Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
Introduction
In the lobby of CIA headquarters in Washington D.C.; inscribed deeply in marble are the words;
John 8:32; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The United States of America has a long history of sustained freedom. Posted on the C.I.A’S
website is their mission statement: We are the nation’s first line of defense. We accomplish what
others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go. We carry out our mission by:
Collecting information that reveals the plans, intentions and capabilities of our adversaries and
provides the basis for decision and action. Producing timely analysis that provides insight,
warning and opportunity to the President and decision-makers charged with protecting and
advancing America’s interests. Conducting covert action at the direction of the President to
preempt threats or achieve US policy objectives. Covert means “secret”, clandestine,
surreptitious, underhanded,stealthy. What are America’s interests? At the top of the list we must
write to preserve and protect our freedom.
What is the truth about the United States place in the world? We have enemies who would
undermine and overthrow our freedoms. Some people are all about the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth. The famous atheist Thomas Huxley admited; “A man’s worst
difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes”. The dirty little secret of all mankind is we
are all sinners, enslaved to sin and the consequences of sin. We need freedom from sin; freedom
to live our lives in simple love and obedience to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The good news
of the gospel is we can be set free; but that freedom from sin is conditioned; we must
believe in Jesus, abide in Jesus; when we believe in Jesus we experience salvation, when we
abide in Jesus we walk in discipleship. The results of salvation and discipleship are an
understanding of truth and the ability to experience true freedom from sin. Paul the
Apostle put it this way: Romans 8:2; For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made
me free from the law of sin and death.
I think many times we fail to see the true meaning and the true significance of the word
“freedom”. For many the word “freedom” means “free to do what I want”, without
consideration of moral or immoral content, moral or immoral consequence. I think Charles
Kingsly got it right when he wrote; “There are two freedoms---the false, where a man is free to
do what he likes; the true, where a man is free to do what he ought.” We can choose a way that
is opposite God’s way, and we wind up with tragic consequences and regrets. We stumble in the
dark, we are tangled in sin, strangled by disobedience, until we can only taste the bitter and
rancid bile of spiritual death. So long as we are in bondage to sin we are never truly free. Jesus
has freed us from sin and for service.
The Requisites For Freedom (v.31)
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Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
BELIEVE (v.31a)
John 8:31; Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are
My disciples indeed.
Freedom from sin begins with belief. Not just any kind of belief but belief in Jesus. Belief in
Jesus means more than simply believing in the historical reality of Jesus, but it means believing
and accepting all that Jesus says is true. All that Jesus says about God, all that Jesus says about
the terror and horror of sin, all that Jesus says about the real meaning of life.
In verse 30; “many believed on Him”; that is some Jews believed His claims, believed His
miracles, the claims rang true; they put their faith, their trust in Him. I am going to suggest it
means “faith” in the full sense of the word; they cast themselves on Jesus.
Here (v.31a) the words “to those Jews who believed in Him” can be rendered “to those Jews who
believed Him”; that is they were inclined to believe that what Jesus was saying was probably
true; in the sense of a lesser or inferior belief, the kind of belief that gets you part way there, but
not all the way there. It could be that Jesus is acknowledging even that reluctant, grudging,
incomplete, opinionated, less than perfect faith; they are starting to believe his words, but they
have not made the full journey, to complete trust, complete faith. In our culture people talk about
loving someone, but not being “in love” with that someone. They have warm, fuzzy, affectionate
feelings, but not the kind of feelings that result in a commitment.
The emphasis in this sentence is YOU--if You continue in my word; or since You continue in my
word; then you are truly my disciples. They must truly trust him, not simply give Him lip
service. The real proof would be if they continued in his word (word meaning teachings).
In the chapter some of the religious leaders would certainly not believe; earlier some said “You
are bearing witness of yourself; your witness is not true” (v.13). Remember, the conversation
heats up and escalates from contradiction (v.13); to insinuation (v.19) to denial (v.33) to insult (v.
48) to sarcasm (v.53) and finally, climactically, to violence (v.59)(SEE Chuck Swindoll;
Following Christ; The Man of God; under III. Discussion and Debate; p.33).
In the audience of Jesus there were those who sensed no need, no lack of emptiness, no hunger,
no thirst, no desire, no darkness, no sin, no sense of the personal wickedness and pollution of a
life lived apart from God. No guilt, no shame, no ugliness. Therefore there was no pull, and no
hope. Someone once said that we are apt to believe what is pleasant rather than what is true.
