John 8:31-33 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”  NASU

You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free!  That is a powerful statement standing alone but it is not standing alone and it is vital that we consider the rest of the passage and look at the mindset of those to whom our LORD was speaking. 

He told them that IF they continued in His word then, they were His disciple and the result of that would be that they would Know the truth, and that truth would Make them free.  I hear people constantly quote that as ‘set you free’ but it says ‘make you free’.  There is a dramatic difference, in my mind, between being ‘set free’ and ‘made free’. One identifies a condition and makes a declaration that ‘You Are Free” the other is an action that ‘Creates Freedom in the Heart.’  You may say I’m splitting hairs and I may be but to me, there is a difference.

As we study and drink the Word of God into our hearts, minds, and spirits we find that that Word does a work of transformation in our lives. Our way of thinking changes from self-centeredness to others-centeredness.  Our worldview changes from our little sphere to the Kingdom of God.  Our position changes from a ‘seeker’ to one that has ‘received’ and is now an “heir’ and a ‘joint heir’ with Jesus where we move from being one fed to one feeding others spiritually. 

The doctrine of Jesus, (The Word of God) will make us free from the ravages of Sin, bring into check our passions, transform our corrupt propensities to godly tendencies, and enable us to ‘bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.’  We will be FREE!  For the Jews, “No man was free, but the man who exercised himself in the mediation of the law.”  Truthfully, “No man is truly free, but he in whose heart the power of sin is destroyed, has received the Spirit of adoption, and through the new birth is able to cry Abba! Father!”  The bondage of sin is the most grievous bondage than any human can endure and to be free from its guilt, shame, and influence is the greatest of freedoms!

These Jews in self-centered arrogance declared, “We were never in bondage to any man.”  Really, maybe you should examine history because your history was one of enslavement and outside the forgiveness of God you are still enslaved.  Too many become boastful and proud of their church status, community status, business status and forget that ‘except by the Grace of God’ we are all men most miserable, lost and undone with God or His Son.  It is by Grace that we are saved and that through faith.  It is not our works, our money, our genealogy but our response in faith to His work on the Cross. TRUTH liberates and how we need to be liberated!  

God bless you as you go through your day!