JOHN 8:31–36
“Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.… Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”
(John 8:34, 36).
This brief passage is packed full of theological significance. Jesus says that if you remain in His Word then you are truly His disciples. William Hendriksen writes, “One abides in the Word of Christ by making it the rule of one’s life. In other words, obedience is the same thing as abiding in the Word. This makes one a true disciple of Jesus and leads to genuine knowledge of the truth (God’s special revelation which has its heart and center in the work of Christ). Such knowledge, born of revelation and experience, sets one free.… One is free when sin no longer rules over him, and when the Word of Christ dominates his heart and life. One is free, therefore, not when he can do what he wishes to do but when he wishes to do and can do what he should do.”
If you remain in His Word, and know His truth, then His truth will set you free. The implication here is that we are not free—an implication immediately recognized by the Jews. How could Jesus say they were not free? They were the chosen race of Israel. They were the holy priesthood. While they had certainly been political slaves, they had never lost their title as God’s people. In this sense, they had always been free. But here comes a man telling them that they are in bondage. But to what? The same bondage that every man is in whether Jew or Gentile: they were slaves to sin.
When you are a slave, you are unable to deliver yourself from bondage. You must be set tree by another. In this case, you must be set free by God Himself, by His Spirit, by the work of Christ in your life. Without the embracing of this truth, you will remain a slave. Even though you might come into the house of a free man, implying that many will be a part of the visible Christian community who are not really saved, you are not truly free until you become a son. A son never loses his sonship. This is the comfort and hope of every believer. The Jews had enjoyed the blessings of the old dispensation, but that time had passed. They had enjoyed the benefits of the master’s house for a little while, but many of them were still slaves. Unless they were set free by the Son of God and given the inheritance of heaven, they would remain in bondage to their sin.
CORAM DEO
2 Chronicles 10–12
John 13:18–38
Unless you realize that you are a slave to sin, you will never understand what it means to be free. This verse, “the truth will set you free,” has been used in many different contexts socially and politically. Can you think of some? What is the true meaning of this verse? Memorize John 8:31–32 to keep the context.
For further study: Isa. 53 • 2 Cor. 3:12–18 • Gal. 3:26–4:7
wednesday
june