The words of Jesus aren’t always pleasant; but they are always true. The Word of God as
it exposes the unpleasant truth of our wickedness, our rebellion, our disobedience to God’s
revelation; at the same time invites us to consider Jesus, to look to Jesus, to believe in Jesus.
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Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
But for those who sensed a keen sense of need, a keen sense of emptiness, a keen sense of
hunger and thirst, darkness, and sin, and pollution, and guilt and shame, and the personal stench
of lingering death, there was hope, there was a pull, there was a tug. Their hearts reached out to
Jesus; they experienced the infancy of faith; the point being the first condition for deliverance
from sin is belief in sin and a willingness to believe that Jesus is the solution to the sin problem.
Abide (v.31b)
“If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed”
The first condition for freedom from sin is to believe in Jesus. The second condition is to abide
in Jesus; that is to abide and obey the revelation of His message.
“Those whose faith is the real, saving trust; those who are truly (actually, in reality) disciples of
Jesus Christ will continue (remain, abide) in both faith and obedience to his word. The present
tense of the verb eimi (are) suggests that Jesus was not telling them the requirements for
becoming a disciple; He did not say, “If you continue in My word you will become My genuine
disciples” Instead, He declared that the nature of true discipleship consists of continued
obedience to His Word. Scripture repeatedly affirms that only those who obey Christ are truly
His disciples” (John MacArthur; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary John Vol.1; p.
356).
The word “abide” simply means the place where you stay, or the place where you remain.
Where does the believer abide? In Christ, in Jesus, in His Word, in His promises. The person
who really knows Jesus will continue with Jesus; and that means the believer will study the Word
of God and be willing to walk in that Word. Does that mean sinlessly fulfill every obligation
outlined in the Bible? It must mean a willingness to hear the Word of God and heed the Word of
God.
2 Timothy 2:15; Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Doesn’t it make sense to you, that the person who does not continue, who fails to abide, does not
really believe in Jesus? The proof and and the evidence that a person really believes is that he or
she continues and lives in and dwells in Jesus and the Word of God. The proof or the evidence
that a person has made a false profession, or a superficial profession, or a disingenuous
profession is their failure to continue.
On the voyage which resulted in the discovery of America, Columbus refused to listen to the
threats of his sailors. As day after day no land appeared the sailors threatened to mutiny and
demanded that they turn back. Columbus would not listen and each day entered two words in the
ship’s log; ‘Sailed on’.
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Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
An old black preacher was asked to define Christian perseverance. He answered: “It means,
firstly, to take hold; secondly, to hold on; thirdly and lastly, to never let go’.
John 15:7; If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it
shall be done for you.
Gorden Macdonald; “A man’s real belief is that which he lives by. What a man believes is the
thing he does, not the thing he thinks”. p
The Results Of Freedom (v.32)
John 8:32; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Knowledge Of The Truth (v.32a)
“And you shall know the truth”
Salvation (believe) and discipleship (abide) results in knowledge of the truth.
Remember truth in this context means the truth about man’s sinful condition, and the truth about
Christ as Savior and Lord. We are made aware of moral truth, working truth, living truth. Truth
is not something we simply know, truth contains within it the promise of something we do. It is
the knowledge and experience of true reality as opposed to false reality.
French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote; “To get the best out of life, great matters have to be
given a second thought.” Let’s give the subject of truth a second thought.
When Pilate asked Jesus; “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a
king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear
witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is
truth?” And when had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault
in Him at all” (John 18:37-38).
One basic definition of truth is “that which corresponds to reality; the way things are”. In the
Bible the word truth speaks of integrity, reality, something that is real or actual; as opposed to
something that is counterfeit; it carries with it the idea of being free from falsehood.
God’s Word is said to be true (John 17:17).
John 17:17; Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
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Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
Jesus Christ declared Himself to be the Truth (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of
Truth.
Freedom In The Truth (v.32b)
“and the truth shall make you free”
When the Emancipation Proclamation was taken to President Lincoln by Secretary Seward, for
the President’s signature, Mr. Lincoln took a pen dipped it in ink, moved his hand to the place for
the signature, held it for a moment, then removed his hand and dropped the pen. After a little
hesitation, he again took up the pen and went through the same movement as before. Mr.
Lincoln turned to Secretary Seward and said, “I have been shaking hands since 9:00 o’clock this
morning, and my right arm is almost paralyzed. If my name ever goes into history, it will be for
this act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand trembles when I sign the Proclamation, all who
examine the document hereafter will say, ‘He hesitatated.’” He then turned to the table, took up
the pen again, and slowly, firmly wrote “Abraham Lincoln,” with which the whole world is now
familiar. He then looked up, smiled, and said, “That will do”.
