John 8:31-36. Truth frees – False teaching binds!! 28/10/07
{31) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. {32} Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." {33} They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" {34} Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. {35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. {36} So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
You are free! The truth sets you free. This is God’s Good News to each one of you. Yet how many of us here today are bound up in our living, thinking and even our spiritual life? How many of us here are feeling very tied down, frustrated and not able to do what is expected of us? Caught up in whole idea that we or others have to do this, that or the other in order to be acceptable to our community, church and above all to God? How many of us here have been deceived by Satan and our world into ‘having to’ conform and compete with one another in order to get ‘one up?’
Now this thinking is and has been a part of the lives of Christians and the church throughout history. So here as we celebrate the Festival of Reformation, we don’t just look back with thanks to God for Martin Luther and the much needed reformation that took place in the Church at that time; but we recognise the need for an ongoing reformation in our churches and in our own lives. We need to constantly be ‘reformed’ back into what God originally had in mind for us and as he created us in our baptisms. We need to go back to being free as God has made us free in Jesus Christ.
But unfortunately there is much thinking and teaching; even in the churches, which don't help one little bit. Unfortunately also our sinful human nature latches very quickly on to this thinking; loving it; even though it tears us to pieces. So often we hide the Good News of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, behind all kinds of requirements and expectations which bind and drag us down. We must ..... They must .... do this that or the other, or we are just not acceptable. We make all kinds of things requirements that have to be carried out in order for salvation and eternal life to be there.
So all that we end up doing is tying ourselves and others down with a whole system of rules and laws which have to be kept if we are to be Christians. But then we are really not Christian at all. That, is not Christ in us - but false teaching in us. It is Satan seeking to bind us and destroy us.
Ultimately when we go down that path it means striving and striving to be a part of something that in the final analysis is going to destroy us. If we want rules and regulation to determine our acceptability, then we are not believing and trusting in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Then we are told, that he will not have any part in us. All efforts to win God's favour and buy our way into heaven are in vain - wasted efforts – and in fact are disastrous. Instead of gaining the freedom we work for, we become slaves to selfishness, uncertainty and unhappiness forever.
Sure these churches and people that follow this line of thinking gather around them a great following. Our sinful human nature, though it wants to be lawless, it grabs hold of anything that will pander to our ego. But that doesn't mean that they are on the right track. In fact we are warned to be wary that we don't get bound into that type of thinking. It gets its following, obedience, and funding by operating with law; but its greatness belies its fall. It operates with human wisdom, not the truth of God's Word.
We however are called to hold firmly to that truth that is clearly given in the Bible: the truth that in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, we are free. God's love, acceptance, forgiveness and eternal life are a gift - freely given - not dependant on anything whatsoever that we do. At our baptisms we were made a part of God's family - whether as a child or an adult; not by anything that we do - but simply by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. We are accepted freely and fully without strings attached; Continually reminded that we are forgiven and that eternal life with God is now ours. Also that God's power, love and help is always there for us. Thereby we are free to live and be his children at all times.
No longer then, do we need to feel as though we or others have to earn any aspect of all these gifts that are given here. We are not bound to have to do one single thing in order to be acceptable in God's sight. Like a child that is a part of a family we know that we belong irrespective of what we have done or do; so also our being a part of God’s family is not conditional on our obedience, acceptance or any other thing on our part. We don't have to strive to continually be in the family. We are a part of our family and God’s family no matter what. Sure the patience is stretched from time to time; we don’t always perform to what is fitting for one who is part of the family; we don’t consider one another as we ought; and more; but we are still family – accepted and loved, freely.
There in the family we receive all the acceptance, help and care a family can give. There we are free to live as members within the family. Sure, as members of that family, we then seek to live within the guidelines of what is good and helpful for the family; to obey, respond and generally live for the wellbeing and good of the relationship of the whole family. Not to be accepted - but because we are a part of it.
