The steps to Freedom

The steps to freedom from John 8
(taking a deeper look at something my Pastor preached on)

As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him].  So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.  **AND** you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.John 8:30-32 AMP

Consecutive Steps (no skipping steps)
first you must hear and
(1) Believe (trust, rely on, adhere to)

after believing, then
(2) Abide (hold fast to, live in accordance with)

only after abiding will we then
(3) Know the Truth

only after Knowing can we
(4) Be Set Free 











Rambling Words about the DEEP teaching of Jesus

The words of Jesus are challenging and because we are still wrapped up in the veil of the sinful nature are still often times difficult to understand.  

Reading the full exchange here in John 8 emphasises to me that when God speaks something He says something with greater meaning than just the simple physical: to surly die was to look beyond our earthly life to an eternal separation and eternal death, to be lifted up was referring to Christ lifted up on the cross. Jesus words are true and "simple" and yet there is a depth of meaning in them; a "greaterness" I call it.  When the answers to prayers, in accordance with the promises in the Word of God, are confusing to us and don't on the surface look like they line up with His promises, I can rest assured that God has something greater in mind, because He is good and doesn't lie.  There is always a greater eternal meaning, we must be abide in His Word so that we can KNOW it (see and understand the layers of knowledge and wisdom) and embrace a Truth that will set us eternally free (not just free from our current "whatever").