My Disciples Indeed

John 8:31-32 says “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus makes emphasis on the word “my” because he was ushering in a new utterance. The word “logos” here can also mean doctrine; “…if you continue in my doctrine, then are ye my disciples indeed…” John 7:16-17 says “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” The apostles walked in this doctrine and in doing so they were able to discern the truth from error; “AND ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” How would the truth make one free? John 1:17 says “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Truth is always accompanied by Grace: John 1:14 says “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The truth is the law could not save us, but Jesus saves! Jesus gives us the Spirit of truth, the Holy Ghost, to help us know the doctrine: John 16:13 says “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The same Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Grace (Heb.10:29). 2 John 1:9 says “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” The doctrine of Christ are his commandments: John 14:15 says “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The apostle John let’s us know the commandments that Christ was speaking of: 1 John 2:3-5 says “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” John tells us about commandments, but which commands? 1 John 3:23-24 says “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” 1 John 4:20-21 says “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 2 John 1:5-6 says “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” John listened and continued in Christ word: Jesus says in John 15:12-14 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 13:34-35 says “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” 2 John 1:9 says “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

-Anthony Booker