John 8:31-47
Jesus Sets Us Free
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus teaches us about His Freedom...He told some listening to Him one day that He could set them free and was trying to tell them how to be free...“Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin...Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever...So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed...I know that you are Abraham’s descendants...Yet you are looking for a way to kill Me, because you have no room for My Word...I AM telling you what I have seen in the Father’s Presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”...
So Jesus teaches us a unique kind of freedom that is not about independence from everything, but about living a life aligned with God's moral principles...True freedom comes from following Jesus and living in accordance with His teachings..."For you, brothers and sisters, were called to freedom...Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love." (Galatians 5:13) ..."Since you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness, the fruit you will produce is holiness, and the end is eternal life." (Romans 6:18)..."Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)....There is a freedom from sin, because Jesus is our Savior from sin and sinning...Jesus' teachings liberate us from the bondage of sin...When we follow His teachings, we are freed from the destructive power of sin and able to live a life that is pleasing to God...And if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed...
Jesus gives us a freedom from fear...He offers us a peace that only He can bring, and this peace is not from this world...Jesus offers us freedom from fear, and gives us His peace...His LOVE and Presence can dispel our anxieties and give us peace that surpasses understanding...
He gives us a freedom to love...Jesus teaches us to love others unconditionally, even our enemies...This kind of love is liberating because it frees us from the constraints of selfishness and hatred...
He gives us a freedom to serve...Jesus calls us to serve others and to use our lives for the benefit of others...This kind of service is liberating because it gives us and our lives a sense of purpose and fulfillment...
He gives us a freedom to be ourselves...Jesus teaches us to be authentic and genuine...We are not to act like others, but be ourselves...He calls us to embrace our true selves and live in accordance with our God-given identity...
In summary, the freedom that Jesus teaches us is not about doing whatever we want, but about living a life that is aligned with God's Will and characterized by love, service, and authenticity and being yourself...This kind of freedom is liberating because it sets us free from the destructive power of sin and allows us to live a life that is truly fulfilling...His Freedom gives life a purpose and meaning...