John 8:30-36 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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Truth and Freedom (32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free)
30 As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
In the above videos a very nice man shows the proper technique to “grind an ax.” I am sure that the man is very efficient in all aspects of ax-grinding, and he should be commended for his craftsmanship in that regard. However, as it relates to God’s Holy Word, I have “no ax to grind,” only the ax of truth. My purposes in writing articles on the Bible relate only to the truth and clarity of scripture. No attempt is made to proselytize anyone to any faction or belief; God’s Holy Spirit is in charge of that task. However, there is one very important teaching of scripture that you will find to be dogmatic or “ax-grinding.” We need to check out John 3:3, which may be considered the “gate-keeper” question for entry into heaven: “have you been born again?”
John 3:3 New International Version (NIV)
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
So, here is my ax-grinding comment. “No one can see the kingdom of God, unless they are born again!” I will re-state my comment, as follows: “if you have not been born again, you’re not going to heaven when you die!” I will “grind on” the obvious! If you have not been born again, you will spend your eternity in Hell! It is very simple to understand; the born again experience gives all who have ever been an embryo, whether born or not born, a spirit that is as pure as the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” A born again spirit will dwell within the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” A born again spirit will have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” A born again spirit will be led in every way of life by the Spirit of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
When Adam and Eve sinned they were expelled from the Garden Of Eden (Genesis 2 and 3). Their total “body, soul and spirit” entered a death spiral. Their spirits immediately became flawed and needed to be born again. Their bodies and souls began a death march. Through their procreation, their flawed spirits, their bodies of sin, and their sin natures, were passed to their children. In turn, their children, who were flawed from birth (body, soul, spirit), passed on their flawed body, soul and spirit to their offspring. The passing of that flawed body, soul and spirit will never end without the intervention of a Savior, who is Jesus.
The following verses explain the need for us to be born again, and can be called “The Romans Road” to salvation.
Romans 5:12 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) Sin and death were passed by Adam and Eve to everyone who has ever been conceived. Death did not result prior to the sin of Adam and Eve. Therefore, there were no cavemen or prehistoric animals who died before the sin of Adam and Eve.
12 Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed onto all men, for all have sinned.
Romans 3:10 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) – There is not one person who is free from the state of being unrighteous, upon being conceived. Only the born again experience will make one righteous.
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
Romans 3:23 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) – All enter this world in a flawed state (body, soul, spirit).
23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:8 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) – Jesus died on the cross to save all (from Genesis through Revelation) who have been born again.
8 But God commendeth His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) – No one can earn salvation; it is a gift.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:13 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) – The way out of the death spiral is faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you believe, you are born again. If you are born again, you believe.
13 For “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
You can jump ahead and read John 3:3-8 if you want to know how the “new birth,” or “birth from above” takes place. You can also go further to John Chapter 14 to read about the indwelling of spirits, and John Chapter 15:26 through 16:15 to learn about the “teaching” of the Holy Spirit to those whom have been born again. No person who has not been “born again,” will ever have their name written in the “book of life.” Check out the following verses of scripture that discusses the fate of such a person. Notice the words, “the dead,” which are the ones who have not been born again. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the words, “the dead in Christ,” relate to those who have been born again; Jesus paid their sin debt when He took on their judgment when He died on the cross at Calvary. So, in the following scriptures, we are looking at a long line of people who are standing before God to be judged, and who will pay their own sin debt, because they were never born again. So, from the words of John 3:3, I will say again, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Consider how belief relates to the new birth. If we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have been born again. If we have been born again, we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The result of someone not being born again is to be condemned to eternal judgment and separation from God.
John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 8:1 King James Version (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 King James Version (KJV) – When we have been born again, our spirits have become new, and have become as pure as the Spirit of Christ. Each of our spirits prompt our souls (our minds, thinking processes, emotions, wills) to be changed in the way that they function, from sinful motives to spiritual motives.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The following verses of scripture explain the destiny of those who have not been born again.
Revelation 20:11-15 (New American Standard Bible) Eternal condemnation, judgment and separation from God await those at the “Great White Throne Judgment.”
Judgment At The Throne Of God
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
As we viewed the opening videos, we saw the things that are needed “to grind an ax.” First of all, we saw a pleasant man. Then, we saw a vice, a stand on which the vice will be placed, a grinder, safety gloves, safety goggles and, of course, an ax! Wow! All of those things are needed to “grind an ax!” Now, let’s consider all of the tools that I will need for “ax grinding,” if it is to be called such a task; but, I will definitely be grinding the ax of truth. My tools are God’s Holy Word, the Bible, and my computer, of course. So, please let me invite you to become a part of my “Truth Of God’s Word Grinding Association!” We will constantly be digging for more scriptures that tell of God’s plan for His people and for His plan for the ages of time.
Each post that I write which deals with the route to “all things new,”(beginning with this one) will have a reference label which will begin with AG-01 (Ax Grinding-01). It is a guarantee that, if any are faithful in studying these posts, they will come to know more about God’s Holy Word than most people that they know, including pastors. And, no one has to “sign up;” just enjoy the journey.
But, let’s get serious for a moment. In the first song we heard the words, “I’m all churched out.” Some who read this post may be in situation. This study will have you as a primary target for God’s Holy Spirit to love you like you’ve never been loved before. The route for you, and others, will take you to the King, “King Jesus,” in the throne room of heaven where we will all fall down and worship Jesus. It’s okay to “enjoy the Lord,” so, through this study, “let’s really enjoy the Lord.” In the following verses, it is important that you see yourself, “actually there;” because, if you have been born again, you will someday be “actually there!”
Revelation 4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Scene in Heaven
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
The Throne and Worship of the Creator
5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
The end of the road “to all things new” has a far different ending than what we find in Revelation 20:15, “the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire.” Consider the comfort in the following verses that relate to the eternal destiny of those who have been born again.
Revelation 21 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Those, whose names are written in “the Lambs book of life,” (Jesus, the Lamb Of God) are only those who have had their souls to be “born again.” Consider the new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem. Consider no tears, death, mourning, crying or pain. Consider those who have been born again being in the eternal Presence of God. God will make “all things new.” This is not an allegory; it is a promise that will be fulfilled. Believers in Christ have the hopeful expectation of being in the Presence of God, every day of their/our eternal life, which is life without end. Such an eternity will be one with no darkness; only light; with the light being the light of God. (Rev 22:5). Yes! God will make all things new!
The New Heaven and Earth
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
The New Jerusalem
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Eternity 