Freedom in the Truth

A prominent atheist named Matthew Parris wrote in a 2008 essay about a strange phenomenon that he had observed in Africa. Amazingly, as an atheist, he wrote an essay for The Times titled, "Why Africa Needs God." Although Parris made it clear that he does not believe in God at all, he admitted that Christianity made a tangible difference in the lives of people he knew in his boyhood home of Malawi and in other countries across Africa. Not only did he admire the good work that Christians were doing to care for the poor and sick, but he also liked the way they looked.

"The Christians were different," he wrote. "Their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world. ...Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes."

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I long for the lost world to describe us in such a complementary way. I hope to have my eyes shine so bright the love and liberation found in Jesus so that many would believe and those that don’t would be forever haunted by wondering why they did not receive the gift from God when given the opportunity.

May we be described as free men and women with something in the eyes. Tonight I would like to challenge you to experience “the freedom in the truth.”

Turn with me to ,

John 8:31–38 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 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’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

1. As believers, we are to abide in God’s Word.

John 8:31 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

It is vitally important to understand that God's desire for us is to be invested in him through his Word. In reality, the word abide here means far more than remaining in but to "hold to" the words. This understanding offers significant value for the believer because it means that we are applying and living our lives according to the word of God.

In reality, Jesus is telling the Jews who claimed to believe Jesus only those that actually live it out and rest in my Word are truly his disciples. A stark contrast to the easy going false gospels we often hear today that advocate for you to be true to yourself, that you can embrace your sin, God made you that way so rejoice in your sin. Jesus demands us to mortify our sin through the power of the Holy Spirit and his Word.

Jesus offers to the Jews seeking to kill him in ,

John 5:38 ESV

38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

Illustration:

There is a clear difference in having knowledge of God's Word and abiding in his Word. The difference is where the Word resides. Does it live in the heart or does it reside in mind. One has said the most significant distance is eighteen inches, which is the approximate distance from the mind to the heart. It is one that many people never cover.

So what is Jesus really saying here?

In reality, Jesus is telling the Jews who claimed to believe Jesus only those that live it out and rest in my Word are indeed his disciples. Simply saying you believe isn’t enough, you have to live it out. Jesus has a expectation of transformation that only a heart change produces and he tells these people in that they are not his disciples unless the heart change takes place in each of their lives.

Former Pastor and writer of “I kissed dating goodbye”, Josh Harris, has fallen from the faith. He not only left ministry, divorced his wife, but even renounced his faith and called himself “not a Christian” this week.

So what is Jesus saying here?

Honestly, Jesus is offering a stark contrast to the easy-going false gospels we often hear today. These false gospels advocate for one to be true to oneself, that you can embrace your sin, God made you that way so rejoice in your iniquity. Jesus demands us to mortify our sins through the power of the Holy Spirit and his Word.

We don’t know all the details; however, we do know that in almost all cases of moral fallings a lack of discipline in being in God’s word is largely to blame for the short comings.

Illustration:

In reality, Jesus is telling the Jews who claimed to believe Jesus only those that live it out and rest in my Word are indeed his disciples. Simply saying you believe in Jesus isn't enough, you have to live it out. Jesus has an expectation of transformation that only a heart change produces and he tells these people in that they are not his disciples unless the heart change takes place in each of their lives.

Former Pastor and writer of "I kissed dating goodbye," Josh Harris, has fallen from the faith. He not only left the ministry, divorced his wife, but even renounced his faith and called himself "not a Christian" this week.

It is vitally important to understand that God’s desire for us is to be invested in him through his Word. In reality the word abide here means far more than simply remain in but to “hold to” the words. A significant value for the believer because it means that we are applying and living our lives according to the word of God.

We don't know all the details in Josh Harris' fall. However, we do know that most cases of moral fallings, a lack of discipline in being in God's word is mostly to blame for the shortcomings.

Illustration:

We don't know all the details in Josh Harris' fall. However, we do know that most cases of moral fallings, a lack of discipline in being in God's word is mostly to blame for the shortcomings.

