37 lines
4.4 KiB
HTML
37 lines
4.4 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 16
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<h1>The Truth Promised to Set Us Free</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And <b>you shall know</b> <b>the truth</b>, and the truth <b>shall make you free</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 8, '31-32');">John 8:31-32</a>)</div>
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<p>As we have seen, the Holy Spirit is promised as our guide into all the truths of God's word. <i>"When He, the <b>Spirit of truth</b>, has come, He will <b>guide</b> you into <b>all the truth</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 16, '13-13');">John 16:13</a>). A related promise assures us that this truth will have a liberating impact upon our lives. <i>"The truth <b>shall make you free</b>."</i> This promise of spiritual liberation through the truths of God's word is such a vital one for man, because various forms of spiritual bondage threaten us all.</p>
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<p>Everyone needs liberation from bondage to sin. Those who first heard this promise of Jesus needed instruction on this. <i>"We are Abraham's descendants, and have <b>never</b> been in <b>bondage</b> to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made <b>free</b>'? Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, <b>whoever</b> commits <b>sin</b> is a <b>slave</b> of <b>sin</b>'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 8, '33-34');">John 8:33-34</a>). This "whoever" includes us all, <i>"for <b>all</b> have <b>sinned</b> and fall short of the glory of God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 3, '23-23');">Romans 3:23</a>). However, we can all praise God that His liberating truth can set us free from the bondage to sin. All who trust in the Lord Jesus are justified from their sins (declared righteous in God's sight) through the redemption price of the blood of Christ: <i>"being <b>justified</b> freely by His <b>grace</b> through the <b>redemption</b> that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation</i> [satisfactory payment for sin] <i>by <b>His blood</b>, through <b>faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 3, '24-25');">Romans 3:24-25</a>).</p>
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<p>The fear of death is another bondage from which people need liberation. Hebrews speaks of those <i>"who through <b>fear of death</b> were <b>all</b> their <b>lifetime</b> subject to <b>bondage</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 2, '15-15');">Hebrews 2:15</a>). What a tormenting bondage is the fear of death! Yet, Jesus' liberating truth can deal with this bondage as well. <i>"I am the <b>resurrection</b> and the <b>life</b>. He who <b>believes</b> in <b>Me</b>, though he may <b>die</b>, he shall <b>live</b>. And <b>whoever</b> lives and <b>believes</b> in <b>Me</b> shall <b>never</b> die. Do you <b>believe</b> this?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 11, '25-26');">John 11:25-26</a>). All who believe in the one who is resurrection life will live forever. Even if they should experience physical death, the grave has no grip on them. In fact, though their bodies may go into a tomb, they would go immediately into the presence of the Lord. <i>"We are <b>confident</b>, yes, well pleased rather to be <b>absent</b> from the <b>body</b> and to be <b>present</b> with the <b>Lord</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 5, '8-8');">2 Corinthians 5:8</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear God of truth, I rejoice in the freedom that comes through Your truth! Thank You for setting me free from the bondage of condemnation and judgment that I deserved because of my sin. I praise You for liberation from the fear of death. May I live victoriously by these truths and pass them on to others who need to be set free, in Your holy name, Amen.</div>
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