“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

  When I was in junior high, I rode on our church bus to the Los Angeles Coliseum to hear Billy Graham preach. I’ll never forget the streams of people who made their way to the field in order to give their lives to Christ that night. Such a precious memory. I can’t say for sure that Mr. Graham used John 8:32 that particular night, but I’m sure he preached it countless times. It’s a powerful verse with an amazing promise…freedom! How many new believers have you heard describe their new freedom in the Lord, telling of the huge weight that has lifted off of their shoulders? Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6  Jesus is the Truth, and He does set people free. But salvation is not the only moment where freedom comes to believers. 

One day while reading John 8:31-32, I saw something I’d never seen before: Jesus was telling believers that they would know the truth and it would set them free. His words were directed to people who were already on His side–not the doubters, scoffers, or Pharisees. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.’”  

Jesus used the term “disciples” for those who abide in His word. Disciple is the Greek word mathetes. Vine’s Expository Dictionary says this about that word: “‘a learner’…indicating thought accompanied by endeavor…hence it denotes “one who follows one’s teaching.” Jesus said abiding in His word, or following His teachings, makes us His disciples. The result?  We will come to know the truth—we’ll realize things we haven’t known or seen before—portions of scripture will become RHEMA—living Word—to us.  And when that happens, we are set free.  

Jesus told them they were slaves and didn’t know it! When those believing Jews woke up that morning, as far as they knew they definitely were not anyone’s slaves! They needed some explanation as to whom exactly they needed to be “freed” from. Jesus’ explanation was that when we “practice sin”, we become sins’ slaves.  

How many times have we tried, yet failed, to stop sinning in a certain area? That is a sin that has enslaved.  The Son of God, whose death bought our freedom, sets us, His disciples, free from the sin that has mastered us.  How does this happen?  According to this passage of scripture, we dive into His word, knowing that Jesus is The Word which became flesh.  As we study His word, we come to know The Word, and our eyes become enlightened to truth after truth.  Those truths are the opposite of the very lies that led us to enslavement. When the light dawns, and we allow Holy Spirit to take our newly discovered understanding (now realized in both our head AND our heart) and use it to replace an old way of thinking, we are set free. And when Christ makes us free—we are absolutely free! “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Romans 12:2  “And do not be conformed (patterning or modeling yourself) to this world, but be transformed (morphed!) by the renewing  of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (Sounds like someone who is free indeed from sin, doesn’t it?)

I love that Jesus said for us to abide in His word. Abide makes me think of sitting down and staying awhile…God’s word becoming the place I call home. As I abide in Jesus, the word of God becomes my reality as it becomes my source of life.

Father God, thank You for Your word. It is a treasure! What an amazing God You are to provide this treasure for me to discover layer after layer, truth after truth, to bring light into areas of my heart that are still held captive to the enemy’s lies. Just like those believing Judeans who weren’t aware they were slaves, I know there are things about myself that I continually want to change, but so far that change hasn’t come. I’m asking You to show me passages in Your word that I can abide in, so that freedom to change will come. I’m so grateful that You are a God who delights to bring change to sinner’s hearts. Thank You for being such a loving Father! I love You!