Slavery in Ireland today is a serious, but hidden, problem. The government is encouraging it by their school programmes that teach you to accept such slavery as normal! If you don't already know about schools and slavery then this short message will make it very clear, and will also give the Lord Jesus Christ's solution to the serious problem.
Jesus recognised that there was hidden slavery in His day too, and He exposed it, and taught the slaves how they could be set free.
"We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.." the Jews said to Jesus. (verse 31-33.)
"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'" (verse 34. Romans 6:16.) But Jesus, the Son of God, had been sent by God to be the Saviour of the world (Matthew 1:21. 1st John 4:14 John 3:16-18.) - to save people from their slavery to sin. (Hebrews 2:14-15. )
"To the Jews who had believed in Him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (verses 31-32.)
Jesus' teachings are the "key" that can set slaves free from sin.
But this God-given "key" is being ignored today. Instead of Jesus' teachings on what is right and what is wrong, schools teach something else!
Perhaps you have been taught in school that there is nothing "right" or "wrong" of itself, it just depends on how you feel about it! Have you been taught to decide for yourself whether something is O.K. by your own feelings and response to it? ("the Social and Health Education Programme", 1982. etc. etc.) When a person believes that lie, and thinks like that, he is taught to believe that he is now "free"!
But according to Jesus, such a person needs to be set free! Jesus, the Son of God, clearly taught the great difference between right and wrong in God's sight. And He taught that the Holy and Just God will send those who do wrong to be punished in Hell.(Matthew 7:21-23. 25:41-46.)
Many teachers contradict Jesus in this also, and teach that there is no such place as Hell! and that God will forgive everyone!
Anyone foolish enough to believe such lies will certainly not worry about whether he does "right" or "wrong". He/she will feel "free" to live a life of sinfulness - and usually do! Jesus says such a person is certainly NOT FREE, but is a slave of sin, and will NOT get into the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mark 7:20-23. 1st Corinthians 6:9-10.)
Those Jews Jesus spoke to, although slaves to sin, proudly claimed, "Abraham is our father." They had a grand religion, and felt "free"!
Perhaps you belong to a grand religion too; maybe claiming to belong to the virgin Mary and Peter. If you really did follow their message then you would not go against the teachings of Jesus - they certainly did not do such things! (verses 39-40.) You do not have GOD as you Father if you reject the teachings of His Son (John 5:22-23. 1st John 2:22-27), whom He sent to be your Saviour, and to set you free from sin. (Matthew 1:21.)
Trust in Jesus to set you free from sin today.
Read about being set free in John's Gospel chapter 8, verses 31-40.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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