The Truth Will Set You Free (J33)

“You shall know the truth; it will set you free,”
Jesus taught a group of believing Jews;
But they took umbrage; “No one’s slaves are we,”
They said, of His meaning, having no clues!
“Truly, one who sins is a slave to sin,”
He explained. “Slaves may be traded or run,
But my disciple is always within
God’s family, a joint-heir with the Son!
You claim to be Abraham’s true descent;
You would kill me if Pharisees you heed;
Abraham would not kill one God had sent;
You are sons more of Pharisees indeed!
If the Son sets you free, you’re free fore’er;
No one can enslave you—not now; nor e’er!

Scripture Quoted: John 8:31-34
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!’ 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?’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’ “

Commentary on: John 8:31-41
This passage of Scripture shows us how human pride is an obstacle to a lost person’s becoming a believer in Jesus Christ. Notice that He was speaking to common Jews who had believed He was the Son of God. He probably chose this particular truth for His first statement, for He knew it would weed out the true believers from the many would-be ones with too much pride. The first thing a person must do to be saved is to feel guilty over the sins he has committed and his ignoring God. If he doesn’t feel guilty of sins, he is not humble, and that means he is still lost. A truly saved person has come to a realization of how he has offended God in the past, and he humbles himself.

This is a very famous teaching of Jesus: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” Today we have the complete “Holy Bible”, and it is all true. it consists of 66 “books”, or chapters, written by 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years. There is great probability that these authors could have contradicted each other, but they did not. Each of them was inspired by the Holy Spirit; the Bible is the intentional revelation of God about Himself to mankind. It is the best-selling book in the world; but I doubt if it is the best-read book in the world.

Jesus reiterates His charge that they will support the Pharisees in killing Him; remember, His intention is that the Jewish leaders be motivated to crucify Him in public, that His atoning death be as well known as it can possibly be. The Bible prophesies that when Jesus Christ returns to earth the Jews will accept Him as the Messiah and mourn nationally for having killed Him.

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)