Dear Fairplains Family

In one encounter with the religious elite, Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:31-32).  To abide means to stay put, not to depart.  A real disciple is one who hears the gospel and lives in it.  The gospel is life itself for those who are truly saved.

The self-satisfied crowd took offense that Jesus said; “The truth will set you free” (v. 32).  They claimed to be free in themselves and denied that they needed someone to set them free.  So, he explained that, “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (v. 34).  The lost are dominated by sin.  If Christ is not our Lord, sin is our master.

Jesus restated the promise: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (v. 36).  Jesus, God the eternally begotten Son, is the Truth and he does more than make it possible for people to save themselves.  He actually frees people from sin’s dominion.

God’s grace changes everything for the believer.  Jesus said, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (Jn. 10:3).  May God grant us the grace to hear Christ’s voice and to follow him always.