Do You Truly Believe

Jesus said to those Jews who believed on Him in John 8:31-32, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The problem here was that these were truly counterfeit believers and did not know the truth and therefore were not set free but were slaves of sin.  They thought because they were born a Jew, that they were of Abraham’s seed by hereditary ties, which was true, but that didn’t make them God’s children.  You are not a child of God because of the family you were born into, it doesn’t work that way.  You are a child of God when you are born again and only God can make that happen and He truly wants to, but you must receive His precious free gift of grace.

Read John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Now read John 8:33-39, “They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”

There are many in the church that think they are God’s children but all they have is a form of religion, or a works mentality, or they think because that were raised in the church they are fine, and others think because they are basically good people they are God’s children but none of these are proof of sonship.  Look at what Jesus said in in the book of John to a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a religious leader, a teacher of the law, when he came to Jesus at night.  

Jesus said this in John 3:1-13, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

You see none of these things mentioned above makes you a child of God, just like the Jews that Jesus was talking to.  Jesus loved these Jews, but read the strong words that He spoke to them in John 8:39-45, “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”

There are many that claim to be believers but they know not the truth.  The Word says that as Jesus spoke to the Jews that many believed on Him but the problem they had was that they didn’t really know the truth, they liked what He said but it hadn’t sunk down into their hearts where it could change their lives, it was all head knowledge.

This is a big problem today, let’s face it most everyone wants to hear the good, easy listening stuff but not the things that are convicting, that hurt and cause us to tremble at the Word of God, those things that if we respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit we will have to change our way of thinking and our way of life.  It’s ok that the Lord sacrificed for us, laying down His life for the redemption of our sins, but God forbid that we should have to sacrifice for Him, letting go of our sins and our idols and the things that keep us from a fulfilled life in Him.  Taking up your cross, denying yourselves and following Him isn’t easy and maybe many of you didn’t sign up for that but that is what the Word says that we must do.  

The Jews liked to hear the good things but they weren’t so happy when they heard the real truth, no, they were downright angry.  These were fighting words to these Jews and they were so angry at the truth they even said that Jesus had a devil and they wanted to kill Him.  Where do you find the real truth?  It comes from the Word of God.  You just read where to find it, it is in John 8:31-32, in the Word of God.  Many are turning a deaf ear to the truth, wanting to hear the inspirational speakers or the prosperity preachers or the preachers that tell them what makes them feel good; I have said this before that if anyone makes you feel good in your sins, be careful it is a trap, and you don’t want to be caught dead in it!!  My Bible says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.”   Paul said to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith, and I hope you will, and don’t compare yourself with some other believer, but study the scriptures and then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free!!

Something to think about and have a nice day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!