did not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, nor did they bandage the injured. They did not bring back the strays. They did not seek the lost. Instead, they ruled over their charge with violence and cruelty (Ezek. 34:3b-4).

Thus, these shepherds had direct culpability for a flock which had been scattered, a flock which had gone astray. And a scattered flock is an endangered flock. A flock gone astray is a flock in peril.

“They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered. . . My flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal . . .”

(Ezekiel 34:5,8b CSB)

Wayward, wandering, wicked Israel — sheep without a shepherd — had become prey. Left with no spiritual leadership, they were left as food for every wild animal. With no direction, they were being served up for dinner. Lacking correction, they were ripe for consumption. With no shepherd, they were left as supper for any adversary prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But God would do what Israel’s shepherds did not. God would search for His flock. He would look for His flock. He would rescue His flock. And He would shepherd His flock. God would tend them in good pasture, and they would lie down in good grazing places. (34:10b-15). He would do what they should have done.

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak.”

(Ezekiel 34:16a CSB)

And what really grabs me this morning is the twice repeated declaration that God’s flock would no longer be prey.

“I will save My flock. They will no longer be prey . . . They will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the power of those who enslave them. They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild creatures of the earth will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them.”

(Ezekiel 34:22a, 27b-28 CSB)

No longer prey! That is the declaration of all who had gone astray but now are in the fold. That is the victory cry for every sheep once lost but now found. That is the reality of all those under the loving care of the Good Shepherd, God the Shepherd.

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” ~ Jesus

(John 10:14-15, 27-30 CSB)

No longer prey. No longer feasted on by a flesh-ruled heart. No longer dinner for a destitute world. No longer lunch for a roaring lion. Safe in the hands of the Son. Secure in the hands of the Father.

The LORD is my shepherd . . . I am no longer prey.

Oh, what wondrous grace! To God be the glory!

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We Have an Anointing

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Pete

John has already warned them of the dangers from “out there.” He’s just exhorted them not to love the world — not to esteem how it thinks, not to covet what it offers, not to be molded by how it is motivated (1Jn. 2:15-17). There’s deception and destruction out there — don’t fall for it, John says.

But what about from “in here”? Especially “in here” during the “last days”? How do we recognize and deal with the deception sourced within the walls of our fellowship? John deals with that next.

Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

(1John 2:18-19 CSB)

It’s the last hour. Jesus has come, died, risen, and ascended. So, what’s left is for Jesus to come again. It’s the last hour. But before Jesus comes again in power and might, first comes the anti-Jesus in opposition and misrepresentation. While we wait for the Jesus from heaven there will be an uptick in anti-Jesus sentiment on earth, fueled by anti-Jesus influences from hell. And some of this “went out from us.”

Enemies of the cross robed in fake garments of righteousness, once singing from the same hymnal (off the same large screen), once present at the same communion table. They looked like a duck, talked like a duck, but they weren’t no duck. And eventually, they left us. Yet, they still talk to us that they might enlighten us. They still pursue us, promising us a better way. They still end up in our social media feeds as they use enough of our words to make it into our algorithms. They didn’t remain with us, but they remain attached to us. So how you gonna recognize these imposters? How you gonna discern that their better way is really an anti-Jesus way? Cue the anointing.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

(1John 2:20 CSB)

It’s gonna take some effort to recognize what’s false, but you have an anointing . . .

We have a chrisma, an unction, a smearing. We’ve been covered, head to toe, inside and out. At the moment we responded to the call of God the Father and believed in God the Son, we were anointed with God the Spirit. And because of that, all of you know the truth.

Not that we were given full and perfect knowledge concerning all things. But we were given all we need to share in the divine nature (2Pet. 1:3). And the includes the tools necessary to discern what is true and what is false, what is pro-Christ and what is antichrist. With the word of God in hand and the Spirit of God within, all of you know the truth.

Ours is to mature in the word as we practice applying the word so that our “senses” will be “trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Heb. 5:12-14). And that is only accomplished through our anointing, by the One in us who will guide us into all truth (Jn. 16:13).

Thus, in order to know the truth we seek to cultivate the supernatural dynamics of our anointing. Aware of the Spirit on us and in us, we purpose to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), “live by the Spirit” , “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25), and “sow to the Spirit” (Gal. 6:8). We don’t want to “grieve the Spirit” (Eph. 4:30), nor “quench the Spirit” (1Th. 5:19), so that, without hindrance, we might be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18b).

Then will this Anointing enable us to know the truth. To discern when these antichrists who were once with us are now just wanting to deceive us. To take the word we have read and the word we have been told and infuse within as a supernatural filter to sift the veracity of what we’re being sold.

