I once attended two classes at UT with my brother, Dennis. One building had a motto chiseled near the top: “The Truth Shall Set You Free.” Dennis and I both sort of laughed at that, knowing that the people at UT probably liked the phrase, but were ignorant of its context—and would probably prefer to remain ignorant.
It sounds like a great little proverb, the sort of thing you might find in a fortune cookie. But it is part of a much larger conversation. Jesus was preaching to a crowd, half of whom wanted to kill Him, and half of whom believed in Him. He looked at the believers and said:
“If you continue in my word, you truly are my disciples. And you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
And the doubters argued that they were not slaves, but were free already. Jesus answered:
“I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin…. But if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” John 8:31-36.
So the TRUTH about the SON will set you free from sin. But how can you acquire that truth and that freedom? There is a prerequisite at the beginning of the passage:
“If you continue in my word….”
It is only AFTER we continue in His word that we learn the truth and are freed from sin. That is, a quick prayer for salvation may get you fire insurance—so you escape hell. But to know the truth and be set free from sin, you must CONTINUE IN HIS WORD. In other words, you have to READ IT and OBEY IT.
Dear God, remind us to read the WORD and obey it, so that we will know the truth deeply. May we believe it and live it, and be set free from sin because of it. Give us a passion for your truth. Thank you for giving us a path to freedom.
Read John chapter 8.
ΑΩ
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