We must hold onto the promises of God. We must hold fast to the Word of God. Let not our hearts be blinded to the darkness and be overcome with the wickedness of the world’s offering. It is with great fear and trembling; I pray to ask God to hold me in his ways and His Word! There have been too many pastors, deacons, and church members who have fallen from the faith to leave it and never return. I pray that would never be the case.

Not only do we see that believers are to abide in the Word of God.

2. As believers, we are to experience the freedom of living in truth.

John 8:32 ESV

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What is the truth Jesus is speaking of here? Quite simply, the answer is Jesus. Yes, Jesus is talking about himself in this passage. When the Word of God abides in our hearts, and it leads us in our understanding, we learn who Jesus is, and by knowing Jesus, we know the Father. Through the birth of salvation in Jesus and his Word, we experience true freedom in living lives full of Jesus Christ.

Yet, the Jews misunderstood the nature of the bondage look at verse 33,

The Jews misunderstood the nature of the bondage look at verse 33,

John 8:33 ESV

33 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’?”

They completely missed the bondage of sin and the need to put it to death. Watch how Jesus responds,

John 8:34-

John 8:34–38 ESV

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

Jesus teaches the people that those who practice sin are slaves to it. I have news for you all, that means if you are feeding your sin in your life, then you are enslaved to that evil master. It is dictating to you how you are to live and cutting you off from Christ altogether. We have to live holy lives as believers.

I must be transparent here. Jesus is communicating that everyone who does just one sin is enslaved to it. They are in need of being freed from its bondage which Jesus breaks us free from forevermore.

What is incredibly difficult to wrap our minds around is the fact that Jesus is communicating that everyone who does just one sin is enslaved to it. They require being freed from its bondage, which Jesus breaks us free from forever when we repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

Yet, even though we have been set free from the bondage of sin does not mean we do not stumble and fall. All people do on this side of eternity. I do, brother Kyle does, and everyone else. However, if we abide in His Word, those failings become less often as we grow in Christ-likeness. We no longer are slaves because we have become free through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Even though we have been set from from the bondage of sin does not mean we do not stumble and fall. All people do on this side of eternity. I do, brother Kyle does, and everyone else. However, if we abide in His Word, those failings become less often as we grow in Christ likeness. We no longer are slaves it because we have become from through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is also important to note that Jesus tells them that being an offspring of Abraham does not save them any more than being born into a Christian family saves a person. It is only those who believe and abide in Christ who are redeemed.

It is also important to note Jesus tells them being an offspring of Abraham does not save them anymore than being born into a Christian family saves a person. It is only those who believe and abide in Christ who are redeemed.

You might be thinking to yourself that this sounds a little like works based salvation and by no means is that what is being communicated. Remember Jesus is saying that those that abide in the Word are offering proof of their belief.

You might be thinking to yourself that this sounds a little like work-based salvation and by no means is that what is being communicated. Remember, the Jews had the work-based salvation stuff down with all their laws and rituals. The Pharisees and Sadduccees had that stuff down pat. What Jesus is actually saying is that those that abide in the Word are offering proof of their belief. They are genuine.

Thus, Jesus is telling us how we can test ourselves as a faithful disciple. If we hunger for God’s Word, we are fighting the good fight against sin in our lives, and we are doing the things of God then our lives will demonstrate Christ and our faith is proved.

Jesus is telling us how we can test ourselves as faithful disciples. If we hunger for God’s Word, we are fighting the good fight against sin in our lives, and we are doing the things of God then our lives will demonstrate Christ and our faith is proved.

Listen to how James explains this reality for the professing Christian,

James 1:19–27 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:19-2

As followers of Jesus, we must not only talk a good talk we must also walk the good walk. Faithful living is of the utmost importance for the believer. It is when we have fulling engrossed ourselves in Christ that we begin to look different, act different, and speak different from the world. It is then the world sees us for the love and liveliness we have in Christ Jesus.

Freedom in the Truth

1. As believers, we are to abide in God’s Word.

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2. As believers, we are to experience the freedom of living in truth.