We have an anointing. We know the truth.

Amen?

By His grace. For His glory.

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Do Not Love the World

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Pete

As far as “commands to obey” go, I’m guessing it’s pretty well known among believers. Probably among the first we learned when first we were coached on what it means to die to self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. That if I had decided to follow Jesus, then “the cross before me” meant I was prepared to give my back to “the world behind me”. Taught early on that, while we were still in the world, we were not of the world and so, we shouldn’t love the world.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world ​— ​the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions ​— ​is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(1John 2:15-17 CSB)

I look at the western church today, and though I am a big fan of her, I can’t help but feel that, at least in some ways, the world has co-opted her. While in many ways she’s maintained her distinctives from the world, in other ways she seems sometimes way too dialed in to the world. And I wonder if it’s because when we learned this verse way back when, we were quick to talk about the things in the world which we were not to love, and the things we were not to do, but weren’t as aware or laser-focused on the ways of the world we should not adopt. That we were so quick to create a list of behaviors to avoid that we weren’t picking up on the list of beliefs we should guard against.

Beliefs like “expressive individualism”, that a relentless focus on being me is best for me, rather than the belief that I thrive when I am functioning within community and submitting to the family to which I belong. Beliefs like, in order to be salt and light, we need to do all we can to maintain a moral majority rather than fulfill our remnant call as a prophetic minority. Beliefs like, in order for the mission to make it, we need to have our own brand of celebrities to lead it. Beliefs like, in order to stand firm, we need to take a “might is right” approach rather than take Jesus at His word and that the meek really will inherit the earth.

Do not love the world. Do not agape the world.

I see that word, agape, and immediately I think do not sacrificially love the world. But probe the word agape a bit and, at its core, it’s about love based on what is esteemed rather than love founded on affection. A response to what one highly regards. A reaction to what is ighly valued. So, when examining whether or not I’ve been drawn into loving the world, though my behaviors may be far from the world’s, I might want to test how my beliefs about living in the world may have been influenced by the world.

Not sure I’m making sense here. But what I think I’m trying to say is that, if we really want to be on guard against loving the world, perhaps we need to be examining our ways of engaging the world rather than just evaluating our works against the world’s.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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We Give Glory to God!

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Pete

What’s new under the sun? Nothing (Eccl. 1:9). Cancel culture, too? Yup, it’s been there done that.

Reading in John 9 again this morning — in the middle of three days of some of my favorite readings in my reading plan. Love setting the table every fall with the account of the seeing blind man.

Born blind from birth, this man encounters Jesus. And with a little spit and a little dirt, Jesus puts a mud pack on the guy’s eyes and says, “Go wash it off in the pool of Siloam.” The guy goes, the guy does, and the man born blind “came back seeing.” Now things get interesting.

Enter the Jews. Not happy about a seeing blind man who says Jesus was the one who gave him sight. Sounds like a God thing. But they refuse to believe Jesus is from God. So they spin the God thing as really being an evil thing, because the day on which Jesus made mud to open this guy’s eyes was the Sabbath. Sounds like Jesus is a Sabbath-breaker to them. Forget that He’s also a blindness-breaker and sight-giver. Interrogation time.

First they talk to the guy. But hard to have an argument with a blind guy about him being healed of his blindness when that guy’s looking you straight in the eye. Time to grill his parents.

The Jews did not believe this about him ​— ​that he was blind and received sight ​— ​until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight.

They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

“We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.”

(John 9:18-23 CSB)

Banned from the synagogue. Kinda’ sounds like cancel culture to me. Being shunned for looking at the same facts and coming up with a different conclusion — even when that conclusion seems to be the most plausible conclusion. And so, the seeing blind guy’s parents take the Fifth. Despite the fact that their kid is now looking into their faces for the first time, they are not prepared to call it a miracle or to consider that Jesus, the One who gave their boy sight, possibly is the Messiah. Nope, not going there. ‘Cause they want to go to church on Saturday.

But their boy? Well, a seeing blind guy doesn’t have the luxury of not taking a stand.

So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! . . .

“. . . Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

(John 9:24-25, 32-33 CSB)

Give glory to God, they say. I will, he says. Tell us the One who healed you is a sinner ’cause He did it on the Sabbath, they say (remember, they’re not disputing the miracle — after all they are nose to nose with this guy, looking into his twinkling eyes). Can’t tell you that, the seeing blind guys says. All I know is that I once was blind but now I see. And Jesus did it! To God be the glory!

