The formula used at RUI for gaining and maintaining freedom from habitual sin is found in John 8:31, 32 where Jesus said, “. . .to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Let us be reminded of this simple equation while SIMULTANEOUSLY considering what battle we are currently having in our own life. (If we are honest with ourselves, we would admit there is always a sin of sorts seeking dominion over us.) Step one of our formula for freedom is to believe on Jesus. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him…” The very first key to being made free from our addiction, from the power and penalty of sin, and from the control the devil has on us is to believe on Jesus! Mark 9:23, “Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” John 3:16b, “…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you have not taken this first step, then stop taking your twelve steps! They are a waste of time! Step one is to believe on Jesus. When we must believe IN Jesus to be saved and we need to believe ON Jesus to be made free; for the burden of our bondage will need to be placed ON Him, as we learn to trust IN Him.
Step two of our formula for freedom is to continue in His Word. “If ye continue in my word…” Jesus’ Word is the Bible. John 15:7 says, “If ye abide in me, and my word abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” So many of us have gone to the Lord in prayer and said, “Oh, Lord, will You please remove this addiction, this stubborn habit, that I have? Could you please find it in Your heart, Lord, to help me?” But the Bible says that God’s Word must abide in us to have our prayers answered. God’s Word cannot abide in us if we are not spending time in the Word of God. The key is to continue in His Word. The fruit of daily persistence in reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible will produce spiritual freedom. Our addictions and stubborn habits will eventually be overcome as God’s Word abides in us, and we abide in Him. This means that God’s Word goes in and we yield to it. That is His Word abiding in you and you in Him. That brings victory! Asking, while rejecting our obligation of abiding, will result in us imbibing! You can’t stay clean without the wet wipe of the Word!
Second Timothy 3:14-17 says, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (or, the Bible’s main purpose is) for doctrine (what is right), for reproof (what is not right), for correction (how to get right), for instruction in righteousness (how to stay right): That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We see that the main purpose for the Word of God is to teach a Christian what is right, what is not right (truth and lies), how to get right and how to stay right. Why does the Lord want to teach us what’s right, what’s not right, how to get right, and how to stay right? So “…that the man of God (or, the Christian) may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (or, thoroughly equipped) unto all good works.”
Step three of our formula for freedom is to be His disciple. “…then are ye my disciples indeed;” (John 8:31) A disciple is a student who follows His leader. This means that as we study under Him, we must also follow Him with our lives. Matthew 16:24-25 is teaching us that if we want to follow Jesus, we must deny our own desires and pick up someone else’s burdens. Pick up someone else’s problems and carry them on our shoulders. We need to die to ourselves and follow Jesus’ perfect example of meeting the needs of a dying world! “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it…” We prefer to focus on our own problems and our own prosperity. But if we do, we will lose both! But “… whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Give your life to serving Jesus, and you will find a life worth living…free from sin’s power. But we have to be willing to sacrifice our preferences, promotions, and possessions for the sins and sakes of others.
Step four of our formula for freedom found in John 8:32 is that we will know Truth. “And ye shall know the Truth…” Second Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” That is the goal of a disciple (or student follower) of Jesus. The more we get to know Jesus, the greater our level of freedom! John 8:32 tells us the result of our belief in Jesus coupled with our willingness to the influence of the Word “…and the truth (Jesus) shall make you free.”
A new child of God can know Jesus, though they won’t know about Jesus very well, at least not at first. However, the more we get to know Him, the more we will also learn about Him and subsequently understand His freedom!
All freedom is found in first believing and subsequently in knowing Jesus. The ability to maintain that freedom over sin comes from maintaining our deep, abiding relationship with Him. When we don’t, we need to regain that deep abiding relationship as soon as sins influence becomes noticeable to us again.
Let freedom reign—simply maintain your gain with a disdain for the way of Cain!
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