Now sure, on the human level it doesn't always work out as it should. We parents or members of our families, are not always as good as we should be; but when it comes to God's family we know that our heavenly Father will never let us down. He forever and fully loves, accepts, forgives and cares for us perfectly. So he can be relied on.
So when he says at the Baptism of a little child, and each one us for that matter, that we are now a part of the family of God, we know that it is so. From that point on we don't have to strive to be accepted and loved - we are; we know that we will never be let down from our Lord's side; so then are free to live in that family relationship; assured that because of Jesus death, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Unless of course we ourselves choose to walk away and totally ignore and reject God and what he has done for us.
Sure, being free in the family means that we will then do the best we can to live by the family rules: Obedience, prayer, study, using God's gifts and all the rest will be an important part of our life; but not in order to be accepted - but because we already are. We will freely do these things because we know that they are good for us and for our relationship with others. We will freely want to into God’s presence because we know that our Lord has much good to give us there and reassure us of. Now we will seek to live a Christ-like life so that others may know the truth and so be free also; so that they too can enjoy the benefits, joy and peace that is there in the family of God. That means we will not condone sin, but at the same time we will love and do all we can for those with their faults and failings. We will correct, reprove and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction. We will live as is fitting for the family of God. This is what we as a Church and as individuals are on about.
We also hold firmly to the truth of the Gospel that centres on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and the freedom that he makes available to us. That, then is why we remember Martin Luther and the Reformation; and why we hold firmly to the Lutheran Confessions. That is why I stand before you here each week and work among you; and why I reject some churches and preachers. We want you and our community and all the world to know this Good News - this truth that frees. We do not want people to be bound up by all kinds of false teaching that are ever around - teaching that seek to put us back into slavery - you must do this, that or the other in order to be a Christian. No, we are Christian because of Jesus Christ and we live and proclaim that freedom for all the world to know.
Hold then to this teaching in the days and years ahead; and then you will know the truth and continue to be free. In the process I pray that we may be able to help others to see and know this truth also. So that even greater glory will go to our Lord, where it belongs. Truth frees— false teaching binds. Let us always be mindful of this. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
{31) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. {32} Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." {33} They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" {34} Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. {35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. {36} So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
You are free! The truth sets you free. This is God’s Good News to each one of you. Yet how many of us here today are bound up in our living, thinking and even our spiritual life? How many of us here are feeling very tied down, frustrated and not able to do what is expected of us? Caught up in whole idea that we or others have to do this, that or the other in order to be acceptable to our community, church and above all to God? How many of us here have been deceived by Satan and our world into ‘having to’ conform and compete with one another in order to get ‘one up?’
Now this thinking is and has been a part of the lives of Christians and the church throughout history. So here as we celebrate the Festival of Reformation, we don’t just look back with thanks to God for Martin Luther and the much needed reformation that took place in the Church at that time; but we recognise the need for an ongoing reformation in our churches and in our own lives. We need to constantly be ‘reformed’ back into what God originally had in mind for us and as he created us in our baptisms. We need to go back to being free as God has made us free in Jesus Christ.
But unfortunately there is much thinking and teaching; even in the churches, which don't help one little bit. Unfortunately also our sinful human nature latches very quickly on to this thinking; loving it; even though it tears us to pieces. So often we hide the Good News of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, behind all kinds of requirements and expectations which bind and drag us down. We must ..... They must .... do this that or the other, or we are just not acceptable. We make all kinds of things requirements that have to be carried out in order for salvation and eternal life to be there.
So all that we end up doing is tying ourselves and others down with a whole system of rules and laws which have to be kept if we are to be Christians. But then we are really not Christian at all. That, is not Christ in us - but false teaching in us. It is Satan seeking to bind us and destroy us.
Ultimately when we go down that path it means striving and striving to be a part of something that in the final analysis is going to destroy us. If we want rules and regulation to determine our acceptability, then we are not believing and trusting in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Then we are told, that he will not have any part in us. All efforts to win God's favour and buy our way into heaven are in vain - wasted efforts – and in fact are disastrous. Instead of gaining the freedom we work for, we become slaves to selfishness, uncertainty and unhappiness forever.
