Freedom in Christ

INTRODUCTION

In light of the July 4th weekend and the celebration of our nation’s 249th birthday, I want to talk to you today about true freedom that is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ

To do that I would like to invite you to turn in your Bible to John 8:30-36

This is a pivotal passage in understanding genuine salvation and true discipleship

Few New Testament passages have such a complete picture of discipleship as this one

So that you have the context, I am going to begin reading at verse 30 down through verse 36

John 8:30–36 NASB95

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Profession vs. Possession

It’s one thing to say you believe, and another to live like you truly do.

Isn’t that the real issue?

Many claim Jesus as Lord, but only a few truly live under His Lordship.

The difference is seen in daily life.

We’re not saved by our works, but once we are saved, good works will follow as evidence.”

Paul said in Titus 1:6 that there were professors at Crete who “profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”

James even asked in James 2:14 (NASB) What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

He concludes in verse 26 by saying, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

As we look closely at this section in chapter 8, we learn quickly that the “Jews who had believed Him” in verse 20 didn’t possess true saving faith

Verse 34 says they were slaves to sin, indifferent to Jesus’ word (v. 37), children of the devil (v. 44), liars (v. 55), and guilty of mob tactics, including attempted murder of the one in whom they have professed to believe (v. 59)

They did not have the freedom they claimed as children of Abraham nor did they reveal the characteristics of the children of Abraham

They were not true disciples of Jesus

A.W. Pink says, “It is not how a man begins, but how he continues and ends. It is this which distinguishes the stony ground hearer from the good ground hearer.”

That fits this group perfectly even though some make a distinction from those in verse 30 with those in verse 33

They say those in verse 33 identified by the pronoun “they,” refers to another group

A group that wasn’t saved

But grammatically speaking, it seems improbable to say this is another group

“They” in verse 33 are the “many” who “came to believe in Him” in verse 30

We have already noted how Jesus responded to those who didn’t truly believe

These were those who in John 2:25 who had “believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing

“But Jesus, on His part,” as verses 24-25 says, “was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”

Why do we think any differently in John 8:30-36?

Why every time we see that someone “believes” that it is genuine?

We have to study their deeds

“This section of discourse,” writes Leon Morris, “is addressed to those who believe, and yet do not believe. Clearly they were inclined to think that what Jesus said was true. But they were not prepared to yield him the far-reaching allegiance that real trust in him implies” (The Gospel According to John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979], 454).

Morris goes on to caution, “This is a most dangerous spiritual state. To recognize that truth is in Jesus and to do nothing about it means that in effect one ranges oneself with the enemies of the Lord” (Ibid., 454).

David Thomas says, “A mere hearing of the Word, or a deep passing interest in the Word, or an intellectual belief in the Word, or an occasional devotion to the Word, will not constitute genuine discipleship, but a practical continuance in its spirit and aim.”

So what is a true disciple of Jesus?

I believe Jesus answers that question in this passage

He does so by giving 4 characteristics of a true disciple:

The first characteristic is…

Believing in Christ (v.31)

John 8:31 (NASB) So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.

This is the Initial Contact With Christ

This is where it all begins but we need to be aware that not all faith is saving faith

Again, John has already made that clear in John 2:23-25

In chapter 6, there were many who wanted to make Jesus their king but as verse 66 states they soon “withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

The apostle John makes a mental note of this and says in 1 John 2:19 (NASB) They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

Their belief stopped short of saving faith

Charles Spurgeon said, “The angels never doubt God, nor do the devils. Man alone, out of all the beings that God has made, dishonor Him by unbelief.”

That is true of many of the rulers who believed in Him

John 12:42 (NASB) Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.

This is an apt description of those who were on rocky soil

When they heard the word, they receive it with joy but because they have no firm root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away (cf. Luke 8:13)

Is this not the believing “in vain” that Paul warned the Corinthians about in 1 Corinthians 15:2?

