John 8:30-32 : As he spoke these things, many believed in him. Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Jesus has been saying in previous verses that mankind is trapped. We are all born on earth into a corrupt human race and without Him, we will die in our sins. As I mentioned, this is a bad thing in that after we die there is an everlasting judgment in which sinners will be given an everlasting punishment. In this passage, some people who were listening believed in Jesus so He informed them that it is their continuing in believing that makes them His disciples. This is very important for us to understand.

You can’t say you are a Christian disciple if you stop listening to the Bible. The Bible is God’s written word to man, and as Jesus has been saying, He is God. Here it says that you are truly His disciples only if you remain in His word. Of course it doesn’t mean that we just read it, but that we believe it like He has also been saying.

If we keep listening and believing God’s word, we will keep remembering that we are free from the future punishment that we deserve. Keeping this truth in our minds is a very freeing thing. I find it to be especially freeing when I commit a sin. Because the word of God says that if I confess my sin that He is faithful and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I can simply confess my sin to Him and know in my heart that the death that Jesus died for me, paid for that sin already. This innocence that I don’t deserve is very freeing to me.

Isn’t it amazing that there is something this powerful; a truth that can free you from guilt? We have been given something by Jesus death that we will never repay and that we will be eternally grateful for. We will also be able to share this wonderful truth forever. It is in our best interest to remain in His word.