If you have young children in your life, you know that they often have a very independent streak! This is a good thing. After all, it is good for children to develop independence and learn how to do things for themselves. However, as they build their independence and anonymity, they have to learn that there are some things they still need help with, like pouring juice into their cup so it doesn’t spill or reaching something really high up without falling. Acknowledging their problem, their need for help getting juice or retrieving something too high for them to reach, is the first step in finding help and achieving what they want or need. Even as adults, we, too, need to acknowledge our sin problem. You see, each of us was born with a sin problem, and it is not until we acknowledge that sin problem and turn to God for help that we can find the freedom He offers.
As Jesus taught a crowd in John 8, He spoke about the freedom that He brings. He said to the listening crowd that day, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (verses 31-32). This teaching confused the listening crowd. You see, they knew about the history of their ancestors, the Israelites, as slaves in Egypt. They celebrated the Passover every year, which marked the celebration of the freedom of the Israelite people from Egyptian slavery. They were not slaves in Egypt. In their minds, they were free. That is why they responded, “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” (verse 33). Jesus answered their question, saying, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (verse 34). Jesus made it clear that every single person who has sinned, that’s every single person who has ever lived on earth except Jesus, was born a slave to sin. Apart from Christ, we would be without hope of ever finding freedom from sin. It is when we acknowledge our sin problem that we can begin to find hope and healing by turning to Christ for help.
Each one of us was born into sin. Each one of us would be lost without the hope of Christ. To receive healing and help, we have to acknowledge our sin problem. We have to recognize that our sin leaves us separated from God. When we recognize our sin problem, we can take steps toward the freedom available in Christ.
If you have never placed your faith in Christ and turned to Him for rescuing and healing, turn to Him today. Watch this video, and follow the prompts. Admit your sin, acknowledge that you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for you and rose again, and commit your life to Jesus. There is nothing greater you can do with your life than this. If you have committed your life to Christ, maybe there is a sin in your life that you need to confess to Him. Acknowledge that sin and repent, turn away from that sin, and ask Him to help you let go of that sin and live in a way that honors Him with everything you say and do.
1Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father[a] who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
22 The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
23 Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.
