THE FRUIT OF ABIDING IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
“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 NIV).
According to the Lord Jesus, the primary fruit or evidence of accepting, following, abiding in, holding fast unto, or obeying His teaching is “FREEDOM.”
Jesus pointed this out when He said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “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 NIV).
The reason why many believers today are seeking for deliverance from one minister and meeting to another is simply because they are unwilling to seek for, abide in, stick with, or hold fast unto the truth or revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ which produces and guarantees a true, total and lasting freedom in every sphere of life.
Jesus came into the world to save, deliver or redeem all mankind from the captivity of sin and Satan (1 Tim. 1:15). He came to deliver us from the bondage and curse of the law. He came to bring us from slavery into sonship (Gal. 4:4-5).
Jesus came into the world to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:18-19).
Christ was manifested in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (NKJV).
By His sacrificial death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the dead the Lord Jesus Christ has purchased for all mankind total freedom from sin, from the flesh, from the world, and from Satan and all his demons.
The life of Jesus is worth much more than all the creations. So, by His death on the cross, Jesus has fully paid for the salvation, redemption or deliverance of every person in the world and every person that will still come into the world (1 John 2:2, Gal. 3:13-14).
By reason of the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ no believers in this world should remain in any kind of bondage. However, it is sad but true that many believers today are still in bondage.
The Scripture clearly reveals that Christ has called us to liberty, having paid in full for our liberty.
Paul states, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Gal. 5:13 NKJV).
Therefore, Paul admonishes, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1 NKJV).
Why then are many believers today still languishing and groaning under some grievous yokes or bondages?
Why then are many believers today who are desperately seeking for deliverance are being exploited and subjected to various inhumane treatments in the name of deliverance?
Ignorance!
Lack of revelation knowledge of the truth!
Unbelief!
Failure to wholly trust in the finished work of Christ and appropriate the benefits or blessings of the finished work of Christ!
A mere Intellectual understanding or knowledge of Christ’s death and resurrection cannot produce deliverance or freedom from sin, the flesh, the world, and Satan and all his works.
This is why many believers who know about Christ’s death and resurrection are still groaning and languishing under the grievous yoke of demonic oppression.
What sets free is the revelation or experiential knowledge of the truth, which is not just some right information, but a divine person – Jesus Christ (John 14:6 NKJV).
Therefore, your freedom is not dependent upon what you know about the Lord Jesus intellectually, but upon your experiential or revelation knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
The more you grow in the revelation knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more freedom you will know and experience in your life.
As you increase in the revelation knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished in you and for you by His sacrificial death and His triumphant resurrection, you will experience true freedom increasingly in every aspect of your life.
Paul testifies, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3:18 NKJV).
It is therefore not enough to just become born-again; you must also desire and pursue after revelation knowledge of the truth – Jesus Christ.
God does not just want you to be saved, He also wants you to grow in grace or increase in revelation or experiential knowledge of the truth until you come to the full knowledge of the truth – Christ Jesus.
Paul writes, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3-4 WEB).
When you begin to diligently and prayerfully seek the Lord Jesus daily by reading, hearing, studying, meditating in, confessing and obeying His word or teaching, you will begin to grow in grace and revelation knowledge of the truth. And the truth you know, understand and act upon will result in your freedom.
Therefore, the primary evidence that you are abiding in, continuing in or obeying Jesus’ word or teaching is the freedom that His word produces in your life.
You cannot be truly abiding in Jesus’ teaching and yet abide in any kind of bondage!
The truth always sets free!
Any area or aspect of your life where you have not experienced true freedom, or any sphere of your life where you are not experiencing true freedom is the area, aspect or sphere of your life where you are not yet completely accepting, abiding in, holding fast unto, following or obeying Jesus’ word or teaching.
If you unreservedly accept, wholeheartedly believe, and implicitly obey Jesus’ teaching on finances and stewardship, you will certainly experience true freedom from debt, lack and poverty.
Similarly, when you know, understand and live in accordance with Jesus’ teaching on love, forgiveness, and relationship; you will surely experience true freedom and peace in your relationship, marriage, or family.
The devil can only oppress, torment or afflict you in the area, aspect or sphere of your life where you are not abiding in, holding fast unto, obeying, following or conforming wholly to Jesus’ word or teaching.
True disciples of Christ are known by the freedom they experience in Christ. Freedom is the mark of those who are truly following and obeying Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus pointed out this truth, saying, “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 NIV).
Do you desire true and total freedom in every area, aspect or sphere of your life?
Then, begin to seek to know, abide in, hold fast unto, obey, follow and conform wholly to Jesus’ word, teaching or doctrine.
This is the truth that will set you free indeed!
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to pay fully for my total freedom from bondage. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to know, understand, receive, appropriate and enjoy the true and total freedom that is mine in Christ Jesus, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
