So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “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
To have a mental assent to faith does not necessarily mean that there is genuine conversion. Jesus said that we will know a tree by its fruits. It’s possible to come to a mental acceptance of certain facts about God and deceive ourselves into thinking we believe on Christ, but the genuineness of that faith needs to be tested before it is judged as real. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?” (Jm 2:19-20). Works do not save one’s soul of course, but the faith that does save is a faith that produces good works.
An earlier group of listeners had also “believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them [literally, ‘did not believe on them’], because he knew all men” (Jn 2:23-24). It is essential that we believe on Him, but also essential that He also believe on us!
The test is simple! If we continue in His Word, then we are true disciples. Our dedication to Christ is measured by our obedience to His Word. If we question His Word, or resent His Word, or try to avoid obeying His Word, or by “interpreting” it with our own preferred meaning, then we critically need to examine the genuineness of our belief in Christ.
Therefore, if we are His disciples and do continue in His Word, then He makes us a wonderful promise: “You shall know the truth.” Literally, this means “come to know the truth.” As real disciples, we have His assurance that our deep study in His Word will yield an ever-increasing comprehension of God’s revealed “truth,” with growing freedom to understand and obey the perfect will of God.
May the Lord grant us grace to stand boldly on His Truth without compromise and that we may be faithful and true disciples during our sojourn time on earth.
