CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you abide in My Word“ – John 8:31

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31)

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as belief in God, being Jesus’ disciple, living daily according to and in His Word, knowing the Truth, freedom, enslavement.

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31)

IN CONTEXT

“So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?

 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. Now, the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. ” (John 8:31-36)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

Then Jesus is saying to me because, I believe Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciple indeed.” (John 8:31)

Abide (continue): “meno”, (μένω): to stay, abide, remain, stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy.

Funny thing about most people – no matter what you tell them, nor how many times they hear it, they will hear what they want to hear and will make of it what they want.

This twisting of human logic makes these words of Truth as complicated as they are simple. Taken at their simple face value, they offer a grand escape from the complications, the devastating results and the life draining enslavement of sin. But, when twisted to work as a justification for your sinful mindset and behavior, you become a permanent salve to sin, dragging about in the chains of sickness, disease, addictions, loss, worries, doubt, poverty, shame and guilt – all on full public display.

Why? Why would one do this? Pride is usually the reason. Pride, ego, selfishness, foolishness, addiction – holding your tight grip on ignorance instead of being willing or able to let go and reach for The Life-Giving Truth.

The Truth is easy to hear and to see if you have the ears to hear and the eyes willing to see: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. I have come to bring you abundant life – Jesus.

Try. You can find life, peace and satisfaction.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you, life and death, the blessing and the curse. So, choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants”. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

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