Abiding in Jesus Word
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Social
possibly start with Myers Briggs tests and over time adjusting closer to each other.
adjusting behaviors after hanging out with people.
new school
want to fit in
sambas
pegged pants
kswiss
skateboards
even learning to like soccer because I wanted to be with my friends.
As we spend time with people we begin to shift and adjust our behaviors. Jesus understands that and so as people begin to express belief in him, he urges them to listen to what he has been teaching and abide or remain in that teaching. He knows that doing this has several outcomes. First of all…
Abiding in Jesus’ Word...
Abiding in Jesus’ Word...
Marks a True Disciple (8:31)
Marks a True Disciple (8:31)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
This comes on the heals of our conversation last week, where Jesus was teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles. He made some bold claims to the Jews who were debating with him about being the light of the world and even being the anointed one - or the Messiah. In spite of all of the controversy, John tells us that...
As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
So Jesus seemed to turn to these people, the believers, and gave them some insight into what it means to truly believe - what it means to truly be a disciple.
His charge is for people to “abide in his word.” But what does that mean?
The word “abide” can be translated to remain or to continue.
Part of the connotation is not only remaining but obeying. Acting on what we have heard.
In John 15:1-11, on the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus used similar language with the 12 disciples, or apostles. He did so referencing an agricultural metaphor:
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Think about that idea of a branch remaining or abiding in the vine. In order for it to have health and life, it must allow the nutrients that come from the vine - up from the soil - to flow through. It must be obedient and take on the character of the vine.
It’s important that we remain connected to the Word of God - in personal Bible study, in family devotions, in group Bible study and in corporate worship. As we spend time reading, reflecting, and applying the word of God - we abide and are transformed.
We can certainly supplement our time in the word with good podcasts, books, devotionals, and other biblically oriented things, but they are no replacement for the word of God.
It makes sense, we have to spend time with Jesus in order to be like Jesus - which, simplistically speaking, is exactly what a disciple is - someone who follows and learns from a teacher.
But, as Jesus makes this comment to these new believers, he expands his comments because...
Abiding in Jesus’ Word...
Reveals Truth (8:32)
Reveals Truth (8:32)
John 8:31–32 (ESV)
...“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth is a topic that has become very subjective lately. Many people want to define truth by personal preference or experience. There is an element where experiences - what has happened to us or what we’ve gone through - are very personal, factual, and truthful. But there is a sense in which truth requires a standard.
(need some sort of example or illustration here)
The Lexham Theological Wordbook describes truth in this way:
Truth refers to what is real, trustworthy, dependable, genuine, or valid. It carries the sense of real-world dependability and genuine disclosure—showing things as they really are.
We could spend time delving into all sorts of applications of this truth, but in order to be consistent with the text, we need to consider what Jesus means - what truth he is revealing In context.
In his conversation with these so-called believers - he has struck a cord, because some of them retort:
They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
There are a few problems with their response.
If they are referring to all Jews throughout history up to that point, then they are inaccurate (untruthful), because Jews had been enslaved on multiple occasions - by Egypt prior to the exodus, in the exile as prisoners of foreign leaders.
If they are referring to the present time - many Jews at that time were living in Roman occupied territories without the privileges and rights of Roman citizenship. They were basically slaves - even as they were speaking.
They missed Jesus’ point.
You see, in Jesus’ comment about truth and freedom, he was not referring to political or even individualistic freedom, he was referring to spiritual freedom.
As we abide with Jesus, we gain knowledge about...
The Painful Truth of Our Slavery to Sin (8:31-38)
The Painful Truth of Our Slavery to Sin (8:31-38)
Jesus responded to his questioners this way:
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
There are times when the truth hurts. This is one painful truth - that we have a sin problem. Elsewhere in our study of Scripture, we’ve learned that because we are human, we have a sin problem from birth (Rom. 3:23; 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21-22).
But, beyond simply having an inherited sin problem, we have a wilful sin problem. Jesus clearly calls out these followers (and by extension, us) as people who practice sin. Even the Apostle Paul, a man who was gloriously transformed by the power of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, struggled with sin:
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
What is he saying? He struggled with sin! But he also called sin “sin” - he didn’t rationalize it, he didn’t justify it, he didn’t excuse it.
As we spend time with Jesus, as we allow the Holy Spirit to have more and more reign in our lives, we will regularly have to face our own fallenness - even when we are eternally freed from sin. As we spend time in the word and in fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ, we will be confronted with attitudes, habits, actions, language - that is sinful. Sure, it’s been paid for by Jesus, but it still gets to be rooted out in each of us.
Abiding with Jesus reveals this painful truth of our initial slavery to sin, but it also reveals...
The Sobering Truth of Our Corrupted Nature (8:39-47)
The Sobering Truth of Our Corrupted Nature (8:39-47)
As Jesus and his interlocutor’s continue to debate, they bring about claims of holy ancestry. One group claims to be children of Abraham - the father of all Jews (and Muslims) - assuming that family might heritage might make a difference. They then accuse Jesus of having a questionable or illegitimate birth and even call him a Samaritan (which was basically the equivalent of using the “N” word for African Americans today) (John 8:39-48).
Because their conversation is going nowhere, Jesus calls them out for their true heritage:
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
As painful as this is, think about how we naturally respond when accused. Often our first response is to be defensive - to lie or justify our actions and then to retort.
personal story or illustration
So, Abiding in Jesus’ word marks us as a disciple, but also reveals truth to us - even painful and sobering truth. Finally, abiding in Jesus Word...
