The anchor text for this post is John 8:31-47
When Jesus spoke about freedom in John 8, it was a concept the Israelites were very familiar with. They could either think back on their past as slaves in Egypt or look around at their present under the economic oppression of the Romans. They knew exactly what it felt like to be slaves and to be in bondage. Despite this, they pretentiously claimed freedom when Jesus said it is the truth that can set them free (vs. 33). Even though their claim was a lie in itself, it wasn’t the focus of Jesus’ message. While they thought of physical enslavement, Jesus spoke of the spiritual type.
There are two forms of slavery, as the Bible makes us understand. There is the physical type, which may be between a slave and his master or two nations, as in economic oppression (Ex. 1:11; Ez. 9:9). The people of Jesus’ time were expecting Him to be the one who would save them from the latter, but Jesus was onto something far greater. Because they couldn’t understand this, many of them became skeptical about accepting Him.
Secondly, there is spiritual enslavement, which Jesus speaks about in John 8:34: “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” This form of slavery has far greater implications than physical bondage. It is the very reason Christ came—to set us free from the power of sin. Throughout history, we’ve seen how freedom from physical oppression required intervention from someone stronger. During World War II, the Allied Forces were strong enough to liberate Jews and other oppressed groups from Hitler’s tyranny across Europe. In due time, African nations rose to break free from colonial rule.
In the same way, to be released from any form of bondage—particularly spiritual bondage—a stronger power must intervene. While the Israelites longed for freedom from Roman rule, such political liberation could have been achieved through human effort. But when it came to the grip of sin, no earthly power could deliver them (and by extension, us). Only Jesus—the spotless Lamb of God—was strong enough to break those chains. As Romans 6:6 says, “Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” And John 8:36 assures us, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The people argued with Jesus about their freedom, believing they were already free because they were descendants of Abraham (vs. 33). However, Jesus explained that physical freedom is secondary to the true freedom He came to offer—spiritual freedom. Anyone who continues to live in sin—that is, habitually sinning—is a slave to sin (vs. 34). For centuries, humanity’s sinful nature dictated the course of life (Rom. 7:18-20). We needed a Savior to break the hold of this master. Jesus is that Savior, and through His sacrifice, the Son has set us free from the bondage of sin (vs. 36).
The Truth Will Set You Free
In every slave-master relationship, there is always a taskmaster who keeps the slave in check. During Israel’s slavery in Egypt, Pharaoh was the master, but it was the taskmasters who enforced his decrees and ensured the people toiled endlessly. In spiritual slavery, the taskmaster is ignorance.
This is why Jesus began His admonition by saying, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (vs. 32). The truth is the key that breaks the chains of spiritual bondage. If only the people had recognized that God’s gift to them was more than just a military deliverer from Roman oppression—if only they knew that He (the Truth) was standing right in front of them—then they would have found the true freedom their souls longed for. (Hos. 4:6; Lk.19:44)
Free Indeed
Freedom, in Christ, comes in two parts. First, you are made free, and then you become free indeed. Take the Israelites for example—they were set free the day they left Egypt, but they only became free indeed when God brought them into their place of rest, the Promised Land.
Jesus says in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” This kind of freedom doesn’t come from knowledge alone—it comes from the Son. But notice the condition in verse 31: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” The problem Jesus addressed was that the people hadn’t truly become His disciples. Without abiding, they couldn’t know the truth, and without the truth, the Son could not set them free.
To attain this freedom, you must abide. That’s where the conversation on freedom began—with abiding in Christ. True freedom isn’t a license to do whatever you please—that’s just another form of slavery. Real freedom is found in remaining within the boundaries of God’s will (Rom. 6:18). Freedom in Christ means the presence of a divine order. Anything that lures us outside of God’s will is not liberty—it’s bondage in disguise.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
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