Obedience

Obedience

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

Who are Jesus’ disciples? Who are people of the truth? They are the people who obey God—the people who hold to his teaching.

The Greek expression for “hold to” (meinete en, also translated “abide in” or “remain in”) has great spiritual significance in the Gospel of John. We abide in Christ when we place ourselves in him and continue there, drawing life from his words. This produces ongoing discipleship. A true and obedient disciple will find the truth by knowing the one who is the truth, Jesus himself. This knowledge frees people from their bondage to sin.

When Jesus spoke of knowing the truth, he was speaking of knowing God’s revelation to man. This revelation is embodied in Jesus himself, the Word; therefore, to know the truth is to know Jesus. The truth is not political freedom or intellectual knowledge. Knowing the truth means accepting it, obeying it, and regarding it above all earthly opinion. Doing so offers true spiritual freedom from sin and death.

Thankfully, discovering God’s truth, obeying it, and honoring it are not things we are asked to do on our own. “As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living within us and guiding us on our journey through life. In fact, in John 16:13, Jesus specifically identified the Holy Spirit as ‘the Spirit of truth’ ‘who will guide you into all truth.’ ”^a

Knowing God doesn’t come through intellectual activity—it comes as a result of our obedience to him.

Father,

We confess that we sometimes substitute knowing things about you for knowing you. Thanks that when we obey your Word, we really begin to know you. Please help us model obedience to you in front of our children. Amen.