If It's All Grace...

These are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel that werensent out electronically to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.

Gospel: John 8:31-36

31Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
  34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

We are used to propositional phrases like if this, then that. As Lutheran Christians, accustomed to God’s unbounded grace that comes to us without our own efforts, we may find ourselves startled by the first two verses of this Sunday’s gospel. God’s grace does indeed secure our salvation, but if we want to grow in our faith, there are things we should do. It is much like any relationship that needs nurturing if it is to grow.

Jesus tells those who had believed that if they continue in his word, then the rest follows, i.e. knowing the truth and being made free. So, how do we continue in that word? Is it a matter of reading scripture? Yes. Praying? Yes. Worshipping with the rest of God’s family? Check. Following Jesus’ teachings? Absolutely. These are the things that help us grow in relationship to God and one another. Even here, we can rely on God’s grace to enable us to do these things. 

At the very end, Jesus says, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (v. 36). Earlier, we’re told that if we continue in the word, the truth will make us free. Here it is the Son who makes us free. Jesus is the Word of God and the truth that sets us free. Thanks be to God.

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