This Sunday is Reformation Sunday. We would remember the heritage in terms of what Martin Luther brought to the church. He wanted to free people from having a guilty conscience and have people see Christ as providing all that is needed for one's salvation. The message on Sunday will focus on the Gospel Reading (John 8:31-36).
Here is the text:
John 8:31-36 "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly I tell you , everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." NRSV
This is an amazing text concerning what Jesus says about freedom. It is about being free from the "slavery of sin." (John 8:34). There are ways that sin can keep us in bondage:
1. We can feel guilty over what we have done.
2. We become addicted to something, where we have created an idol in our lives.
3. We unknowingly do what is not right before God.
Of course, we all are enslaved to sin. There is the wrong we continue to do as well as the good we ought to have done but left undone.
However, there is freedom from sin in that we can be empowered through Christ to live a life that is pleasing to God. The strength here comes from Jesus' life.
We are free in the sense, too, in that we have received God's forgiveness for the sin in our lives. We could not do otherwise to merit our entrance into heaven.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection:
Do you feel this sense of freedom in your own life?
Is there something to which you are in bondage, where you need to turn to Christ's power to free you?
Here is the text:
John 8:31-36 "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly I tell you , everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." NRSV
This is an amazing text concerning what Jesus says about freedom. It is about being free from the "slavery of sin." (John 8:34). There are ways that sin can keep us in bondage:
1. We can feel guilty over what we have done.
2. We become addicted to something, where we have created an idol in our lives.
3. We unknowingly do what is not right before God.
Of course, we all are enslaved to sin. There is the wrong we continue to do as well as the good we ought to have done but left undone.
However, there is freedom from sin in that we can be empowered through Christ to live a life that is pleasing to God. The strength here comes from Jesus' life.
We are free in the sense, too, in that we have received God's forgiveness for the sin in our lives. We could not do otherwise to merit our entrance into heaven.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection:
Do you feel this sense of freedom in your own life?
Is there something to which you are in bondage, where you need to turn to Christ's power to free you?
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