It is easy to misunderstand what is in God’s Word until one comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal relationship. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the truth. He is the source of all truth. There is no truth apart from Him.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
There is peace in knowing and understanding the truth. The truths in the Bible are like diamonds with many facets. The more we know then the more we understand and the more we understand then the more we are set free.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32
To know the truth of what God says then we must first become a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is one who believes in Jesus Christ and holds to His teaching. When we hold to His teaching then we seek to do what He says. Obedience to His teaching comes first and then understanding and knowledge. Many people want to understand first and then obey but the knowledge of truth comes after we hold to His teaching and do it. When we know the truth then the truth sets us free. When a person becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ then they receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and the Holy Spirit leads a disciple of Jesus into the truth. The Holy Spirit sheds light on God’s Word and gives understanding.
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26
A disciple of Jesus Christ receives the Holy Spirit when he becomes a child of God. He is born again through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes and lives within him. He becomes spiritually alive and this is when he becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ. A true disciple will want to live according to God’s Word. He will want to be faithful to do His commandments. He will begin to understand the truths in God’s Word through learning and keeping His commandments. He will see that God’s commandments are not burdensome, but when obeyed, they bring freedom and joy. He will want to love God.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. I John 5:3
Apart from God we can not understand the way to true freedom. It is God’s Word through our conscience that keeps us. When we choose to live the way we want to and not according to God’s Word then it is called sin and lawlessness.
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. I John 3:4
The world feels that they are free from God’s Laws. However, when they break free from God’s Word then they are in what is called “free fall”. It is a state of feeling free because they have not experienced the consequences of when they “hit bottom” which will come either sooner or later. Either way, it will come and it will be painful. Lawlessness is sin and sin brings death.
For the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23a
The death for the one who chooses not to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is an eternal death, which is an eternal separation from God. It is being in a state of torment for eternity.
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
For the Christian who sins, this person will experience death to his soul and his fellowship with God will be broken.
you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Romans 6:16b
When the Christian sins, the death that he experiences in his soul is the regret and shame that he feels. He has grieved the Spirit of God within him. However, he can repent, that is, turn away from his sin, and confess his sin to the Lord. He can then experience God’s forgiveness once again and come back into fellowship with the Lord.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I john 1:9
When an unsaved person, that is, one who has not yet given his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ to be His disciple, sins then he too can experience God’s forgiveness and cleansing from his sin if he will come to Jesus Christ also. If he repents, that is, turns from his sin and confesses his need for a Lord and Savior then he will be forgiven, saved and set free from his sin.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13
For Jesus Christ came for this purpose to set all men free from death and He came to give all men life. He came that He might bring us to God.
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; I Peter 3:18
This gift of life is for all. However, only those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will experience this great gift of God’s love and forgiveness and become His child and His disciple.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, John 1:12
Have you experienced the love of God in your life? Have you known the cleansing of your heart and conscience? Have you experienced the forgiveness of all of your sins? The Bible says that “today” is the day of salvation. Come to Jesus Christ. There is no one who has sinned too much and there is no one whom the Lord does not love and want as His child. Come to Jesus Christ. He loved you so much that He died for you.
Coming to Jesus Christ is acknowledging your need for Him and surrendering your heart and life to Jesus Christ. Believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, was buried and rose again. He lives today. Receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. If you have never prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into your life then you can today. Pray to Him. Prayer is expressing your heart to the Lord. Tell Him that you are coming to Him and you want Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior. He is faithful and if you genuinely mean what you pray then He will answer you.
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. I John 5:11-15
Jesus Christ is the way to true freedom and forgiveness. He is the only way. There are no other religions who can offer this great gift and He is the only Savior. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. He is alive today.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.
Instructions To A Young Life 