If You Abide In My Word

John 8:31-36
January 29, 2023
Abraham Hong

Sermon Script

One of the most important aspects of our salvation in Jesus Christ is freedom. Jesus lived in order to set you free. Jesus died in order to give you freedom. Jesus rose again from the dead so that you can be free. Praise the Lord.

But what is our freedom? What does it mean to be free in Christ? What has Jesus set you free from?

The answer starts with Adam and Eve. When God created man, he gave humans freedom and power to will and to do that which is good and well-pleasing to God. Adam was free to obey the law of God.

But Adam sinned against God and fell into a state of sin. When that happened, Adam and Eve and all humans after them totally lost all ability of will to do that which is good and well-pleasing to God. Adam became dead in sin. Adam became a slave to sin. And so did you. This is very bad news.

But the good news is this. God converts sinners from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ. And Jesus Christ bought you your freedom.

Jesus set you free from the guilt of sin when he took your guilt and shame and record of sin and took your place as a substitution and died for you. Jesus set you free.

Jesus set you free from the wrath of God and everlasting damnation when on the cross he took the hell and the punishment and the forsakenness and the justice that you deserved. Jesus set you free.

Jesus set you free from the kingdom of Satan when he came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus set you free.

Jesus set you free from the power and the dominion and the slavery of sin in your life right now as he has made you a new creation and as you are now a slave of Christ and a slave of righteousness that leads to sanctification. Jesus set you free.

Jesus set you free from the sting of death and the victory of the grave when he himself rose again from the dead with resurrection power and glory and now you have been resurrected with him yourself because you are united with him forever. Jesus set you free.

Jesus set you free to a new life, a changed life, and a changing life. You are now free from your old self and your old life of sin. And the Holy Spirit has enabled you and continues to enpower you to freely will and do that which is good and well-pleasing to God. Jesus set you free.

Praise the Lord. We were not able to set ourselves free. No sinner, no human being is able to do such a thing. Jesus has to set us free. And he did. And if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This is a promise. This is a salvation that cannot be undone. No one can take away from you the freedom that Jesus has given to you. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. This ultimately means that your freedom is forever because Jesus remains forever.

All of this is so very true. And we know that all of this is the truth because all of this is given to us in God’s Word, in the Bible, in Holy Scripture. Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This brings us to a crucial command that Jesus gives to us today. We are called to learn and cherish and proclaim the freedom and the truth of Christ by abiding in his word. This is true discipleship. This is the center of Christian life. Abiding in Jesus’ word. Reading the Bible. Thinking about and meditating upon Scripture. Learning and relearning and then teaching others about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is worth considering the implied opposite of what Jesus says in today’s passage. If you do not abide in Jesus’ word, you are not a true disciple, and you will not know the truth, and you will not be free. Consider this a challenge and a wake-up call for all of us as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Dear Highland, let’s be a church that abides more and more in Jesus’ word. Let’s renew our commitment today to reading our Bibles consistently, thoroughly, joyfully, and in community.

Let’s talk about God’s Word in our families and with our friends. Let’s read more Scripture on Sundays, on the Lord’s Day. Let’s study the Bible more using additional resources such as good and trusted Christian books, articles, sermons, magazines, and etc. Let’s love reading our Bibles.

This isn’t rocket science. The more you read the Bible, the better. The less you read the Bible, the worse. This may sound old school for you, but if you are struggling in your walk with the Lord, then there is a good chance that the reason why is because you are lacking in time and energy in the Bible. Because you are not abiding in Jesus’ word.

But praise the Lord. Jesus speaks to you today. He loves you. And he reminds you that you are free, you know the truth, you are his disciple. Therefore, abide in his word.

Dear Highland, let’s make this our number one priority this year and every year until Jesus comes back.

There are so many wonderful things happening at our church. Many years ago, before the pandemic, there was a lot of good momentum. During the pandemic there was a lot of good endurance and stability. And right now, as we move on from the pandemic, there is a lot of good rebuilding and restarting going on.

For example, people are coming back in person and we are seeing a good number of visitors and new members join our church.

For example, our ministry for children is developing and advancing and exploding with energy and excitement.

For example, many babies received baptisms in the past year, tournaments and retreats and special events and holiday potluck meals are back, and we are slowly but surely fixing everything up in the building.

But what good is all of this… if we do not abide in Jesus’ word? We can do well with the easy things. But what about the hard thing of reading the Bible?

Our church will not be a true church and our church will not be free if we do not abide in Jesus’ word. But our church will be a wonderful place to call home if we make God’s Word priority number one.

Let’s figure this out and do this together. I ask you all to come up with ideas for our church, for you church, on how we can abide more and more in God’s Word. Talk to me individually. Or bring it up in members meetings. Married couples and families, I ask you all to talk to one another about how Bible reading is going in the home and how to get it going if it’s not going. Church members and friends, I ask you all to gather together if you have even a few minutes of free time at church and read the Bible together and talk about it together and pray together. Let’s figure this out and abide in Jesus’ word more and more together.

Don’t be afraid. Be the true disciple that you already are. You are free. Abide in Jesus’ word.

Soli Deo Gloria