The Son Sets You Free

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What does it mean to be free? What does true freedom look like? When you hear Jesus talk about freedom, what do you wish he meant for you right now?

Gym story: DRY January robbing of finances, health, and relationships.

This is the focus on Jesus conversation in our text today, where and how do we encounter real freedom.

1. True disciples abide in Jesus’ word. vv. 31-32

Part of conversation as a whole from John 8:12-59

Not just a common cordial conversation, but one in which the “Jews”, the religious leaders, are seeking to arrest and have Jesus killed.

Clarity of who in this conversation:

“…many believed in him” v. 30

Could be a belief like we saw in John 2:23–24 “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people”

Or could be like following the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:14–15 “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

These people saw Jesus but it wasn’t a saving faith belief.

There are many like this today. They are good with Jesus, they aren’t against Jesus, but they aren’t disciples or followers of Jesus.

Maybe this is you. Maybe this is a family member, a neighbor, a coworker, a friend.

Nonetheless of how or what this belief is, Jesus is very clear as to what a true disciple is. Look at v. 31 “…if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” v. 31b

What does it mean to abide?

What it does not mean is simply to acknowledge or agree to. (terms and conditions)

Abiding means to know and do.

Know and do Jesus word.

Know and do Jesus’ teachings.

Abiding in Jesus means reading His word and asking “Jesus what are you saying, and what are you calling me to do? How should I live for you today?”

Abiding isn’t just the 5-15 min we spend in the Word in the morning,

It is then taking this word to how you love and serve your spouse,

how you direct the heart of your children,

how you talk about people who aren’t in the room,

how we handle conflict,

how you help raise your grandchildren.

Unfortunately in the churched today in America, we don’t even KNOW Jesus teachings.

We aren’t students of Jesus words, we aren’t disciples of Jesus.

“Our attitude to God’s word is an index of our love for Jesus.” Daniel Strange

You cannot say you love Jesus, but don’t spend time in His Word. (Love Jesus, Love His Church)

Think and reflect on your personal life. Over the past week, how many days did you dwell in and meditate on God’s word? Past month?

I say this not to guilt you or make you feel bad, but you truly believe Jesus then his teachings say we are to know and do, abide, in His word.

Many of us want to follow Jesus deeply, but no one ever taught us how to hear His voice in Scripture.

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John 8:31–32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed 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.””

“The way to freedom is through the truth, and what matters therefore is to know the truth. Tyranny and slavery of every sort thrive on lies, half-truths, evasions and cover-ups. Freedom and truth go hand in hand.” N.T. Wright

2. True disciples are set free from the power of sin. vv. 33-34

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they are jumping to conclusions or putting words in your mouth? Well that’s what’s happening here.

As the heated conversation continues, Jesus just talked about Truth and Freedom, and then the Jesus go on attack here.

Look at v. 33-34

John 8:33–34 “They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

Let’s just think for a moment here, are the Jews ignorant to their nations past?

430+ years in Egypt as slaves

7 times enslaved in the book of Judges

10 Northern Tribes were captives to Assyria

2 Southern Tribes were captives for 70 years to Babylon

At the very hour they were under the heel of Rome

They weren’t ignorant, they were missing, once again, the truth of Jesus teaching.

Jesus doesn’t hold back, sugar coat, or beat around the bush, he says.

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” v. 34

“Truly Truly...”

“Practices sin”

One whose lifestyle is characterized by repeated, continuous sin is a slave to sin.’

Sometimes sin is very blatant and obvious, drugs/addiction, anything outside the God’s design for marriage (affair (physical or emotional), sex outside of marriage)

“Slavery to sin doesn’t always look dramatic.

Sometimes it looks like needing everyone to like you,

avoiding hard conversations,

BUSY lives, running from sport to sport with our children running our lives,

working nonstop to prove your worth,

not caring for the widow, the orphan, or the poor,

or being unable to rest without feeling guilty.”

What’s the sin you excuse because it feels normal—but its quietly mastering you?

The worst bondage is one you’re held in and don’t even know you are in.

“You might not feel enslaved—but if anxiety dictates your decisions, if approval dictates your silence, if comfort dictates your obedience, then something other than Jesus is ruling.”

Bondage of sin isn’t something we can break ourselves free from.

Gym story: Is it the abstinence from alcohol that will truly free him? or something deeper?

Think about your life, what are you managing externally while remaining unchanged internally?

Some of you need to stop managing sin and start surrendering to the Son.

3. True disciples belong to the family of faith. vv. 35-38

Jesus connects every word and conversation back to Kingdom truth.

The Jews take him saying knowing truth will set you free, to that they have never been a slave, and so he takes this thinking they have and gives them a Gospel Kingdom insight.

A slave only has the ‘family name’ as a long as that family has him.

A son, now a son has that family name forever.

Look at v. 35

John 8:35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.”

House: “Oikia”: Oikos yogurt, meant to make you feel like you’re at home while eating. Pho-family-feel.

A slave has a pho-family-feel, but a son really belongs to the family.

True disciples belong to the family of faith

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” v. 36

Jesus connects that this family isn’t a ‘natural birth lineage’, how does Jesus distinguish those who are in the family and those who aren’t, look at v. 37

John 8:37 “I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.”

“Because my word finds no place in you.”-We get into God’s word, God’s Word Get’s into Us, God’s word comes out of us.

These men have LIVED in God’s word, yet Jesus says “My Word finds no place in you.”

“Our attitude to God’s word is an index of our love for Jesus.” Daniel Strange

Not just about reading and knowing. Abiding: Knowing and Doing.

John 8:38 “I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.””

More on this Father vs. father next week.

Where does true freedom come from?

“Let us never rest till we have some personal experience of this freedom ourselves. Without it all other freedom is a worthless privilege. Free speech, free laws, political freedom, commercial freedom, national freedom: all these cannot smooth down a dying pillow, or disarm death of his sting, or fill our consciences with peace. Nothing can do that but the freedom which Christ alone gives.” - J.C . Ryle

What would change this week if I actually obeyed what I read in the Word this week?

What pattern, habit, or desire still has power over me—have I truly brought it into the light of Jesus’ truth?

Do I live with the security and obedience of a son or daughter—or with the fear and performance of someone trying to earn a place in the house?

Pray