True Freedom

John 8:31–36 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 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’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

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. -- Leon Morris

continuance in the Word = discipleship - mark of real salvation

(2) Discipleship means constantly remaining in the word of Jesus, and that involves four things.

(a) It involves constant listening to the word of Jesus. It was said of the eighteenth-century cleric John Brown of Haddington that when he preached he paused every now and then as if listening for a voice. Christians are people who all their lives listen for the voice of Jesus and will take no decision until they have first heard what he has to say.

(b) It involves constant learning from Jesus. The disciple (mathētēs) is literally the learner, for that is what the Greek word means. Throughout their lives, Christians should be learning more and more about Jesus. The shut mind is the end of discipleship.

(c) It involves constant penetrating into the truth which the words of Jesus bear. None of us can hear or read the words of Jesus once and then say that we understand their full meaning. The difference between a great book and one which is fashionable and of the moment lies in the fact that we read the latter once and never wish to go back to it; whereas we read a great book many times. To remain in the word of Jesus means constantly to study and think about what he said until more and more of its meaning becomes ours.

(d) It involves constant obeying of the word of Jesus. We study it not simply for academic satisfaction or for intellectual appreciation, but in order to find out what God wishes us to do. The disciple is the learner who learns in order to do. The truth which Jesus brought is designed for action. (ED: I WOULD JUST ADD THAT IF YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS AND DON'T OBEY JESUS' WORDS, YOU ARE DECEIVING YOURSELF. YOU ARE NOT A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST. DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY FALSE TEACHING THAT SAYS YOU ARE, FOR IF YOU DIE IN THIS DECEPTION, YOU WILL HEAR JESUS' FRIGHTENING COMMAND IN Mt 7:23 I NEVER KNEW YOU. DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE (present tense - as you lifestyle!) LAWLESSNESS). 

When obey His word - grow spiritual knowledge - grow in spiritual knowledge - grow in freedom from sin

Lead Leads to learning and learning leads to liberty

(4) Discipleship results in freedom. ‘The truth will make you free.’ ‘In his service is perfect freedom.’ Discipleship brings us four freedoms.

(a) It brings us freedom from fear. (2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” +, Hebrews 2:14–15 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” +) Those who are disciples never again have to walk alone. They walk forever in the company of Jesus, and in that company fear is gone.

(b) It brings freedom from self (sarx). Many of us fully recognize that our greatest handicap is our own self. And we may in despair cry out: ‘I cannot change myself. I have tried, but it is impossible.’ But the power and presence of Jesus can re-create us until we are altogether new.

(c) It brings freedom from other people. There are many whose lives are dominated by the fear of what other people may think and say. H. G. Wells once said that the voice of our neighbours sounds louder in our ears than the voice of God. Disciples are people who have ceased to care what people say, because they think only of what God says.

Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

(d) It brings freedom from sin. (Romans 6:11–13 “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” ) Many people have come to the stage when they sin, not because they want to, but because they cannot help it. Their sins have so taken over their lives that, try as they will, they cannot break away from them. Discipleship breaks the chains which bind us to them and enables us to be the persons we know we ought to be. The prayer that the old self may be put aside and that as disciples of Christ we may become new people will indeed be answered.

Need constant contact with the word to Grow

Romans 6:18 “and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Romans 6:22 “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”

Not seeking immediate but long term - Bible does not validate our thoughts - like messages that we agree with and not ones that disagree with us - many want their opinions and beliefs to be validated.

Continue (abide, endure, remain, stay) (3306) meno  in simple terms means to remain in the same place or position over a period of time. It means to reside, stay, live, lodge, tarry or dwell. Menō describes something that remains where it is, continues in a fixed state, or endures. Meno can mean "to take up permanent residence" or "to make yourself at home." Meno is the root of the Greek noun mone which means mansion or habitation (Jn

Note the verse does not begin with "you" but with "and" (kai = first word in Greek sentence) which is of critical significance if one seeks the truth about this verse about truth! Clearly John couples his widely quoted statement to the seldom quoted statement in John 8:31 specifically His clear declaration that "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." In the light of this context, now we understand that His statement about truth and truth making one free is only true if the preceding condition is fulfilled. And what is that condition that must be met? Continuance in His Word. Living at home (so to speak) with the Word of God (and the God of the Word)! God is truth. Jesus is truth. Their word is truth. It follows logically that the way sinful, fallen beings come to even know the truth is by knowing what God said in the Bible. And not just knowing it intellectually, but allowing it to order one's steps, walking by the power of the Spirit in obedience to the truth one learns. To learn the truth and claim to know it and yet to not obey it is the essence of a modern day Pharisee. It is the essence of arrogant self-deception. This person will not truly know the truth. And as a consequence, like the Pharisees in Jesus' day, this person will not be set free by the truth of God's Word. 

