Using God's logic makes you free
In John 8:31 & 32, we find a passage of scripture that is often quoted.
“If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
In the context of this passage, Jesus was speaking to Jews that were listening to him with believing hearts and minds. These Jews were beginning to agree with Jesus’ teachings. Teachings which were of a different rationale and logic than the rationale and logic of the Jewish leaders, and the religion of their time.
If we start to break down the actual words that were used in this passage we can more clearly see what Jesus was referring to as He made this statement.
“If you continue in My word (logos)…”
The Greek word used here was “logos”. In American Bibles the Greek word “logos” is often translated into the word, “word”. However, “logos” refers to more than words. In fact there were three Greek words that refer to “words”, each one referring to words being used in various ways. The Greek word “graphe” was used when referring to written words. The Greek word “rhema” refers to spoken words. “Logos” refers to logical thinking, the train of thought, the rationale and perspective behind how an individual thinks, perceives, and makes sense of the world, and all things. Logos is “the embodiment of an idea”. Logos could even be considered as a type of philosophy.
At the risk of being controversial, I would propose that Jesus was not speaking to them about the Bible, which did not exist until many years later. If He was, He most likely would have used the word “graphe”. Instead, Jesus was referring to all of the things that He had already been teaching these Jewish listeners. The new rationale, logic, and perspectives that Jesus had been describing for them. A rationale and logic that flows from Spirit, which Paul referred to as “the Mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2). Jesus was instructing the Jewish listeners to use the “logos”, (the mindset, logic, rationale, and/or philosophy) that He had been speaking about and demonstrating for them.
If we look through some of the main topics that Jesus was teaching about, as is apparent in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we see the following “logos” (mindsets, logic, and perspectives) that Jesus taught regarding how to view life, ourselves, others, our circumstances, and God. Here are some of the ideas and logic that Jesus was teaching.
The beatitudes - viewing your lowly situations, trials, sufferings, and all circumstances as blessings (Matt. 5:3-12). This is again emphasized by James and other apostles, as they encourage us to view all trials and hardship as things to be thankful for, happy about, and to rejoice in.
Anger and Forgiving (Matt. 5:21-25; 6:14-15).
Loving our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48).
Giving to others (Matt. 6:1-4).
Pursue Heaven and Heavens rewards over earthly things (Matt. 6:19-21; 31-33).
Do not worry, fear, or be anxious about anything (Matt. 6:25-34; 8:23-26).
Do not judge others. Judging others, and yourself, mercifully. (Matt. 7:1-5).
As you believe it will be done unto you. Faith. (Matt. 8:1-3; 8:5-13; 9:22; 9:29; 15:28; Luke 8:48; Luke 7:50).
Serve others. Humility. (Matt. 20:20-28).
And, Love. Love God. Love others. Love yourself. (Matt. 7:12; 22: 34-40).
These teachings are all examples of the “logos” of Christ (the logic, philosophy, perspective, and mindset) “the mind of Christ”. The mindset and logic that Jesus encourages us to abide (to remain) in (John 15 & 17). It is my belief that Jesus observed that these Jewish individuals were grasping the logic, and rationale (the core philosophy) of His teachings. As He observed this, Jesus began encouraging them by stating, “if you continue to allow yourself to think, and perceive things like I do, if you will continue in My logic, My way of viewing things, then you are truly my disciples (you are truly learning from me)”. Jesus continues this encouragement by stating, “Then (when you continue to learn to think, view life, yourself, God, others, and all circumstances through the logic, perspective, and philosophy through which I view all things, then) you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
The Greek word for “truth” used in this text was “Alitheia”. This Greek word can be translated in English to the word, “truth”. However, “alitheia” is also synonymous with the word “reality”. The reality that the listeners of Jesus had known was a reality of sickness, struggle, worry, anxiety, sins, religious sacrifices, duties, condemnation, and oppression. In our modern world many of us have realities of traumatic experiences, losses, struggle, sickness, fear, anxiety, and religious ideas or instructions that don’t always seem to help. It seems that here Jesus was saying, “If you will start thinking with my logic, if you will start perceiving and viewing all things from my perspective, then you will know a reality that is superior, and more real, than what you currently believe is reality.”. Simply put, Jesus was saying, if you will begin to think, perceive, and use the type of logic that I think with, which I have been teaching you and demonstrating for you, then you will be free from these lower realities. You will begin to know the higher truths and realities, and become free from the lower realities of fear, worry, anxiety, etc.
“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
I do not believe that the context of this scripture was referring uniquely to being free from acts of sin. At least not in the way that many modern day Christians perceive “sin”. “Sin”, in the original context and use of the word, was an archery term, which means “to miss the mark”. Like all things, before sin ever becomes an act, it is first a thought. So, to sin in our thinking would be to “miss the mark” in our thinking, aka our logic. When we worry, we miss the mark in our thinking. When we perceive situations as “bad”, as if God is no longer in control, and we become fearful in that situation, then we are missing the mark in our perceptions, thinking, and logic. When we believe that God is not with us, not pleased with us, not providing for us, and not working all things for good, then we have “sinned”. We have missed the mark in our “logos” - logic. It is from this type of hell, this type of antichrist logic, that we need freedom. A freedom that comes, as Jesus said, when we abide in, (remain in), His type of logic, thinking, perspectives, and views of all things.
“If you abide in [remain in] My word [logic]”
Proverbs 23:7 seems to align with this train of thought. “As a man thinks (believes) in His heart, so is he.” The type of logic, mindset, and perspective that a person uses to perceive the world becomes their reality. Jesus was, and is, the “word” (logos) (see John 1). Jesus is the “logos”. He is the perfect example of the mindset, perspective, and logic of God. When we begin to think like Christ, and use the logic of God toward all circumstances, people, etc., then we will begin to be free from the burdens and hindrances of this lower reality. All things will be seen as something to rejoice in, because He (God, Christ) is the only true reality. When we remain in the logic, mindset, and perspective of Christ then our reality will increasingly become more heavenly. As we perceive the world, ourselves, others, and God, this perception becomes our reality. Choose to renew your mind. Join the logic, the mind, and the reality of Christ, of God, and of Heaven.
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