Sure these churches and people that follow this line of thinking gather around them a great following. Our sinful human nature, though it wants to be lawless, it grabs hold of anything that will pander to our ego. But that doesn't mean that they are on the right track. In fact we are warned to be wary that we don't get bound into that type of thinking. It gets its following, obedience, and funding by operating with law; but its greatness belies its fall. It operates with human wisdom, not the truth of God's Word.
We however are called to hold firmly to that truth that is clearly given in the Bible: the truth that in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, we are free. God's love, acceptance, forgiveness and eternal life are a gift - freely given - not dependant on anything whatsoever that we do. At our baptisms we were made a part of God's family - whether as a child or an adult; not by anything that we do - but simply by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. We are accepted freely and fully without strings attached; Continually reminded that we are forgiven and that eternal life with God is now ours. Also that God's power, love and help is always there for us. Thereby we are free to live and be his children at all times.
No longer then, do we need to feel as though we or others have to earn any aspect of all these gifts that are given here. We are not bound to have to do one single thing in order to be acceptable in God's sight. Like a child that is a part of a family we know that we belong irrespective of what we have done or do; so also our being a part of God’s family is not conditional on our obedience, acceptance or any other thing on our part. We don't have to strive to continually be in the family. We are a part of our family and God’s family no matter what. Sure the patience is stretched from time to time; we don’t always perform to what is fitting for one who is part of the family; we don’t consider one another as we ought; and more; but we are still family – accepted and loved, freely.
There in the family we receive all the acceptance, help and care a family can give. There we are free to live as members within the family. Sure, as members of that family, we then seek to live within the guidelines of what is good and helpful for the family; to obey, respond and generally live for the wellbeing and good of the relationship of the whole family. Not to be accepted - but because we are a part of it.
Now sure, on the human level it doesn't always work out as it should. We parents or members of our families, are not always as good as we should be; but when it comes to God's family we know that our heavenly Father will never let us down. He forever and fully loves, accepts, forgives and cares for us perfectly. So he can be relied on.
So when he says at the Baptism of a little child, and each one us for that matter, that we are now a part of the family of God, we know that it is so. From that point on we don't have to strive to be accepted and loved - we are; we know that we will never be let down from our Lord's side; so then are free to live in that family relationship; assured that because of Jesus death, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Unless of course we ourselves choose to walk away and totally ignore and reject God and what he has done for us.
Sure, being free in the family means that we will then do the best we can to live by the family rules: Obedience, prayer, study, using God's gifts and all the rest will be an important part of our life; but not in order to be accepted - but because we already are. We will freely do these things because we know that they are good for us and for our relationship with others. We will freely want to into God’s presence because we know that our Lord has much good to give us there and reassure us of. Now we will seek to live a Christ-like life so that others may know the truth and so be free also; so that they too can enjoy the benefits, joy and peace that is there in the family of God. That means we will not condone sin, but at the same time we will love and do all we can for those with their faults and failings. We will correct, reprove and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction. We will live as is fitting for the family of God. This is what we as a Church and as individuals are on about.
We also hold firmly to the truth of the Gospel that centres on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and the freedom that he makes available to us. That, then is why we remember Martin Luther and the Reformation; and why we hold firmly to the Lutheran Confessions. That is why I stand before you here each week and work among you; and why I reject some churches and preachers. We want you and our community and all the world to know this Good News - this truth that frees. We do not want people to be bound up by all kinds of false teaching that are ever around - teaching that seek to put us back into slavery - you must do this, that or the other in order to be a Christian. No, we are Christian because of Jesus Christ and we live and proclaim that freedom for all the world to know.
Hold then to this teaching in the days and years ahead; and then you will know the truth and continue to be free. In the process I pray that we may be able to help others to see and know this truth also. So that even greater glory will go to our Lord, where it belongs. Truth frees— false teaching binds. Let us always be mindful of this. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
posted by Roger at
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