The truth will set you free. This is a statement many of us are familiar with. We say this to urge a person to tell the truth or stick to what is true. Some people believe the word “truth” is relative or personalized and some others believe there are many “truths”. But in a world of numerous and varying truths, I tell you to go for the one that liberates you. Go for the freedom-giving truth…the type Jesus was speaking of in John 8:32
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32 NIV
The words of Jesus tell us that the truth sets us free. Okay, good, but what does this truth set us free from? The people in Jesus’ earthly days thought along the same line too. From an understanding of who Jesus is, we know that He is not speaking merely of honesty or a system, He is speaking of something much deeper. Ellicott, in a commentary, said that the truth is not just something to speak but something to feel and live by and it is more than a system, it is power (paraphrased). The truth Jesus was referring to is that power that can liberate anyone and is tangible enough to feel.
Now, back to the question. There are many things that the average man is enslaved to that he doesn’t realize. Some people are slaves to alcohol or drugs, we call it addiction. Some are slaves to worry, we call it anxiety. And some are slaves to money, many times, and wrongly so, we call that ambition. Jesus says the truth sets us free from these things. The truth in question here would be God’s word. A knowledge –and understanding –of God’s word will set a man free from his addiction, deliver him from worries, and have him chasing God rather than money. (Isa. 41:10; Jn. 16:33; Jas. 4:7; 1Cor 6:12; Matt. 6:33)
Nevertheless, this is not the point Jesus was making at the time –although this is still in line. There is yet another form of slavery or bondage called fear. Fear makes people do the worst and most unimaginable things. Fear makes us sin against God. When a person is being controlled by fear, many times, he does what he ought not to do. Peter was once so fearful that he denied the Lord Jesus and even swore with curses (Matt. 26:69-74). Proverbs 29: 25 tells us that the fear of man ensnares him. But the truth of God’s word in Romans 8:15 says “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Fear is a bondage that the truth of the word can set us free from. Still, Jesus was driving at something more.
The real slavery Jesus was talking about is the slavery of sin. Have you ever found yourself doing something you promised yourself never to do again? Many people will tell you they don’t even know why they commit the sins they commit. It is because of the enslaving nature of sin. It causes us to do things we shouldn’t do and say things we shouldn’t say. A life of habitual and inbuilt lawlessness is slavery. Jesus says anyone who is a perpetual sinner is a slave to sin (vs. 34).
However, He has more to say on the matter. There is a solution to this problem of slavery to sin: the truth. Jesus is that truth. He says that if we abide in His words, then we prove to be his disciples and we will then know the truth and that truth will set us free (vv 31-32). Essentially, the way to get to this freedom-giving truth is to abide in the words of Jesus. Why? Because He is the truth (Jn. 14:6; Jn. 1:17).
Abiding in His words helps us to become more like Him. It transforms us and helps us to leave the enslaving lies the enemy has to tell. It helps us to let go of the lies that the enemy has sold to us to make sin so enticing. It helps us leave behind that life of slavery and walk into the freedom that only Jesus can give.
Jesus further tells us that a slave has no inheritance in a house, only a son has. He says, but if the son should set that slave free, he is truly free. Jesus was still speaking of Himself. No slave to sin can be a part of God’s family. If he is to be part of the family then he must have been set free from that bondage first. Only the Son –Jesus –can do this. And He says that whoever He sets free is truly free. Not a hoax, not a scam, just true freedom. (Jn. 8:34-36)
Since we now know that the truth here refers to Jesus himself, it’s easy to understand 1 John 3:6 where the scripture tells us that no one who knows Jesus keeps on sinning. If you know the truth, you will be set free from the slavery of habitual sinning. 1 Peter 2:16 tells us what this freedom means and what we are to do with it. It says we ought to live as free people do but not to use this freedom as a cover-up for evil. This freedom we have been given is freedom to serve the Lord, to live as His faithful servants.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Gal. 5:1
Faith+blog 