John 8:31-36
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
For many years as an unbeliever, I went to church because my mother wanted me to. I went because it made my mother happy. I went because it felt good. I knew all the lingos; I did everything Church goers did. I sang in the choir; I was involved in church drama. I was loved by my parents, I was loved by the church, respected by my peers. I knew some scriptures; I took part in Christian drama. My life on the surface was a success, but deep inside I was a wreck, a man with little confidence.
Many of us might know someone like me, or some of you were like me. We went to Church but still had issues we were struggling with.
About two thousand years ago, Jesus confronted people just like me, they did everything to please God and people but they were far from being happy.
They were slaves to culture, tradition, sin and were very religious and when Jesus confronted them with truth and freedom, it was difficult to swallow.
For them and many people today the TRUTH presented to them went over their heads.
Yet there is only one truth that can set us all free and that truth is the knowledge of the only begotten son of God, Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate, Jesus said to Pilate that His birth was to bear witness to the “TRUTH”. Pilate was confused and wanted to know what truth was yet he never waited for an answer. John 18:38
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.
The truth in the New Testament is God’s revelation of Himself through His son Jesus Christ.
John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus goes on to speak of Himself in John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
When Jesus spoke to the people about knowing the truth, He was speaking of Himself.
When Jesus said you will know the Truth, he was referring to the knowledge of Himself as the truth.
No one can be set free from sin, or from the hold of Satan and its destruction without the knowledge of Jesus Christ the son of God as the Saviour. This was what Jesus was saying to Pilate, when He said in John 18:37
37 ………. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
The truth is that Jesus was born to set captives free from the hold of sin.
He was born that we might be set free from the wrath to come.
He was born that we might be delivered from hell.
He was born that the sick might be healed.
He was born that we might be reconciled to God.
And this is the truth that Jesus was presenting to the Jews. John 8:32
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
When we have accepted this truth, Jesus advises us to continue in the truth and our continuation in this truth is what brings complete freedom.
In short Jesus was saying you cannot just accept the truth and do nothing about it, but you must live, sleep, wake up consistently in this truth.
Our continuation in this truth, is what brings total freedom. As we continue in the truth, we will have revelation of the truth and revelation brings knowledge and knowledge brings freedom because His Word is the TRUTH.
We can never find truth outside of His Word.
We can be inspired by motivational and inspirational words. We however find freedom in His Word which is live changing.
Hence Jesus advises His disciples to continue to abide in His Word.
We find salvation, healing, freedom from bondages and addiction from the Word of truth.
Hence Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Do you want to be completely free? Abide in His Word, continue to seek Him and you will find TRUTH AND FREEDOM.