Is this not the reason why Paul exhorted his readers in 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB) Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Saving Faith Consists of Three Elements: Knowledge, Assent, and Trust

“Knowledge” is the intellectual component of faith which involves an understanding of the basic biblical facts regarding salvation

“Assent” takes it one step further and confidently affirms those facts to be true

And “trust” acts on them by personally appropriating Jesus Christ as the only hope for salvation

In saving faith the entire person—the intellect (knowledge), the emotions (assent), and the will (trust)—embraces Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

Matthew 22:37 (NASB) And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE Lord YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

That’s why when Jesus called people to believe in Him He didn’t stop there

He encompassed the entire person

Luke 9:23-24 (NASB) 23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

Notice the second characteristic of a true disciple that Jesus gives…

Continuing in God’s Word (v.31b)

He says in verse 31, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.”

Those whose faith is the real, saving trust in Jesus Christ will continue in both faith and obedience to His word

Here Jesus now lays down exactly what it is that separates spurious faith from true faith, fickle disciples from genuine disciples

The NIV says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”

The verb rendered “continue” or “hold” is menē. It means to abide, to remain

It signifies a settled determination to live in the word of Christ and by it, and so entails a perpetual listening to it, reflection on it, holding fast to it, carrying out its bidding

In other words, we could say that perseverance is the mark of true faith, of real disciples

A genuine believer remains in Jesus’ ‘word’ (logos), His teaching (cf. notes on 1:1): i.e. such a person obeys it, seeks to understand it better, and finds it more precious, more controlling, precisely when other forces flatly oppose it

It is the one who continues in the teaching who has both the Father and the Son

2 John 1:9 (NASB) Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

Hebrews 3:14 (NASB) For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.

To the church at Thyatira Jesus said in Revelation 2:26 (NASB) 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;

So, true faith always has the quality of permanence

The present tense of the verb eimi (are) suggests that Jesus was not telling them the requirements for becoming a disciple; He did not say, “If you continue in My word you will become My genuine disciples.”

Instead, He declared that the nature of true discipleship consists of continued obedience to His Word

A True Disciple Obeys Christ

Matthew 12:50 (NASB) "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

John 14:15 (NASB) "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:21 (NASB) "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."

John 14:23-24 (NASB) 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

John 15:10 (NASB) "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:14 (NASB) "You are My friends if you do what I command you.

1 John 2:4-6 (NASB) 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 John 3:24 (NASB) The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 John 5:3 (NASB) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome

Whenever people put their faith in Jesus He immediately tests that faith

In this case He begins by explaining what is behind such testing

Those who are really his disciples hold to his teaching, they remain in it (meinēte, v. 31)

A True Disciple is a Learner

“Truly disciples of Mine”

The word “disciple” is the Greek word mathetes which refers to “a learner, one who adheres to the teachings of a spiritual leader.”

All Christians are disciples

The Greek word mathetes is used in the NT to describe a Christian

Acts 6:1-2 (NASB) 1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

Acts 9:1 (NASB) Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.

Acts 14:20-22 (NASB) 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

A True Disciple is Word Oriented

They recognize that it is “the word of His grace, which is able to build [them] up” (Acts 20:32).

They understand the importance of being “doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (Jas.1:22).

True disciples are “like newborn babies, long[ing] for the pure milk of the word, so that by it [they] may grow in respect to salvation (1 Pet.1:22).

They love God’s Word

They desire with all their heart to “observe [God’s] precepts (Ps.119:69).

God’s word is their delight (Ps.119:77).

Believing in Christ, Continuing in the Word…..Notice the fourth characteristic of a true disciple….

A True Disciple Knows the Truth (v.32)

Jesus continues in verse 32 by saying, “and you will know the truth.”

What is the blessing of believing in Christ and continuing to obey His Word? Knowing the truth!

Charles Spurgeon said, “Scripture alone is absolute truth, essential truth, decisive truth, authoritative truth, undiluted truth, eternal, everlasting truth.”

