THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 31 The Truth Shall Make You Free

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

Loved ones, in our Spiritual Battle the victory will come by faith in the truth of God's word. Therefore, it’s our fervent prayer that you will listen to and take heed to the truth (John 17:17).

Solomon, in the book of Proverbs admonishes us to “buy the truth, and sell it not...” (Proverbs 23:23). Truth must be a MOST valuable commodity in our lives, and we ought to seek it at all costs, and once we obtain it, we must never let it slip away from us (Hebrews 2:1).

It is truth that makes us free from the shackles of our sins (John 8:32). This truth we are talking about is found in Jesus Himself. Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6).

In John 1:14 Jesus is said to be “full of grace and truth.” He is the One through whom grace, and truth came (John 1:17). Thus, in Jesus we see the “fullness” of grace and truth. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

It is the knowledge of, and obedience to, the grace and truth embodied in Jesus that makes one free from sin. Such a one in this physical life might be enslaved, imprisoned, or under the rule of some tyrant; but whatever circumstance they may find themselves in, they are still free from sin.

Romans 6:16-18 says: “16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

This freedom, brought about by the knowledge of, and obedience to truth, is not freedom to do as one pleases. It is freedom from sin and its consequences, and this freedom is attained by means of the Son of God. Jesus said: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Only faithful children of God are free, being neither in bondage to the world, nor the flesh, nor the devil; free also from an evil conscience, the cares and anxieties of the world, and death, itself.

The Bible contains the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (John 17:17). There is only one Bible. It includes 66 books. There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.

There is no such thing as a Protestant or Catholic Bible. All believers in Jesus use the same Bible. It may be written in various English versions – it may be translated into various languages; yet it is still the same Bible.

The word of God (the Bible) was placed in the minds of the apostles and prophets as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). Through the providence of God, they wrote the Holy Spirit’s profitable words down in the Book we now call the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Why did they write it down? The apostle Paul said, “3 how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:3-6; cf. Romans 1:16).

There is only one body (Ephesians 4:4). The one Bible teaches that all men (Jews and Gentiles) can be one in Christ by being “fellow heirs of the same body.” That body is the saved souls (people) added to it by the Lord (Acts 2:47). They are the members of the one body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27).

Since there is only one body, and the body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23); there is only one church. The body of Christ is the church of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; Romans 16:16). The Catholic churches, ALL Protestant denominational churches and ALL world religions are NOT included in Christ’s one church.

Those churches and religions were built by the doctrines and commandments of men. Their worship is thereby in VAIN – useless, a waste of time (Matthew 15:8-9; cf. Luke 6:46; Ephesians 4:15).

There is only one faith (Ephesians 4:5). The faith that the church of Christ meeting in Rome had (Romans 1:7-8) was the same faith that the church of God had in Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica. God’s ONE faith comes by hearing His word (Romans 10:17).

The Catholic faith comes by hearing the Catholic word. The Baptist faith comes by hearing the Baptist word. The Lutheran faith comes by hearing the Lutheran word, the Mormon faith comes by hearing the Mormon word, the Moslem faith comes by hearing the Moslem word, etc. etc.

All of these man-made faiths have departed from the ONE faith that is taught in the New Testament. They therefore are “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). Do you really think it wise to stay in one of these faiths? Jesus says, “I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

There is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Since there are many baptisms mentioned in the New Testament (Holy Spirit baptism, water baptism of John, Jesus’ baptism of suffering, fire baptism, water baptism of the great commission, etc.), which is the one baptism for men today?

The first three of the above-mentioned baptisms have played their part in God’s plan and been removed. Fire baptism is yet to come on the Day of Judgment for the wicked (Matthew 13:40-50).

After Jesus was raised from the dead with all power, He commissioned His apostles to teach and make disciples. Those who were taught were then commanded to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-19). The only baptism a man can do for another man is water baptism.

Obeying the command of Jesus, the apostles baptized about 3,000 on the day that the church of Christ began (Acts 2:38-41, 47). Philip baptized the Eunuch in water (Acts 8:36-39). Peter commanded the household of Cornelius to be baptized in water (Acts 10:47-48).

In the day of the great flood, salvation for Noah and his family was in the Ark (Genesis 6-9; 1 Peter 3:20-21). The Ark is an Old Testament TYPE of the New Testament church of Christ. The church is the body of the saved (Acts 2:47) – those who are in Christ (2 Timothy 2:10).

Salvation for all people today is in the crucified, buried and risen Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:23-24; 15:1-4; Acts 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:10). Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father (John 6:43-45; 14:6).

Just like Noah and his family were saved by the water that held up the Ark, the Bible says we are saved by the blood of Jesus (i.e., remission of our sins – Luke 1:77; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 1:5) at the point of water baptism into Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:26-27). To be in Christ is to receive the spiritual blessing of being in His ekklesia (Ephesians 1:3).

The apostle Paul wrote that disciples are baptized into Christ, into His death, and into His body (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Therefore, the water baptism of the New testament great commission (Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:44-47) is the ONE baptism that all men must experience if they want to be born again (John 3:3-5), made new (Romans 6:4) and enter into the church of God’s dear Son, the kingdom of Heaven (cf. Matthew 7:21-23; Colossians 1:13).

Thus, those who are made free by the truth are those who have their sins forgiven, receiving all spiritual blessings which includes “newness of life; i.e., becoming a new creature in Christ (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The questions to you dear reader are: Are you serving sin? Will you accept the truth that can make you free from sin? Jesus, the Word, died that you might know the truth and be made free (John 17:17). Do you appreciate Him for it?

Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).