ListenDaily - 07 May 2009: The power of an adverb
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." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth..."
"Then". This interesting little adverb is a key to the understanding of Jesus' words here. We often hear "The truth will set you free!" do we not? In sermons, speeches, and writing, this is a very common phrase.
Hold on.
We cannot simply say that "truth will set you free", for alone, that is not true! Jesus set up a series of conditions, or directions, a recipe if you will, that must be followed in order for this to be true.
Then.
"Then", means "immediately or soon afterward"; "next in order of time or place"; or "as a consequence".
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" immediately or soon afterward "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" next "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" as a consequence "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about the truth? 2. IS it a matter of obedience or understanding? 3. What developments or changes might you need to make?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
No comments:
Post a Comment