ECWA Divine Daily Devotions Known As Food for the Day

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

TEXT: John 8:31-47

31. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciple,

32. and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33. They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

35. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

36. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

37. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

38. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

39. They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,

40. but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.

41. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father-even God.”

42. Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

43. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

44. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

45. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

46. Which one of you convicts me of Sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

47. Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

(English Standard Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: MAN’S FREEDOM FROM SIN AND DEATH IS CONDITIONAL

Out of ignorance, man is enslaved by sin and all of its consequences such as guilt, shame, hurt, pain, sorrow, death, etc. He needs to be freed, set loose and delivered from its grips.

Explaining further, 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” (vs. 31-32).

The first condition to true freedom from sin is belief, just as many put their faith in Christ as we read in verse 30 of our text yesterday. If they continue to abide, there’ll always be a sense of need, hunger, thirst, etc, and their hearts will always reach out for Jesus (cp. John 3:3; 1 Peter 2:2-3).

Faith in Christ is the very first condition for deliverance and salvation (John 3:15-16). The results of being delivered and saved are knowing the truth and being set free by the truth (John 8:32).

QUESTION: Dear reader, have you met the condition for your salvation and freedom from sin?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, keep me faithful to Your Word that I may remain in the freedom you offered me on this side of heaven, Amen.