“JESUS WILL SET YOU FREE!” John 8:31-36
FBCF – 10/24/21
Jon Daniels
INTRO – We Americans value our freedom. “Land of the free, & the home of the brave.” Many of us understand the great price that has been paid for our freedoms in this nation. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of people in our nation who do not understand & do not value our freedom, & they want to take it away.
Socialism, Marxism, & Communism are all terms that most of us never thought we’d hear mentioned as a real possibility of where our nation would be one day. In fact, we’ve fought against those evil ideologies. And yet, there are more & more people in our nation who are leaning that direction. It’s a disturbing trend that has wide-reaching implications for us, but mostly for our kids & grandkids. It erodes free speech. It denies the free exercise of religion. And it lays groundwork for a one-world gov’t. Despite that:
- 40% of Americans have favorable view of socialism
- 47% of Millennials & 49% of Gen Z
- 2019 poll – 61% of Americans age 18-24 positive view
(This info taken from Where Do We Go From Here? by David Jeremiah)
Our nation is in deep trouble as freedom gets more & more twisted.
- Elementary-age school children taken on field trip to a gay bar in Florida last week
- Last week, US State Dept issued 1st passport w/ an X gender marker for people who deny being male or female
- Boy wore a skirt to go in girl’s restroom in VA school where he raped a girl. Students in that school can choose to go to the bathroom of the gender w/ which they identify.
- We are seeing 2 Timothy 3:1 lived out right in front of us: “But understand this, that in the last days, dangerous times [of great stress & trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].] (AMP)
Our national freedom is under assault on multiple fronts. If our nation doesn’t change course, we will see our freedoms taken away more & more in the days to come.
But there is a freedom that can never be taken away from us – the freedom that comes from Jesus Christ!
- This freedom doesn’t come from the Oval Office – it comes from the throne room of heaven.
- …doesn’t come from the President – it comes from the King of kings & Lord of lords.
- …doesn’t come from manmade laws – it comes from the unchanging eternal Word of God.
- …doesn’t come from men fighting against each other – it comes from the One who has fought against & defeated Satan.
- …doesn’t change based on which political party is in power – it’s unchanging b/c it is based on the GRACE of God, the POWER of God, & the TRUTH of God.
EXPLANATION – John 8:31-36
Moving forward in Jesus’ life & ministry. Some people have decided they don’t want to follow Him anymore. Opposition from religious leaders is growing (John 7:1 – “…the Jews were seeking to kill Him.”). Accused of leading people astray (7:12); of being demon-possessed (7:20); people were divided over who He was w/ some believing in Him (7:31) & others arguing over His lineage (7:40-44).
But Jesus keeps teaching, keeps preaching, keeps reaching out to those who are the outcasts, the rejects, those living in sin, setting them free.
- Woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11)
Another “I AM” statement – John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world.” All of His 7 “I AM” statements are statements of freedom:
- Light of the world – set free from darkness of sin
- Bread of life (John 6:35) – set free from spiritual hunger
- Door (John 10:9) – Enter & be set free from eternal death
- Good Shepherd (John 10:11) – set free from spiritual wandering & from attacks from enemy
- Resurrection & Life (John 11:25) – set free from the fear of death & hell
- Way, truth, & life (John 14:6) – set free from spiritual confusion that leads to spiritual death
- True vine (John 15:5) – set free from a barren, fruitless life
APPLICATION – Knowing Jesus is the only way that we can be truly free.
THE PROCESS OF FREEDOM – v. 31 – Believing in Jesus for salvation sets us free from hell & death (John 3:16). Abiding (remaining, staying, continuing) in His Word (His message of the unchanging Gospel) will keep us free from all the lies of Satan & this world system. It also proves that we are “TRULY” His disciples, not those who will abandon Jesus when things get tough like we saw in John 6:66 – “After this many of His disciples turned back & no longer walked w/ Him.”
THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM – v. 32 – The statement, “The truth will set you free,” has been misused in so many ways. It’s a common phrase used in academic circles to promote academic freedom & the power of learning. But this statement did not originate in academia & has nothing to do w/ classroom instruction. It’s much higher than that & much more life-changing than that.
- “You” – true disciples of Jesus – true Christ-followers
- “will know the truth” – hold to Jesus’ teachings & to Jesus Himself, who IS the Truth.
- “the truth will set you free” – Not academic freedom. Not political freedom. Not freedom to live anyway you want to live. But freedom from the bondage of sin (v. 34).
o Sin enslaves
o Sin infects & injures
o Sin infiltrates every area of our lives & ultimately destroys us
o But JESUS promises us FREEDOM from sin!
THE PERMANENCE OF FREEDOM – v. 36 – When Jesus sets us free, & ONLY when Jesus sets us free, we are permanently set free:
- From the penalty of sin – Romans 6:23
- From the power of sin – Romans 6:14 – “Sin is no longer your master…” (NLT)
- One day, from the presence of sin
CONCLUSION/TAKEAWAYS – Today, let Jesus set you free!
- From the penalty of sin – Come to Him & be saved!
- From the power of sin – Come to Him & be set free from whatever sin has enslaved you!
