Abide in His Word and Be Set Free (John 8:31-32)

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 NKJV)

Why does Jesus say that the truth shall make us free? It’s because we humans are not free. At this, the Jews protested that they had never been without freedom under any circumstance. Although they were in the bondage and slavery of King Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, they were saying that in hearts they were not serving the mundane kings but God only.

Nevertheless, Jesus says the opposite. No matter what man is, Jew or Greek, in nature he is under the slavery of the prince of the world, the evil one. There is no one righteous, not even one. Through one man Adam sin entered the world because all sinned and death reigned since Adam trespassed.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” (Romans 5:12-14 NKJV)

Three notable things found in every man—guilt, despair, and shame. Guilt is inadequacy, despair, impotence, and shame, unworthiness. These three things are the real enemies of humanity. So, we try to get rid of them by any means through will to forget, will to cheer, and will to success. But history proves that none works at all, simply man cannot get rid of those deeply entrenched monsters. They follow us everywhere, in families, works, streets, malls, travels, and even sports.

That’s why we shall need the gospel of Jesus Christ who paid the price for guilt, despair, and shame on the cross of Calvary in our place. There was no reason for Him to die, but He chose to die in our place in order to get rid of the real enemies of humanity because He knew that there was no other way for the salvation of humans than that of His bloody death.

There is one condition Jesus says to be set free. That is to abide in Him. In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus teaches the disciples that they must abide in Him, otherwise they will be cut off and be withered. Abiding in Him means that we live in Him as members of His body, being constantly and eternally fed by His body and His blood. This is the way to be His disciples indeed. Then, we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free. Jesus is the truth. That’s the eternal gospel for all ages.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:5-8 NKJV)