Sunday 29th October
Read John 8:45-47
“Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’” (NIVUK)
Jesus has been working his audience slowly through the idea of slavery. If you hold fast to His word you are truly free (v32). Those who are truly free though, belong to God. Their freedom is expressed in obedience. Wrestling with this paradox is what loving God looks like in practice! Paul states precisely the same paradox when writing to the Roman church.
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18) (NIVUK)
The best response to this paradox is obedience and thankfulness.
