The Vow of Freedom
A slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:35-36
Jesus’s statement was something that the Jews understood. At any time, an owner of an enslaved person could sell him to another owner. On the other hand, a son is a permanent member of the family.
A WARNING
A son or daughter is a member of a physical family. But that does not mean he or she is a member of the family of God. The Bible warns us that there is a mortal sin that causes spiritual death. The Apostle Paul says Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9)? Those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will not inherit eternal life.
A born-again believer is a child of God, but that doesn’t mean he or she is perfect. Part of the human dilemma is that we fall short of being all that He wants us to be. But the Good News is Jesus has the power to make us spiritually free from the penalty of sin.
We, who believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are sons and daughters in God’s family. His desire for us is to live in harmony with His will. The Apostle Paul complimented the Philippians when he said, you have always obeyed not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ((a fear and trembling that is removed completely from His presence) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). “This is not working to gain salvation. Rather, as in the expression, “The farmer works the soil,” so they were to take what they freely received (salvation) and make it bear fruit”(The Moody Bible Commentary). The Apostle Paul said to the Philippians be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11) The reality is the only way we can bear spiritual fruit is if God is at work in us.
John MacArthur says, Among the benefits of being a devoted worshiper of the Lord is sanctification. It means to make holy. “The meaning of ‘holiness’ is then worked out in (goodwill), love for God, clean living, compassion, (financial) honesty, and love.”
YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE ONE OF GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
IF YOU LOVE JESUS AND SEEK TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE.