The Only True Freedom

—Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31)

In this verse, Jesus spoke to Jews who believed in Him, yet He emphasized that they wouldn’t be His disciples unless they abided in His Word. He made a clear distinction between those who believed and those who were disciples. There’s a difference. Later in the same conversation, He stated that those who merely believed in Him but refused to continue in His Word were of their father, the devil (John 8:44). Simply believing the Word isn’t enough. We should persist in studying the Word until we know we are more than forgiven. We must become disciples to discover the freedom of an intimate and unhindered relationship with the Father. 

In John 8:48 and 53, these Jews revealed their true nature. They didn’t consider Jesus any higher than Abraham or any of the prophets. In John 8:58-59, when Jesus declared Himself to be the great I AM, they attempted to stone Him to death. They also accused Him of being demon-possessed (John 8:48 and 52). Therefore, Jesus’ estimation of these people was entirely accurate. They acknowledged Him to some extent, but not to the extent that they truly accepted Him as the true Christ. Jesus didn’t declare those who had only accepted Him as being favored by God (Mark 10:20). To become their Savior, Jesus must be accepted as God and honored as Lord in each heart.

True disciples of Jesus are marked by the fact that they persist in having an understanding of God’s Word. Abiding in God’s Word is a lifestyle, not just something that occasionally occurs. The just live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38)—not just occasionally visit the Word.

—“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

Only those who persist in God’s Word and become disciples truly comprehend the truth. In John 8:32, Jesus wasn’t referring to mere intellectual knowledge setting them free. The word “know”in this verse embraces several meanings, ranging from a superficial knowledge to a profound and experiential understanding. In the Bible, the word “know” is used to describe an intimate physical relationship (Genesis 4:1, 17; 19:8, 24:16; Matthew 1:25). Jesus emphasized that when we thoroughly familiarize ourselves with His Word in an intimate and experiential way, we will be liberated from all our bondage. This is because “all things that pertain to life and godliness” are bestowed upon us “through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Freedom is impossible without revelation knowledge of God’s Word. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

—They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free?’” (John 8:33).

These Jews were willing to believe that Jesus was the Christ (John 8:30), yet they refused to acknowledge and accept their need for Him. They failed to recognize that they required freedom from bondage. Consequently, it can be said that true salvation not only declares that Jesus is the Son of God, but it also involves acknowledging our dependence on Him.

The same reasoning Jesus used in John 8:33 can be applied to anyone who claims to be a disciple today. Is the one claiming to be a disciple experiencing the manifestation of God’s truth in their lives? Are they free of fear, anger, offense, anything that is not of faith? If they aren't, they haven’t persisted in God’s Word until they are truly free (John 8:31-32). Consequently, they aren’t genuine disciples seeking to know the truth.

These Jews said that they were never in bondage to any man. This is strange since the whole nation of Israel was in bondage to the Romans. Therefore, they were slaves but refused to acknowledge it (1Corinthians 2:14). Are we like these Jews—in bondage and not even knowing it?

—Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34)

These “believers” (John 8:31) were offended when Jesus told them they needed to be liberated. He clarified that He wasn’t referring to physical slavery but rather spiritual bondage. He explained that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. He then revealed how belief in Him could indeed free them. If they came to know the truth, they would be liberated from sin.

Jesus spoke these words to help these Jews, not to harm them. However, their pride clouded their judgment, preventing them from recognizing His love.They vehemently resisted any instruction that made them feel inferior in any way. In reality, these people were not only in physical bondage to the Romans but also spiritually bound.

Since the time Satan deceived Eve into believing that through sin, she could become like God (Genesis 3:4-5), the devil has been deceiving the world about sin. However, time has proven this deception. Sin brings death, not life (Romans 6:23). Jesus made it clear that sin only enslaves us. We become slaves not only to the sin itself but also to the author of sin, the devil (John 8:44). We either serve God through obedience or the devil through sin (Romans 6:16). 

“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.” (John 8:35).
 

Jesus offered these people bound by sin deliverance and true freedom through the Spirit. He compared the bondage of sin to slavery and the freedom that comes through serving God to being a beloved Son. No one would ever question a son being superior to a slave. Likewise, obeying God is superior to yielding to sin.

—“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Christ has freed all who believe on Him. This freedom is total and complete. But not everyone who has been freed is free. 
After the Emancipation Proclamation that “freed” the American slaves, many slaves continued to serve as slaves because the truth was hidden from them or in some cases, the slaves were afraid they couldn’t make it on their own. Similarly, Christians have been “freed” from sin, but that doesn’t automatically mean all Christians experience that freedom. Through ignorance and deception, Satan continues to deceive those who have not yet realized they had died to sin and been resurrected with Christ. 

We have to receive and walk in our freedom from sin. It doesn’t happen automatically. Being free and not knowing it is like unlocking prison cells and telling the prisoners they are free to go. They would be free, but they wouldn’t experience that freedom until they got up and acted like they believed it. They would continue to sit in their cells and be freed, but not free.

Whatever is not of faith in your life is sin (Romans 14:23), and it is bondage. Do you serve God as a slave to sin or to Jesus? Do you live in bondage, deceived by the enemy and not knowing Jesus has freed you? Are you yearning to live the freedom of His abundant life and not be enslaved to a sin-conscience existence? The only true freedom is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus has a spirit-led, delivering, healing, and overcoming life for you to be discovered in an intimate, unbound, and unhindered relationship with your Father.

How badly do you desire it?