“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
John 14:6, ESV
As the oldest child, I followed all the rules. Going to church meant rules and regulations instead of a relationship with God. I left home for college and thought I escaped church once and for all. Instead, chains of selfishness and sin imprisoned me.
Ever since Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, we are in bondage to sin. God created us in His image to enjoy a perfect relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26a, 27, NLT). God told Adam and Eve they could eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden except one. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world and damaged the relationship between God and man. (Genesis 3:4-5).
From then on, God banished Adam and Eve from the garden and they would no longer live forever. The penalty for sin is death. Eternal death.
Jesus is the only way to find freedom from bondage
In John chapter 14, Jesus prepared His disciples for His imminent death on the cross to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, restoring the relationship between God and humanity. He offers comfort to His disciples by telling them He will prepare a place for them and will return for them (John 14:1-4). Thomas asks, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Jesus answers, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:5-6, ESV).
The Greek word for way, hodos, also means road, path, journey, or a way of life. Jesus is not just one way; He is THE way to eternal life. When we turn from sin and accept the forgiveness Jesus offers, we will experience abundant life on earth and everlasting life in heaven.
Paul writes, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6, ESV).
The dictionary defines ransom as “a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner.” We find freedom from bondage to sin by the blood of Jesus. Because He paid the ransom to set us free.
The absolute truth sets us free
Who knows what truth is anymore? For example, consider fake news, biased news media, and social media platforms that only show you what they think you want to read.
We find freedom from bondage to sin because Jesus is the only truth we need to set us free. He is righteous, just, and faithful. Jesus said, “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32, ESV).
We find the Greek word for truth 55 times in the Gospel of John, the most of any book in the New Testament. This word means “not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, straightforwardness.”
When we know Jesus, the absolute truth, we find salvation and freedom from bondage to sin.
Genuine freedom as children of God
Scripture states, “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:4–5, ESV)
God the Father adopted us as sons and daughters of the Most High and Holy God, chosen and accepted into His family. And as a bonus, we receive the amazing gifts of brothers and sisters in Christ, united by our inheritance of faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:28–29, ESV).
I thought I was free when I was living as I saw fit. In reality, I wallowed in low self-esteem, pride, loneliness, and bitterness. Resentment simmered because my life was not what I desired.
Then I received a wake-up call—a diagnosis of cancer. It took a while, but I realized trust in Jesus offers genuine freedom as a child of God. Not autonomy to act as I chose, but the freedom to live as God intended. Instead of rules and regulations, I have a relationship with God. The result is the desire to be more like Jesus. Thank God I do not have to do this on my own! The Holy Spirit provides the power to be humble and love God and love people as Jesus did.
Because Jesus is the only way and the absolute truth, it transforms us into new creations in Christ. We “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24, ESV).
Know whose we are
When we find freedom from bondage and become new creations, it sets us apart as children of God. Because of God’s mercy, we belong to Him, redeemed by the blood of Jesus from bondage to sin.
Paul wrote, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, ESV).
Honoring our bodies as an ongoing “living sacrifice” becomes worship to please God.
In conclusion, we are accountable to God for how we use and care for our bodies. We break free from unhealthy habits and care for our bodies as God intended. Pursuing wellness allows us to have the strength and vitality to follow our calling, encourage and serve others, and be instruments to serve the Kingdom of God.
What a wonderful post! I can relate to your testimony, as I’m sure many others can too. Thank you for sharing and being so humble. To God be all the glory and praise!
Thank you for your comment, Pam. I appreciate it so much. Yes, I must remember the reason I write is to give God the glory.
Such a great article! I love the part where you said, “I thought I was free when I was living as I saw fit.” We think that, don’t we? But God, in His lovingkindness, always knows best. My prayer is that people will learn that in 2021 and find freedom in Christ,
Thank you for your comment, Carly. I hope for the same thing.
Susan, I tell you that it took me a long time as a christian to understand that the Spirit of Truth in me is what makes a difference. He knows the way because He IS the way! Thank you for these wonderful words of faith and testimony.
Jackie, thank you for your wonderful comment and your leadership in BSF. My participation in BSF is a huge part of my spiritual growth.