Jesus said the truth will make you free. Many have qouted this out of context and or misquoted completely. However Jesus was specific about this truth and was bringing great revelation about the covenant of grace and truth.
The Truth About The Truth Will Make You Free
8-26-2012
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE! Many have quoted and slighted misquoted this verse, the man on the street, co-workers, politicians, and preachers. The best lie to be told is a lie shrouded by the truth. The enemy of our soul has been doing that since the beginning of man’s existence. Many have talked about the truth making you free but have couched it in their own favorite cause and philosophy. However, if we are to gain understanding of the truth shall make you free we must go back and ask, who said this? To whom was He speaking? What was the context of the freedom promised? Was there parameters set that allow the freedom to come? If the truth makes one free, what is one set free from? Is there a freedom to something?
John 8:31 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."
As we take a step back in add the prior verse to John 8:32 we find a qualifier a parameter, if you will. Jesus was speaking specifically to those who believed in Him. This simple truth will eliminate much false doctrine about the truth that makes one free. Those who believe in Jesus are the only ones that the truth can make free. Jesus' disciples are those who abide in His word!
1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
When one is born again there is longing for the pure milk of the word that one can grow thereby. The qualifier is “If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
John 8:33 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.
Here in is the context of the truth will make you free! Jesus was specifically speaking of being made free from sin! It was revelation knowledge being revealed! It is the purpose of Jesus to bring freedom from sin!
John 8:35 "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.
The revelation grows! Slaves do not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. To be made free from sin is powerful; to be made free to be a son in the house is a privilege of grace. Free indeed, oh the great work of Christ!
Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
The word of grace is able to build up the believer and make them partakers in the inheritance among all who are sanctified. Genuine grace bring genuine freedom!
John 1:14 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. … 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus died to sin once and for all! The life He lives, He lives to God. Likewise…. In the same way the man who comes to Jesus dies to sin once and for all time. Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Oh that the believer would begin to confess, “I am free from sin and alive unto God”.
Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
No longer slaves but sons! Turn your attention to the ninth and tenth verse! Once you have gained your freedom it is God’s intention that you live as a participator in that freedom. Returning to the weak and beggarly elements is forgetting you have died to sin. Serving under the law of Moses, the traditions of men, or your good performance inhibit the truth that brings freedom. God has called us to lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us.
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
The object of our faith and rejoicing must be Jesus Christ our Lord. Men who turn your attention to self improvement and great performance are the men we are warned against. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death! (Roman 8:2)
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
If anyone had a reason to put confidence in their own flesh and performance Paul was the man, Jewish, blameless law keeper, religious, zealous Pharisee. With all these things Paul found himself fighting against God.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
God has called us to count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. Counting all things rubbish that we may gain Christ is the only truth that makes us free.
Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
It is time for us the church to arise and lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of us! Not laying hold of a righteousness of our own from the law, or traditions of men, or our own great performance. The righteousness is found in Christ alone; that we may know the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death, and attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
THE TRUTH found in Jesus Christ will make you free indeed; press on in Jesus' name!
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