Freedom Ain't Free

Scripture:

John 8:31–36 NRSV

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Introduction:

The Truth! What is the Truth? It is possible that you ask five different people their definition of the Truth and you can get five different answers.

I remember when a man’s word was his bond. Do you remember when you want to let your friend know you was telling the truth you pinkie swear. On you would say I promise on my mother life or grave. Meaning no one would ever use their mother name in vain because that is the one person on this earth they hold in high esteem.

What about the news or reporting the news. Remember when reporters would not publish or make any statements unless that had all the evidence and they did not allow their personal opinion to interfere with the truth.

What about science? Science is meant to search for the truth as it relate to the physical world that we live in. This is done through observation, experimentation and verification.

However as the world is changing and communities and communities ware-fare seem to be less important than one’s personal ambition and well-being. A world where micro-wave living is more desirable then a conventional oven living.

It seems that a person word is no-longer their bond. We have national figures who look us in our eyes and try to tell us known lies are the truth; and would have to nerve to say I pinkie swear. We have a Constitution that says all people are create equal, and justice system that says all person are innocent until proving guilt.

We have big news media who use their platform to promote their personal agenda. They do not state fact but tell lies that support their own personal view or the view of the ones they support. Facts is not the issue. And when the news tell the truth they call the truth fake news and lies the truth.

When it comes to science we have those who are not scientist who say don’t believe the expert believe me. They might be the experts but I sales lies at truth. I might not keep you safe but I can say the things that make you feel safe even if you not.

The question become what is Truth and What the Importance of Truth.

The question of what is Truth was pose by Pilate to Jesus when Jesus was on trail being ready to be sentence to death in John 18:38. For Pilate the Truth was secondary to making his superior and followers happy. See sometime to please others or to stay in other good grace one can for-go the truth to promote others and themselves. Upon completion of sentencing Jesus to death Pilate wash his hands as to say the act of washing his hands relive him of his sin and has set him free.

What is the Truth and why is it important?

For the Christian Faith Truth is everything. For our Truth lies in Jesus. Is not Christianity set in the fact that what Jesus said and did the Truth.

Is it not True do we not believe that Jesus in the one who live a sinless life.

Is it not True do we not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That he abide in God and God abide in him.

Is it not True do we not believe that he willing die on the cross for all humankind for the repayment of our sins

Is it not True do we not believe that on day three Jesus rose for the dead and on the 40th day he ascended to heaven

Is it not True do we not believe that Jesus is at the right hand of the All Mighty

Is it not True do we not believe that if we confess out our mouth and in our hearts The Jesus is the lord and savior that we are born again and shall have eternal life.

Is it not True do we not believe that there will be a second coming of Jesus Christ when he will separate the sheep from the goats.

Conflict or Situation

The question that arises when I read this text is What is Freedom and what set us Free?

What frees us? Not our works. Not groveling before God. Not institutions, whether it be political or religious. According to Jesus only the truth. Yet surely Pilate is not the only one who wonders, What is Jesus talking about? What is truth?

1. There are two words that stood out for me in today’s text. They are Truth and Free.

a. What is the meaning of Truth and Free.

i. From the Greek translation the word for truth is aletheia, which comes from the Greek word alethes, al-ay-thace´; from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2990; true (as not concealing): — true, truly, truth.

ii. From Webster;

1. the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality: the state of being the case

2. sincerity in action, character, and utterance

iii. The Truth not concealing or maybe to reveal what is hidden or to bring into light.

b. What is the meaning of Free

i. From the Greek translation the for free is eleutheroo, el-yoo-ther-o´-o; from 1658; to liberate, i.e. (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability): — deliver, make free.

ii. From Webster

1. not costing or charging anything

2. enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another

3. having no obligations (as to work) or commitments

4. having a scope not restricted by qualification

· Freedom ain’t free is an expression use to show gratitude for service by those of the military. implicitly stating that the freedoms enjoyed by many are possible only through the risks taken and sacrifices made by those in the military.

· I use it when describing the heroics of our ancestors who fought for blacks to be free from slavery and to help gain the civil rights that we enjoy today. Meaning for me that many died so we may enjoy what some of us take for granted today.

· Jesus claim to his disciple that truth will set them free is part of a longer conversation that he is having with the people of Judea.

o John gospel sometime make it seems that all the Judeans was opposed to Jesus and his teaching.

o However in this part of the gospel it is clear that the Judeans are divided and not all resist the teaching of Jesus on the contray many believe in Jesus.

o Jesus is bringing a new powerful claim to the people of Judea who believe that their faith along does not make them his disciple.

· Only by remaining in Jesus word will they or we become true disciple of Jesus and only than will we realize the truth and that truth will set us free.

o (John 1:1-14) Is the main truth of John gospel it tell us a couple of truth about Jesus.

o 1. In the beginning the Word already exist

o The word was with God and the word was God

o He existed in the beginning with God and God created everything through him

o The word gave life to everything and his life brought light into the world.

o The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

o He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

· See Freedom is living in the light. The question becomes who is living and the light who chose to live in darkness. That is where the truth comes in.

· To truly be free one must be expose to the Truth. However the truth is not always an easy thing to handle or in some cases can cause psycial, mental, or spiritual pain.

o If you ever saw the movie a Few Good Men with Jack Nicoles and Tom Cruise

o When Cruise character was cross examining Nicoles character and he makes the statement “The Truth You Can’t Handle The Truth”

· We have four different type of people.

o Those who have never been expose to the light

§ These are the people I would say who know of God but don’t know God.

o Those who have partial light

§ These are the people who might come to church on Sunday for a couple of hours to get a word but that is it and they only pray when things are not going their way.

o Those who try every day to expose themselves to the complete light.

§ These are the people who attend Sunday worship regularly make bible study regularly pray when things are good or bad praising God whenever they can attempt to study to word of God with some regularity. They not prefect but they try to make their today better than their yesterday. Who are attempting to make a difference in the lives of God’s people. Who accept God’s favor but also understand that there is some suffering that will be experience by all of God’s people.

o Those who revert to the darkness.

§ Those who are in bondage and don’t know or refuse to see it.

§ Just as the people Jesus was speaking out of the sider of his neck because they are not bound by any earthly master that because they are deto in today’s text believe the Jesus was talking about being free from their earthly master.

· What must we do to live the life Jesus has come us to live.

2. Matthew 16:24-26

a. 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[l] Is anything worth more than your soul?

3. Matthew 10:38-39

a. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

4. How has Jesus given us the example of who we must become.

a. Hebrews 2:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. 10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

b. 1 Peter 2:21 New Living Translation (NLT)

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[a] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

5. The Good News is this

Hebrews 4:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

Christ Is Our High Priest 14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.