You will know (ginosko) speaks of experiential knowledge. Jesus says you will have a personal relationship with the truth, so that it is not just knowledge that makes your head big, but knowledge that makes you heart big and more in love with Jesus. 

TRUE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM

And the truth (aletheia) will make you free (eleutheroo) - Note the future tense (will), so this functions as a prophetic promise. The realization of this promise hinges on the individual meeting the condition of abiding in Jesus' Word. When one fulfills that condition, it is almost as if TRUTH is personified as the keeper of the key "he" uses to unlock the prisoner from their cell! The believer/disciple abides in the Word (and allows it to abide in him/her) and the truth gleaned from the Word is used by the Spirit of Truth to set us free. The verb eleutheroo means to cause someone to be freed from domination. What domination would we need to be set free from? This speaks of our three mortal foes, the world, the flesh and the devil, all three of which exerted dominion (power) over us when we were still in Adam. Our continuance in the Word indicates we are no longer in Adam but in Christ and that these foes no longer have the right to rule over our heart and mind. The act of truth setting us free results in freedom and liberty but liberty is not a license to sin. The world says freedom is the right to do as they please. The disciple says real freedom is the power to do as we should, to please the One Who set us free and gave us a brand new way of life in Christ, empowered by His Spirit.

NET Note on the truth -The statement the truth will set you free is often taken as referring to truth in the philosophical (or absolute) sense, or in the intellectual sense, or even (as the Jews apparently took it) in the political sense. In the context of John’s Gospel (particularly in light of the prologue) this must refer to truth about the person and work of Jesus. It is saving truth. As L. Morris says, “it is the truth which saves men from the darkness of sin, not that which saves them from the darkness of error (though there is a sense in which men in Christ are delivered from gross error)” (John [NICNT], 457).

MacArthur - The reality of believing in Jesus, obeying His Word, and knowing the truth brings spiritual freedom. Such freedom is multifaceted, and includes freedom from the bondage of falsehood, Satan (John 17:15; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:18), condemnation (Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” ), judgment (John 3:18 ““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.” ; John 5:24 ““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” ), spiritual ignorance ( John 8:12 “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 ““Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”” ), and, most significantly in this context (v. 34), sin (Rom. 6:18, 22). (See John Commentary)

Free (1659) eleutheroo = the ending " -oo" means not only will it be set free but it will be seen as set free) means to cause someone to be freed from domination. The picture is that of the emancipation of slaves. The idea is that the one set free is at liberty, capable of movement, exempt from obligation or liability, and unfettered. Although the act of setting free results in freedom and liberty we must understand that this new freedom is not a license to sin. In fact true liberty for the believer is now living as we should and not as we please. Friberg says eleutheroo speaks "(1) of spiritual and moral freedom set free, make free (Jn 8.32); (2) of freedom from binding legalism make free (Gal 5.1); (3) of nature's deliverance from decay and corruption free, deliver, liberate (Ro 8.21)" (BORROW Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament) 

In short, the Spirit, Who brought the life of God Himself into us, has set us free from the power of our flesh and free to be the person God wants us to be. In Romans 7:24 Paul asked "Who shall deliver me?" The answer given in this verse is that: "Christ has already delivered me!" The last part of Romans chapter 7 was a description of a believer's struggling, failing condition. In Romans 8 Paul encourages the believer to focus upon his perfect, unfailing position in Christ Jesus! The more we believe God’s facts about our position the more this will affect our actual condition!

QUESTION -  What does it mean that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)?

ANSWER - “The truth will set you free” is a common saying in academic circles that want to promote academic freedom and the power of learning. Many universities have this statement emblazoned on a sign near the entrance of a building. But “the truth will set you free” did not originate in academia; Jesus said it in John 8:32. In context, Jesus’ statement has nothing to do with classroom learning. In fact, John 8:32 speaks of a higher form of knowledge than is capable of being learned in a classroom.

Jesus had just finished a speech at the temple where He delineated differences between Himself and His listeners. “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:23–24). The result of Jesus’ message was that “even as he spoke, many believed in him” (verse 30). Then, in verse 31, Jesus begins to speak just to those who had believed.

“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples’” (John 8:31). True discipleship is more than intellectual assent; those who are “really” followers of Christ will “hold to” His Word. That means they will not only accept His teachings as truth, but they will also obey His teachings. Action is proof of faith (cf. James 2:17).

True disciples of Jesus believe that He speaks the truth about God and the Scriptures. They also know that He is who He claims to be. Back in verse 25, the people asked Jesus who He was, and He responded, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.” There may be a tinge of exasperation in His response; He had repeatedly made known that He was the Messiah, the one they had anticipated for many years.

Verse 32 begins with, “Then you will know the truth.” “You” refers to those who are true disciples of Jesus. True disciples will know the truth. More than that, their eyes are opened to a greater understanding of the truth (cf. 1 John 5:20).

