John 8:31-32 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." English Standard Version (ESV)
Our men's Bible went through this passage this week and today's verses were a focal point of that study. We considered the word "abide" which in other versions of the Bible is also translated as "remain" or "sticking with it".
We also considered freedom, which as pointed out in MacArthur's commentary has 3 features: 1) progress,, 2) pretense, 3) promise. Those who are free will progress, grow in it. The pretense is that the only way to truly find it is in faith and trust in Christ, and the promise of it is that it will set us free.
We also considered the opposite of freedom; slavery. We all can be slaves to something, to some kind of sin, they are addictions that will try to draw us back in and take hold of us if we let it. Gambling, drugs and alcohol, pornography, even the desire for wealth can take over our lives.
But God gives us the opportunity and the ability to be free. John Piper writes, "to be fully free, we must have the desire, the ability and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever. No regrets. And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed."
Being set free means you no longer have to look over your back or worry that this freedom can ever be taken away from you. Lies, sin in general are like something that is following us, chained to us that we can't get rid of on our own. Jesus breaks that chain, releases us and offers freedom. Are we willing to follow Him and accept it?
If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. John 8:31 The Message
John 8:31-38The Message (MSG)
If the Son Sets You Free
31-32 Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."
33 Surprised, they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?"
34-38 Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father."
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