The Truth Will Set You Free (John 8:31-36)
Everyone desires freedom; no one wishes to be bound. Except for prisoners in physical confinement or those in certain countries with restrictions on personal freedom, most people enjoy a degree of physical liberty. However, there are cases where one may have physical freedom but lack freedom in their heart. For instance, instead of peace and rest, they are consumed by anxiety and fear. Instead of love and forgiveness, they harbor hatred and resentment.
The Jews claimed to be God’s children and descendants of Abraham, yet their hearts were filled with hatred and a desire to kill Jesus. This showed they were not servants of love, mercy, and righteousness but slaves to hatred and murder.
Jesus came to save those who sit in the shadow of sin and death. Whoever believes in, receives, and obeys the Lord Jesus Christ is granted eternal life as a gift from God. Through faith in Christ, His blood sets us free from the chains of sin. As a result, we are now able to fully submit to God in Christ. True freedom is found in complete submission to God in Christ.
1. The Truth Will Set You Free (John 8:31-32)
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, many believed in Him. To the Jews who believed in Him, 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” (John 8:31-32). This promise is given to believers and applies only to those who believe.
Abide in My Word
What does it mean to abide in His Word? The Greek tense used here is the aorist, which describes a single, independent act without regard to its duration, repetition, or completion. It signifies continual abiding—listening to, believing, and holding fast to God’s Word.
Abraham became the father of faith by holding fast to God’s promise. Though he faced many challenges while living in the land of Canaan, where he owned no property, he persevered in God’s promise. As a traveler, he dwelled in tents, yet his heart remained steadfast in the Word of God.
"If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Our Lord Jesus always abided in the Father while He was on earth.
"Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work" (John 14:10).
You Will Truly Be My Disciples
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (John 8:31). A disciple is one who obeys the teachings of their master. What is the evidence that we are abiding in Jesus’ Word? It is obedience to His Word. By obeying His commands, we become His disciples. Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another as He loved us.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
You Will Know the Truth
Jesus also said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). What is the truth? Truth is something without any falsehood. Truth is walking in the light, where there is no darkness at all. God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are the embodiment of truth. The apostle John wrote, “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth” (1 John 1:6).
Falsehood is not entirely false; it often blends truth with lies. The serpent deceived the woman with a mixture of truth and lies.
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).
The first part of the serpent’s statement was a lie, while the second part was partially true. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened, and they began to judge good and evil for themselves. As a result, they became ashamed of their nakedness. This happened because Adam chose to judge good and evil on his own instead of entrusting it to God.
What Is the Evidence of Knowing the Truth in Christ?
What changes occur when we know the truth in Christ? Our once-blinded eyes are opened, and we realize that everything in this world is perishable, corrupt, and destined to fade away. We also come to know that God has prepared an eternal heavenly kingdom for us—one that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. We understand that we are not here by chance but have come from God and will return to Him. We recognize that God judges everyone according to their deeds and develop a reverent fear of Him.
These are only a few of the many pieces of evidence that demonstrate the transformation brought by knowing the truth in Christ.
The Truth Will Set You Free
Jesus proclaimed, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32). What is freedom? It is not doing whatever we please or following our selfish desires and emotions. True freedom is putting to death the desires of the flesh and fully submitting to God. Before knowing the truth, we were unable to understand God’s grace or obey His Word. However, through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been set free from the chains of sin and darkness and clothed in God’s righteousness. Now we can boldly approach God’s throne of grace. By His power, glory, honor, and authority, we are no longer slaves to sin but fully devoted to righteousness.
Abide in the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
How should we live now? First, we must continue to abide in the grace of Jesus Christ. Holding firmly to His Word, we run the race of faith in accordance with our calling. However, we must remember that abiding in Jesus is not something that happens naturally while we live in the flesh. Each day, we must lay down our sins and follow Him to remain under the wings of His grace. Jesus taught His disciples how to continue following Him:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Share in the Sufferings of Christ
We are also called to share in the sufferings of Christ. Rather than being ashamed of suffering for His name, we are to rejoice and be glad. The apostle Paul and Jesus’ disciples endured many hardships for the name of Christ because our Lord Jesus Christ first suffered for us.
When and how do sufferings come? They can arise in our daily lives—being wrongfully accused, facing pressure and stress, enduring illness, or experiencing accidents. By looking to the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered before us, we can endure the pains and trials of everyday life with patience and hope for the kingdom of heaven. God is preparing us to be the holy bride of the Lamb, refining us until that day. Amen!
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
2. Everyone Who Sins is a Slave to Sin (John 8:33-34)
The people responded to Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” (John 8:33). However, they seemed to forget their 400 years of slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh and their 70 years in captivity in Babylon. Despite these periods, they maintained their identity as God’s chosen people and descendants of Abraham.
But Jesus was not speaking about physical bondage. He said, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). The Jews regarded Jesus as a lawbreaker who violated the Sabbath and harbored open hostility, hatred, and murderous intent against Him. This is what Jesus was addressing. Although they claimed to be God’s children, full of love and mercy, they had become slaves to hatred and anger.
Rather than judging with truth and justice, they judged based on outward appearances and sat in the place of God to pass judgment. This is exactly what Satan does. Ultimately, they were not servants of God but slaves to sin and servants of the devil.
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).
Jesus continued, “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:35-36). This is a warning not to remain in slavery to sin. It means that those who do not believe in Christ will die in their sins because they remain trapped in the chains of sin and death.
However, those who believe in Jesus are set free from slavery to sin through His blood. This freedom is the gift of God—the blessed gospel of Christ. Amen!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for the grace that sets us free from the chains of sin through Jesus Christ. Help us to continue to abide in this grace and joyfully share in the sufferings of Christ. Amen!
December 8, 2024
Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2024, David Lee Ministries ©2024 – All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the NIV.
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