Brings True Freedom (8:32)
Brings True Freedom (8:32)
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
When we think of the differences between freedom and bondage, so often we look at physical, mental, emotional, political, and even contractual boundaries that limit our freedoms.
———-— skip?
Physically - I am not as free to run as fast or as far as I used to because of physical fitness - which of course, I have freedom to change my fitness - now I just need the will. But I also don’t have freedom to go into any house that I want to or drive any car that I want. I would be trespassing or even considered to be stealing - which would further restrict my physical freedoms with iron bars.
We could go on to consider a variety of ways that we can experience freedoms.
———————
But, when it comes to considering freedom, we often think of it as being very individualistic and personal. What you want to do may be different from what I want to do. In fact, the phrase “you do you” is often touted as a way to express your personal take on individualistic freedom.
To that end, maybe we could learn something from a train.
Where is a train most free? When it’s on the rails. Maybe our lives and our culture are most free when we have some “rails” to keep us on track and allow the greatest flourishing. I believe the Word of God has the best rails for us - after all they are God’s rails.
While we may think of freedom in these ways, this is not the freedom that Jesus is talking about. In the context that we’ve already considered, Jesus is talking about a freedom from the slavery of sin - the bondage. Abiding with Jesus, helps us to know that truth but also brings us true freedom from the truth of that bondage.
Sin has a clear consequence - that is death. Not simply the physical death we all encounter - but eternal death - eternal separation from God.
What can bring us freedom from that bondage?
It’s not rationalization - making rational lies about sin - calling it preference or a mistake.
It’s not self-actualization - changing how we think or look at the world - because in our very nature, we are corrupted.
The only source of freedom from the eternal consequence of our sin is the Son - it’s Jesus. And Jesus, in this passage, helps us to see two reasons that He can give us eternal freedom - his authority and his nature.
Because of His Authority as the Son (8:34-36)
Because of His Authority as the Son (8:34-36)
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
As the Son in the house, Jesus has the authority of the father. He is forever a resident and member of the household of God.
When we engage in Christianity as a religion (we initiate religious actions in order to appease God) we dabble in the house. We play at it, but we are not free to remain - because of our sin.
When Jesus, through his death, burial, and resurrection - pays the price of our sin; when we receive his free gift of eternal life by faith - that is when we are eternally free.
He initiates, we respond.
But there is more - his forgiveness, his freedom changes our status - from stranger and alien to child.
The Apostle Paul helps us understand this a bit more:
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
It’s as though we now get this new citizenship, this new family - all because of Jesus authority as the son. Our job is then to live in that, as a good family member. Abide with the teachings of Jesus so that we can represent the family well.
But, even if we stumble, we have this encouragement:
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
It’s as though even in our mistakes which have been paid for by the blood of Jesus - he is advocating for us before the father saying, “Yep, Joel really messed up there, but I have paid for that sin - and all of his sins - put this on my tab - it’s paid for on the cross. The Holy Spirit is in Him , convicting him of ‘sin, righteousness, and judgement’ but I’m also going to nudge him to make better decisions with some of the family members at Poolesville Baptist Church - they will walk alongside him and encourage him to represent You, God, better.”
But there is another reason that we can receive true freedom:
Because of His Nature as Divine (8:48-59)
Because of His Nature as Divine (8:48-59)
As we think back to the passage we’re looking at today, Jesus, again, has been having a rather heated conversation with some so-called believers - who are likely doubters or simply antagonizers. As the tensions rise, there is name calling.
The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”
The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”
There are a lot of things that we could consider here, but for the sake of time, I think it’s important that we simply observe the exchange, feel the tension rising and then consider that ramifications of Jesus’ closing comment.
“before Abraham was even born, I Am!”
Now, I know that to our English ears, that sounds like bad grammar. What does he mean by “I Am”?
But for His Jewish audience, they knew exactly what He meant - that he was God.
You see “I Am” is the name that God used to identify himself to Moses in the months leading up to the Israelites escape from Egypt.
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
This name speaks to the self existence of God. He is, was and always will be.
So when Jesus says “I Am” - he is speaking to his divine nature.
As it pertains to our freedom, not only does he have authority as a son to provide forgiveness. But since he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, he is able to seal that freedom. You see he is fully human - born of a woman, born under the law. But he is also fully God, fully divine - able to save us from under the law because he is perfect.
So, when he speaks of true freedom, he isn’t simply making things up - he has the authority and nature to be able to ensure that freedom.
So What.
So What.
As we close our time together, I think it’s important that we reflect on a few things.
If we say that we are disciples of Jesus - then we need to make sure that we are abiding or continuing with His teaching. Spend time with him - reading, praying, meditating and then living out the Word.
When His teaching convicts you of a painful truth - of a sin that still needs to be rooted out - then respond by repenting, confessing that sin and seek to walk in holiness - maybe that’s salty language, incorrect thinking, or even being unloving toward neighbors - we get to represent Christ here. We need to spend time with him to represent him well!
If you are not yet a follower of Christ, let me encourage you to spend some time with Jesus - read His Word. Let his teaching inform and impact you. There will be painful and sobering truths that you will face - but that’s a good thing - wouldn’t you rather want to know the truth and confront it than living in a lie?
When you do face that truth - especially of your bondage to sin and your sinful heritage - repent of that - and believe in the full and finished payment of Jesus Christ. Let him make you eternally free!
For all of us - we get to walk in confidence that Jesus has the nature and the authority to accomplish exactly what he needs to in us.
Sources:
Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.
Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.
Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Vol. 4. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.
Mangum, Douglas. “Truth.” Ed. Douglas Mangum et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014: n. pag. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.
Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993