Knowing the truth isn't just about having correct information鈥攊t's about experiencing freedom. Today we'll explore what Jesus means when He says the truth will set you free.
John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
How is someone set free from spiritual slavery? First Timothy 2:4 tells us: when they come to the knowledge of the truth. In a world of postmodernism that denies the very idea of truth, Christianity is not opinions, not different ideas, not thoughts or theories鈥攊t's truth. Grace and truth are in Jesus Christ, and when someone comes to that truth, that truth liberates them from the dungeon of deception.
Let me give you an example of the blessing of true discipleship. Maybe someone walks into church for the first time, having grown up outside the church, never exposed to the truth of who God is. For the first time they hear that they're made by God and for God鈥擧e is the Creator of the universe and He's holy, which means He's totally separate, totally other. Because He's holy, He hates sin.
You cannot understand who God is as a God of love until you understand what God hates. This holy God who hates sin is also just鈥攖here is no such thing in the final analysis of an unpardonable sin. Every sin will be punished by a holy, just Judge. This becomes an immense weight upon your soul, a burden that weighs you down.
You begin to look at your life, look in the mirror, and realize you're in chains. You're shackled. All you do is sin. Then you recognize in Isaiah 64:6 that every single deed you've ever done鈥攅ven passing out bread at a soup kitchen鈥攊s a filthy rag compared to God's righteousness. The burden becomes even greater: I am in prison.
But then you find out not only about God's holiness and justice but about His love and grace鈥攈ow God sent forth His Son Jesus Christ to be the perfect substitute on your behalf. What do you have to do to receive this? You do nothing. You believe in Him and turn your life to Him.
At that moment you recognize you've been set free from several things:
First, the dominion and power of sin crushed by Jesus Christ. You no longer have to sin.
Second, the penalty of sin. You don't have to fear death anymore. You will no longer die in your sins鈥攜ou will die in Jesus Christ.
Third, one day鈥攐h, thank the Lord Jesus鈥攐ne day you will be separated once and for all from the very presence of sin.
It's in coming to grips with this reality that you begin to say, "I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!"
A lot of people come to religion because they want a blessed life, community, commonality, conservative values, emotional comfort. All those things may be good in themselves, but we can never confuse the benefits of the gospel with the basis for why you need the gospel in the first place. You need to be delivered from your chains, your bondage, your slavery to Satan and to sin.
That's why one of the main themes in Scripture for what God accomplishes in the gospel is redemption. You're a slave, and God rescues you. He ransoms you. He delivers you. With what commodity? Not gold, not silver, Peter says, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
The freest people in the world are those who are progressively renewed by Jesus Christ so that what gives them joy is walking in obedience to God. That's freedom. If obedience feels begrudging, then either you need to ask God to renew your affections so you want to do what you ought to do, or you need to examine whether you've truly been set free.
Second Corinthians 3:17: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." When God's Spirit is changing you, working in you, refining you, you become more and more repulsed by the world and more and more in love with Jesus Christ.
1. Do you experience obedience to God as freedom or as bondage? What does your answer reveal?
2. How clearly do you remember what you were saved from鈥攖he weight of sin, the fear of judgment?
3. In what ways does your life demonstrate the joy and freedom of someone who's been ransomed?
Stay dialed in.