Canceled or not, we can’t help but testify of what Jesus has done for us . . . and to us. Foolishness or not, the cross is our confession, Popular or not, the blood is our belief. Deemed in our right minds or not, the resurrection is the reason we own Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Blind people seeing; that’s who we are. Once in darkness, but now children of light. Once in bondage, but now free.

Canceled or not, because of the grace of God we can’t help but give glory to God!

Amen?

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That God’s Work Might Be Displayed

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Pete

I read in Job before reading in John this morning. In Job, Job’s buddy miserably “comforts” him with, “Man, your kids are dead, and it must be because of their sin and rebellion. You’re not, so cast yourself upon God’s mercy for whatever you’ve done that’s deserving of such suffering (8:4-6).” Cause and effect, says his friend, that’s what you’re dealing with, cause and effect.

Then, reading in John, Jesus’s disciples draw a similar conclusion.

As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

(John 9:1-2 CSB)

Blind at birth. Makes no sense. God is Sovereign. No random accidents. So, conclude the disciples, someone must have done something wrong to warrant such seemingly unfair and harsh circumstance. Whodunit?, they ask, who sinned?

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.”

(John 9:3 CSB)

So that God’s works might be displayed. Hmm . . . chew on that.

Sometimes tough stuff happens not because of what someone has done, but simply because of what God wants to do. Not because they are wrong, but in order to be part of God’s mighty work. Not because they deserved it, necessarily, but that the presence and power of God might be displayed through it.

Jesus isn’t saying that his guy, or his parents were perfect, just that it would be wrong to equate the state of their holiness as the reason for their heaviness. To sort of quote Casting Crowns out of context; it wasn’t because of who they were, but because of what God had done; not because of what they’d done, but because of who God is. And He is the God who is Sovereign over all and seeks to make Himself known to all — to all who have eyes to see (pun intended) and ears to hear.

That God’s work might be displayed. Satisfying for the “whys?” of hardship, and trial. Maybe not always . . . okay, maybe rarely. But while it may not be satisfying it can still be soothing? Submitting our situation to His sovereign purposes has a way of calming the storm. Acknowledging by faith that a good God has allowed/orchestrated less than good circumstances for His purposes, can bring a certain rest. Putting my situation within the context of His presence and power and promises, evokes a certain peace. While the “sea billows roll” it can yet be “well with my soul” (Horatio Gates Spafford).

So wait, weary saint. Wait upon the Lord. Believe, battered believer. Believe that if God is for us nothing can ultimately stand against us. And keep on keepin’ on, so that God’s work might be displayed in your circumstance.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Grow!

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Pete

Peter wrote to remind them of ” these things” — things they already knew, things upon which they already stood firm (2Pet. 1:12). Things which Peter very much wanted them to be able to recall at any time (1:15). Things essential for grace and peace to be multiplied (1:2). Things needful for usefulness and fruitfulness (1:8). Things, though spoken by men were not of men — things from God by the Holy Spirit (1:20-21).

But things which could be twisted by false teachers (2:1). Things which could be derided by scoffers (3:3). Things which could be distorted, sowing doubt as to whether or not the power of God was sufficient to fulfill the promises of God (3:4). Things which, unless error were guarded against, could be undermined, thus undermining their foundation (3:17).

And so, Peter concludes his second letter with one final exhortation. A final command to obey to ensure they would always stand fast in “these things.”

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

(2Peter 3:18 CSB)

But grow. How’s that for a command to obey? Chew on that for a bit.

Short and sweet and simple.

But a gimme? Nope. It’s gonna take “every effort” (1:5, 1:10, 3:14). But worth the effort? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Continually moving forward is effective preventative maintenance for falling back. Persistent progress in seeking what is true, a great countermeasure against being fooled by what is false. Increasing, a sure way to avoid eroding. Adding, helpful when you want to stay away from atrophying. So, says Peter, “Grow!”

Grow in “these things.” Grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord (1:2). Grow in supplementing your faith (1:5-7). Grow in making your “calling and election” sure (1:10). Grow in your familiarity of the prophetic word (1:19). Grow in your understanding of the apostolic word (3:2). Grow in the hard-to-understand stuff of Paul’s word (3:15-16).

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Whatever you do, grow!

Like I said, simple. But the laziness of the flesh and the lies of the enemy would redirect our “every effort” into a million other things instead of advancing in “these things.”

So be on your guard (3:17) . . . and grow!

Grow in the grace of Jesus. Grow in the knowledge of Jesus. Grow for the glory of Jesus.

Amen?

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Really My Disciple. Really Free.

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Pete

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.

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