The truth Jesus’ disciples receive brings with it freedom. Jesus continues, “And the truth will set you free” (verse 32). At that point in history, the Jews were under the rule of the Roman government. Even though Rome gave them an exceptional amount of autonomy, they were keenly aware of the Roman presence around them in the form of soldiers, governors, and empirically appointed kings. When Jesus said the truth would set them free, however, He was not talking about political freedom (though the following verses indicate that’s how the Jews took it). Jesus provides the best commentary for His own statement in verse 34. Jesus explains, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Being a slave to sin is the ultimate bondage.

The freedom Jesus offers is a spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin—that is, release from the lifestyle of habitual lawlessness. He continues with an analogy: “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever” (verse 35). The people would have understood Jesus to mean that they were not members of God’s family, despite their biological relationship to Abraham (verse 37), because they were slaves to sin. If they were to become disciples of Jesus, they would know the truth of their condition and the truth about Christ, and Jesus would set them free. Believers would be freed from their bondage and brought into the family of God.

Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). Knowing the Truth will set one at liberty—free from sin, free from condemnation, and free from death (Romans 6:22; 8:1–2). Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives (Luke 4:18). “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16, ESV). GotQuestions.org (Used by Permission) (Bolding added)

v.37REAL FREEDOM!

So if the Son makes you free (eleutheroo) - If is known as a third class conditional sentence which speaks of potential action. In other words, the condition may or may not be fulfilled. He will not make captives into puppets -- it's not just "Let go & let God"...we must still make a choice to yield, surrender, present ourselves to Truth (Ro 6:13b+, Ro 12:1-2+) and walk in that Truth (Gal 5:16+, Col 1:10+, Eph 4:1+, etc) and then we will discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Makes you free is in the subjunctive mood (mood of possibility) because we still have a choice but now we have the power (Ro 6:1-7+) whereas before Christ came into our lives we had no power over sin. Now we are in Christ and Paul calls us to "consider (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Ro 6:11+)

Spurgeon -  If He sets you free from sin, you will never go back to its slavery again. There is no emancipation like that which Jesus brings, for it is eternal; when He snaps the fetter, He sets the believer free for ever.....If you have the freedom of sonship, you are free indeed. There are none so free in our Father’s house as his children are.....And give you the privileges of sons. (ED: REMEMBER THOUGH, THAT THIS ALL BEGINS WITH US ABIDING OR REMAINING IN HIS WORD OF TRUTH AND IT IS THAT WORD OF TRUTH USED BY THE TRANSFORMING SPIRIT OF TRUTH [2Cor 3:18+, cf Jn 16:13] WHICH TRULY SETS US FREE. ) (Spurgeon's Exposition - Gospel of John)

THOUGHT - Beloved of Christ and God (1Th 1:4+), if you are in need of revival, read Ps 119:25+. How will God's Spirit give you revival? To experience REVIVAL, we must "RE-BIBLE!" 

QUESTION - What does it mean that we are free indeed (John 8:36)?

ANSWER - In John 8 Jesus exhorts His listeners that if they abide in His word they would be truly His disciples, they would know the truth, and that truth would make them free (John 8:31–32). They were a bit surprised to hear that because, as they were descendants of Abraham, they thought they had never been enslaved (John 8:33). Jesus then explained that, if a person is committing sin, that person is enslaved by sin, and slavery is not fitting for sons (John 8:34–35). But if the Son—Jesus says, referring to Himself—makes us free, then we “are free indeed” (John 8:36). He is the Son who remains forever, so what He determines shall stand. When He gives the recipe that we are “free indeed,” it is a reliable recipe because of who He is. The condition for becoming “free indeed” is that His hearers should abide (or dwell) in His word. He later explains that keeping His word results in eternal life (John 8:52), and He challenges His hearers that they need to believe in Him (John 8:46).

The apostle Paul gives us a further implication of “we are free indeed” (John 8:36). After expressing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), Paul adds that in Christ Jesus we have been set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Because of that new freedom, we are no longer in bondage to sinfulness, and now we can choose righteousness (Romans 9:12–15). Peter adds a caution that we use this freedom not as an excuse for evil but that we use this freedom to walk in devoted service to God—as bondslaves (1 Peter 2:16).

Romans 8:1–2 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Jesus came offering something very special, and if we take Him at His word then we are free indeed. He is “the truth” (John 14:6), and He desires that we abide in Him and walk in Him. As He expresses in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus wants to set us free from the curse of sin, shame, and death. He gave His own life so that we could be “free indeed” and asks us simply to believe in Him.

The true freedom that Jesus gives is freedom (1) from the penalty of sin—there is no more condemnation for those in Him (Romans 8:1), and no longer are we children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3); (2) from the power of sin—no longer are we in bondage to sin, but now we can do righteousness; without faith it is impossible to please Him, but, with faith, we can please Him (Hebrews 11:6); and one day we will be free (3) from the presence of sin—when our eternal life is fulfilled, we will be like Him and without sin (Romans 8:28–30). GotQuestions.org (used by permission)