November 16 – Freedom Through Truth

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  -  John 8:31b-32 (NASB)

It would be rare for anyone to never have heard the quote “You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”  It can be found inscribed on university and government buildings, on sidewalks and used as a motto on printed material. But, knowledge from academia or government training or a mission statement will not successfully make us free in the way Jesus promised.  What did Jesus mean when he spoke these words to Jews who came to believe in Him.  John Piper with Desiring God, writes that there are four things needed to be experience being truly free. 1) desire;  2) desire and  ability;  3) desire, ability and opportunity; 4) survive by avoiding being destroyed in the end.  To be fully free, we must have the desire, ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever, with no regrets, and no second thought doubts.  This is being truly free.  Our promise from Jesus is Himself. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose again for us can make this freedom possible for us. 

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July 4 – Independence or Freedom

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” John 8:31-32 (NASB)

Today, in the USA, people will be celebrating Independence Day as a day that reminds us of the desire for freedom and liberty which that brought about the Declaration of Independence. The signers of this document were looking for independence from those who governed them from across the ocean.  It is common to think of independence as close to the same thing as freedom.  Jesus said something about being made free in today's verse.  It is important to recognize that as Jesus explained this freedom that He was talking about freedom from the slavery to sin.  The consequences of sin holds us in bondage but Jesus promises freedom from that bondage for those who believe in Him.  This was His purpose, which he obediently fulfilled for our sake because of His love for each and every person. When we believe in Jesus as our Savior we are set free from sin.  As we pay attention to His teaching and follow Him, we learn to appreciate that freedom.  We are no longer salves to sin because He is our teacher and His truth enables us to enjoy His liberty and turn away from sin.  So this can be an Independence Day for all who choose to believe and depend on our Lord to lead us along in truth – the truth that sets us free.