“The reality of believing in Jesus, obeying His Word, and knowing the truth brings spiritual
freedom. Such freedom is multifaceted, and includes freedom from the bondage of falsehood,
Satan (John 17:15; 2 Cor.4:4; 1 John 5:180, condemnation (Rom.8:1), judgment (John 3:18;
5:24); spiritual ignorance (8:12), spiritual death (8:51), and most significantly in this context (v.
34), sin (Rom.6:18,22)(John MacArthur; Vol, 1 John; pp.358-359).
When MacArthur describes this freedom as “multifaceted” I can’t help but think of a brilliant
jewel, reflecting and shining and dazzling. The psalmist described truth “in the inward
parts” (Psalm 51:6). This is the kind of truth that is opposed to sham and hypocrisy. This is the
kind of truth that permits no compromise with evil. This is the kind of truth that even avoids the
appearance of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:22; Abstain from every form of evil.
Do you love the truth? Do you rejoice in the truth? Do you act on the truth?
Jesus claimed to be the truth (John 14:6). Sometimes we are given a contrast between the written
truth and Jesus who is called the living truth. The truth has the ability to set people free from the
shadow of doubt and despair. Human beings armed with the knowledge of the truth do not need
to sink in the quicksand of uncertainty.
Jesus claims to have revealed the truth; the nature of truth, the meaning of truth, and the destiny
of all things. What is it that enslaves us? What is it that hinders us from true freedom?
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Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
Freedom House is a watchdog organizaiton that monitors and evaluates countries and awards
them the status of free, partially free, or not free. Freedom House defines freedom: “Freedom is
the opportunity to act spontaneously in a variety of fields outside the control of the government
and /or other centers of potential domination. Freedom House measures freedom according to
two broad categories: political rights and civil liberties. Political rights enable people to
participate freely in the political process through the right to vote, compete for public office and
elect representatives who have a decisive impact on public policies and are accountable to the
electorate. Civil liberties allow for the freedoms of expression and belief, associational and
organizational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy without interference from the state.”
The number of countries judged free; 90; representing 46% of the global population. The
number of countries judged partially free; 60, or 18% of the world’s population. 43 countries
were judged not free; representing 36% of the global population. The Palestinian Authority was
downgraded from partly free, to not free.
Based on that definition significant freedom has been lost in the former Soviet Union, the Middle
East, North Africa, Sub-Sharan Africa; Pakistan, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria and Venezuela.
“Not one of the countries that registered the lowest possible scores in the Freedom House index-the “worst of the worst” exhibited signs of improvement. This represents a break from a trend
formerly observable in past years when world freedom stagnated or declined, in which progress
was registered in some of the world’s most tightly controlled dictatorships”.
The news story caused me to ask and answer the question; “How many Christians are free,
partially free, not free.” Are there Christians who are still struggling with prejudice and hate?
How are we doing with division and isolation? How would you judge Christianity and
Christians in the area of hatred and bitterness, hostility and war, assualt and killing, crime and
injustice, enslavements and abuses, emptiness and loneliness? How are we doing with fear and
death, selfishness and hoarding, hunger and sickness?
A Christian, a follower of Jesus by very definition is one who believes in Jesus and abides in
Jesus. If you love Jesus and are learning from Jesus you must be acquiring truth. If you are
acquiring truth, then you must be walking in that truth. Truth brings freedom. Freedom from
fear. H.G. Wells once said that the voice of our neighbors often sound louder in our ears than the
voice of God. The disciple is the person who has ceased to care what others say, and only cares
what God has to say.
Conclusion
Isn’t it interesting? When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each
other?
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Freedom From Sin
John 8:31-32
The philosopher Goethe wrote; “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely
believe they are free.”
Are you free from the shadow of doubt and despair? Or are you still groping in the dark?
Have you been set free from the chains, the bondage of sin, or are you still enslaved?
Have you experienced the power of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life?
Have you experienced the freedom of knowing your sin has been forgiven, your guilt removed?
There is deliverance from sin and the infilling power to live lives pleasing to God.
The truth sets us free from the bondage of doubt and despair, from the bondage of sin, from the
bondage of the fear of death, from the bondage of judgment and hell;
We are set free to experience salvation and joy. We enter into new life, real joy, true love, peace
with God, satisfaction, pleasure, hope, nothing has to be incomplete any longer. To good to be
true?
Believe. Abide. Know. Experience Freedom.
Charles Wesley;
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night,
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
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