Free at Last
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we closed our study with verse 30 of chapter 8.
Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
I love this verse. “Many believed in him!” You see, I love this verse, because it shows the heart of God. More than anything, God wants people—you and me and those around us—to believe in Jesus!
You and I should have the heart of God and desire to see people believe in Jesus! That’s right, today, we should long to see people come to know Jesus.
If you are around pastors very long, you will undoubtedly hear discussions about what should happen after a person believes in Jesus.
It is called “Discipleship.”
Today, we are going to pick up our story with verse 31.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
When John references the Jews that had believed Jesus, he is directly referring to verse 30 (v. 31a).
Jesus uses a conditional clause— “if.” If they “hold” (Gk. meno means: to remain, reside, to keep, to continue to live, abide, continue) to His teachings. This has the idea to continue to follow. So if they continued to follow Jesus’ teachings, then they are really His disciples (v. 31b).
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
When they continue to live by His teachings they will know the truth (v. 32a). Jesus states that He is the way, truth, and the live (cf. Jn. 14:6). Living by His teachings helps us know Him more, because he is truth.
Knowing Jesus gives us freedom! (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” ) (v. 32b). Knowing the truth sets us free (Gk. free means free, set free, free from blame, to set someone free, to release, to liberate, to exempt).
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Their Prideful Response
Their Prideful Response
They deny that they are slaves to anyone or anything, because they are Abraham’s descendants! (v. 33a).
They do not see themselves as “slaves” in the typical sense of the word (v. 33b).
And they know that they have NEVER been a slave (in the typical sense of the word) (v. 33c).
So IF they have never been a slave to anyone or anything, how could Jesus say that he could set them free (v. 33d). In their mind they were already free!
Jesus’ Response
Jesus’ Response
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Jesus says that anyone who sins is a slave.
Sinners are automatically slaves to the sin (Rom. 6:16).
QUESTION: Each one of us must begin to ask ourselves, “Today, to whom am I enslaved to today?”
For some of us it is a who, for others we need to ask “Today, to what am I enslaved to?
A Reminder of Slavery
A Reminder of Slavery
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
A slave is just that—an indentured servant!
The can be bought or sold—or they come and go.
A slave does NOT have a permanent place within the family that they serve!
A Son
A Son
A son is completely different, because a son is always a son.
The son position is permanent (like it or not).
This is a subtle reference to Jesus’ position as the Son of God—His position is permanent and comes with power and authority (cf. v. 36).
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Jesus says, “So if the Son sets you free. . .” The Greek word translated “if” could also be translated “when” or “whenever”. Thus the essence of the verse is “When the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The freedom that comes from Jesus gives us freedom from sin so that we are no longer slaves to sin!
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
Jesus acknowledges that his audience are indeed descendants of Abraham—at least they are physically his descendants.
But they have not accepted Jesus’ teachings (his word). This is seen by the fact that they are trying to find a way to justifiably kill Jesus!
They want to silence Jesus and the message that he taught. Their view of God and their religious system was not big enough to accommodate any of Jesus’ teachings.
This points to the fact that they are not spiritually Abraham’s descendents (cf. Romans 2:28–29 “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” ; 9:8; Galatians 3:29 “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” ).
I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
Jesus tells them exactly what the problem is:
Jesus is telling them exactly what he saw in the presence of God:
Notice that Jesus is actually claiming to be God.
And his message is from God
On the other hand, they are doing what they have heard from their father (the question being, “Who is their father?”)
The Jews Protest
The Jews Protest
“Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did.
The Jews protest that Abraham is truly their father (v. 39a).
Jesus Refutes Their Claim
Jesus Refutes Their Claim
Jesus challenges their assertion because they are not doing the things that Abraham did (v. 39b)
As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
Jesus comes back to the fact that they are actually trying to kill him (v. 40a)
Jesus describes himself:
A man who has told the truth (v. 40b)
A man that told them what he had heard from God (v. 40c)
Jesus reminds them that Abraham did not claim the same thing that He is claiming (v. 40d).
You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus goes on to acknowledges that they are doing the works of “their father” (v. 41a). Jesus is questioning the fact that they believe they are “Abraham’s descendents.”
The Jews Response
The Jews Response
They knew exactly what Jesus was saying! Look at their response (v. 41b).
“We are NOT illegitimate children!” (v. 41c) They are still claiming to be descendents of Abraham.
To drive their point home, they claim that the only “Father” they have is God himself (cf. Isaiah 63:16 “But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” ; Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” ).
Why Don’t They Love Jesus?
Why Don’t They Love Jesus?
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.
Jesus’ response is simple: If God were really their “Father” then they would love Jesus (v. 42a).
They would love Him because God sent Him (v. 42b).
To drive the point home Jesus states again that He didn’t come on His own (v. 42c).
Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
Jesus asks, why they do not understand what he is saying? If God truly is their Father they should understand his language (Gk. language, speech, talk, utterance) (v. 43a).
Jesus says the reason is because they are unable to hear what he says (v. 43b).
Jesus Identifies the Jew’s True Father
Jesus Identifies the Jew’s True Father
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Jesus tells them who their true “father” is (v. 44a).
Jesus says it is the devil (Gk. devil, enemy, adversary) (v. 44b).
They actually carry out “your” father’s desires (v. 44c).
The Devil was a murder from the beginning (v. 44d).
The devil hates truth (v. 44e).
In fact, there is NO truth in him (v. 44f).
The devil lies whenever he speaks (v. 44g).
After all lying is in his character (v. 44h).
In fact, the Devil is the father of lies (v. 44i).
Contrast Between Jesus and the Devil
Contrast Between Jesus and the Devil
Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
Jesus tells the truth (cf. John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ) (v. 45a).
But the Jews didn’t believe Him (v. 45b).
The Jesus’ Big Question
The Jesus’ Big Question
Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
Can any one of them prove that Jesus was guilty of ANY sin? (v. 46a).
“IF” Jesus is telling the truth, why don’t they believe him? (v. 46b).
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
KEY—Whoever belongs to God hears what God says (cf. 1 Jn. 4:6) (v. 47a).
CONCLUSION—The reason they didn’t hear the message of Jesus is because they did not belong to God (v. 47b).
Conclusion
Conclusion
There is so much in this passage that we can really learn from.
You and I ought to get excited about people coming to believe in and know Jesus!
QUESTION: Do you get excite to see people come to know Jesus?
QUESTION: What are you doing to see people come to know Him?
2. Jesus wanted these new believers to hold—obey—the teachings of Jesus—only then will you and I be a real disciple.
3. According to Galatians 3:29 those who belong to Jesus Christ are descendants of Abraham—children of the promise!
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
So here’s a huge question each of us much answer. It is a question that we have to answer every day, sometimes every hour.
QUESTION: Whom do you serve?
You see there are only two choices.
You and I can serve God! This happens through our relationship with Jesus Christ and by our obedience to His teachings.
Or you and I can serve the Devil—the adversary, or the enemy of our soul.
4. Truth sets people free! Knowing the truth is what can set us free.
You see, we can serve the lies that are so easy to believe, or we can serve the truth that can set us free!
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
In John 18, Pilate asked the question, “What is truth?” Today, you may be asking the same question. You may want to know the truth, but struggling knowing the difference between the truth and the lies that constantly bombard us.
Well, here’s the key to understanding this entire passage today—the Truth is not a what, but a who.
In John 14:6 Jesus said:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So if you and I are going to know the Truth, then we are going to have to know Jesus—personally! We are going to have to have a personal relationship with Him!
Then and only then will John 8:36 make sense.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Truly, IF the Son—Jesus—sets you free, you are truly free!
