The Truth Will Set You Free

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in 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

This verse is quoted and misused so often in America. It's used by lawyers in the court room. It's used by advocates of "global warming". It's used by homosexuals enticing people to "come out of the closet".

Needless to say, the power found in these words is attractive to both Christian and non-Christian alike. But what did Jesus mean? Did he simply want people to confess whatever was true to them "out loud" and feel good about it?

We have to look at the context. Within this chapter of the book of John, Jesus is teaching about who he is and what his mission to the earth is all about. Though many were skeptical about Jesus' claims and words, verse 30 says that as he was teaching "many believed in him".

And it is to those "believers" that he challenges with this idea: true disciples will abide by his word. He doesn't tell them to earn their salvation. He doesn't tell them to practice rituals. He doesn't tell them to listen for a mystical whisper in their ears.

He tells them to abide by his word.
VS 31 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples"

This is the part that the world leaves out. They don't want to hear from Jesus. They're afraid he might enslave them to some ancient religion with rules and regulations. They'd much rather be "free" to define what "truth" is rather than having Jesus define it for them. By ignoring him, they believe they are "set free" from the constraints of Christ.

Yet it is ironic that Jesus himself says these people are slaves. He says in verse 34 that "everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." We know that the entire world is born into sin. Thus the entire world is enslaved to sin. The only chance anyone has to be set free from sin is by the power of Jesus Christ. Jesus puts it so well when he says "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (vs 36)".

There's great hope for sinners in this section of John chapter 8. If the Son decides to set you free from your sins, you will be set free. What Amazing Grace!

It makes perfect sense that Christ's disciples would abide by his word. We were dead in our sins and only heard the wanton words of the world. We were hell bound. We had no wisdom. We saw no light. Yet Christ broke through the darkness to shine his glory into our hearts. Paul puts it best when he says, "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6)."

True disciples revel in the gospel light. Like the first warm day after a cold, snow storm, Christ's ransomed people step out into the light and bask in it. We're set free from the cold, dead winter and are risen into the warm, life giving light. We don't scurry from it any more like rats or roaches. As John wrote in chapter 3, "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light." This was once our reaction to Christ, but now it is so different.

We want to hear his word. We want to be near him. We expect him to be in every aspect of our lives. We are set free from our sins and forever enslaved to him. But it's not an evil slavery. Jesus describes it best when he says, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:30)."

To be set free from one's sin is the greatest liberty we can ever know for it is the one thing we can not do on our own. The only hope for mankind is found in this wonderful statement by our precious savior: if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (vs 36).

If you have found this freedom, embrace it all the more. It wasn't yours to earn. It was by his good pleasure that he gave it to you. Praise him for his grace and mercy!

If you haven't found forgiveness of sins. If you are still enslaved to this world, cry out to Christ for mercy! He is your only hope. Oh that you would hear his words and that they would be liberating to your soul! May you know the truth and may the truth set you free.