Since Jesus is the Word, He is also the Truth

He is truth incarnate

He said in John 14:6 (NASB) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

But many today have the same cynical attitude that Pilate had when He asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (Jn.18:38)

In a postmodern world, where the hope of discovering absolute truth has been largely abandoned, such knowledge is revolutionary

But modern skeptics are left with nothing but their own ignorance and despair—the fruit of their futile search for truth apart from God

Scripture is the Revelation of Divine Truth

In it Jesus Christ, truth incarnate, is revealed, and through it the Holy Spirit teaches the truth to believers

Jesus prayed that the disciples would be “Sancti[fied]…in the truth” (Jn.17:17).

The Word of God is the truth

Psalms 119:142 (NASB) Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.

Psalms 119:151 (NASB) You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth.

Psalms 119:160 (NASB) The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

And since Scripture is truth, it comes from the God of truth

If God is true, and He is, then His Word is “inspired…and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim.3:16-17).

The last characteristic of a true disciple is…

Being Made Free (vv.32-36)

This was Something that These Jews Did Not Experience

They were still slaves to their sin

And their response is classic

They said in verse 33, “We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?"

Have they forgotten that they have been slaves to Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and now Rome?

In verse 34 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”

These Jews pretended to be very religious, but the truth of the matter was that they were dishonest, irreverent, and soon to be murderers—for even now they were plotting the death of the Son of God

Before we look at verse 34, notice two times the statement “the truth will make you free” (vv.32-33).

What does this phrase mean?

When You Believe in Jesus, Obey His Word, and Know the Truth, You Are Made Free

Free from what?

The bondage of Satan
-
John 17:15 (NASB) "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

Condemnation
-
Romans 8:1 (NASB) Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Judgment
-
John 3:18 (NASB) "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Spiritual ignorance -
John 8:12 (NASB) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

Spiritual death
-
John 8:51 (NASB) "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death."

Sin
-
Romans 6:18 (NASB) and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Going back to verse 33, the Jew’s insisted they were free and have never been in bondage to anyone

But, as the contexts indicates, they were not only slaves of Rome but they were slaves of sin

Jesus says in verse 34, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”

To be a slave is to be totally under the control of another and unable to free one’s self

Sin, like a cruel taskmaster, controls every aspect of an unbeliever’s life, enslaving that person “to various lusts and pleasures” (Titus 3:3) “in the bondage of iniquity” (Acts 8:23)

So not only does the practice of sin (the Greek is literally ‘the one who does sin’; cf. 1 Jn. 3:4, 8, 9) prove that one is a slave to sin, but the practice of sin actively enslaves

Jesus concludes verses 35-36 with the analogy of slavery but for different purposes

His statement that the slave does not remain in the house forever, but the son does remain forever was a warning

The son has permanent rights in the household; the slave does not

Even though the Jews were Abraham’s descendants (and thus part of God’s chosen nation), they were like slaves, not sons, and in danger of eternally forfeiting the privileges they had received

In Matthew 8:11–12 the Lord warned, “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

It is only those who receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God (whether descended from Abraham or not) who are truly sons of God (1:12; Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26; 4:6; 1 John 3:1–2)

In verse 36 Jesus reiterated His promise of verse 32, declaring that those whom the Son makes free, will be free indeed

As the Son who rules over God’s house (Heb. 3:6), Jesus has the authority to release those who put their faith in Him from their bondage to sin and make them sons of God

Through Him they are “set … free from the law of sin and of death” (Rom. 8:2)

And not only does He release them, but He also adopts them into God’s household (1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5), taking them from a position of slavery to one of sonship (cf. Rom. 8:17)

CONCLUSION

Have you been set free from the condemnation of sin? (Romans 8:1)

Have you been set free from the power of sin? (Romans 6:14)

Have you been set free from the law as a means of righteousness? (Galatians 5:1)

Have you been set free from guilt and shame? (Hebrews 10:22)

Have you been set free from the fear of death? (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Have you been set free from the dominion of Satan? (Colossians 1:13)

Or are you still a slave of sin?

Believing in Jesus is the first step

You must surrender your entire life to Him

You do that by “denying yourself, and taking up your cross, and following Him” (Luke 9:23)

Repent from your sin and surrender your life to Jesus and become a true disciple of Jesus

One who not only believes in Christ but also continues in the Word, knows the truth, and has been set free from sin

Let’s pray