FREEDOM IN TRUTH
TEXT:JOHN 8:32-36
NAS
32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
35 "And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36 "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. (NAS)
NKJV
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV
TLB
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said, "and have never been slaves to any man on earth! What do you mean, 'set free'?"
34 Jesus replied, "You are slaves of sin, every one of you.
35 And slaves don't have rights, but the Son has every right there is!
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free--
TLB)
INTRODUCTION Read from Declaration of Independence. We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
1. Freedom to Know the . . TRUTH ABOUT SIN. v 33-34
A. Sin Blinds. v 33
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"
1. They were Blind to their past Captivity.
Illustration Topic: Sin Index: 3342 Date: 8/1992.17
On one occasion Norman "Kid" McCoy, who was welterweight boxing champion in 1896, was fighting a contender who had the misfortune of being deaf. Once McCoy discovered his opponent's disability, he wasted no time in taking advantage of it. Near the end of the third round McCoy stepped back a pace and pointed to his adversary's corner, indicating that the bell had rung. "Oh, thank you so much," said McCoy's opponent. "Very civil of you." But the bell hadn't rung at all, and as soon as the other boxer dropped his hands and turned away, McCoy immediately knocked him out.
Sin will take same cruel advantage of us that Kid McCoy did of his deaf opponent. If we listen to it even for a moment and drop our guard, it can destroy us.
Illustration Topic: Sin Subtopic: Deceptive Index: 3342 Date: 6/1988.24
I don't know about you, but I weary of the way that the devil continues to portray only the fun side of sin. Sin is fun and pleasurable, but only for a season. It has another ugly side that is carefully hidden by the deceiver himself. I'm referring to the consequences of all sin -- heartache, disappointment, and eventual death. Consider this recent description of Andy Gibb on the cover of People Magazine. A superstar at 19, the baby Bee Gee' had it all but couldn't handle it. A generous, likable kid, he blew his fortune on cocaine and blamed his troubles on a breakup with Victoria Principal. Trying for a comeback, he died, bankrupt, at 30.
B. Sin Binds. v 34
34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
1. So many people can be enslaved to sin and refuse to recognize it.
Illustration Topic: Sin Index: 3342 Title: Monkey Traps
Monkey trappers in North Africa have a clever method of catching their prey. A number of gourds are filled with nuts and firmly fastened to a branch of a tree. Each has a hole just large enough for the unwary monkey to stick his forepaw into it. When the hungry animal discovers this, he quickly grasps a handful of nuts, but the hole is too small for him to withdraw his clenched fist. And he doesn't have enough sense to open up his hand and let go in order to escape, so he is easily taken captive.
This is a picture of many Christians. The devil with his crafty devices tried to ensnare them. He appeals to the appetites of the flesh which can lead to their spiritual downfall. As long as they hold on to worldly bait, they cannot escape from Satan's trap. But he keeps on urging, "Don't let go! Enjoy the pleasure of your sin just a little bit longer!" So, listening to the tempter's alluring voice, they continue in their evil way.
Dear friend, are you caught up in sinful practices that are destroying your testimony and preventing you from growing in grace? Stop and think it over. Get out of Satan's trap now while you can.
Application
The TRUTH of God will give you the freedom to know that sin blinds and Binds.
2. Freedom to Know the . . Truth about Our Standing with God. v 32-33
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"
A. Free to Know our Standing In Truth. v 32
1. Jesus said He was the truth. John 14:6
B. Free to Know Our Standing In Tribe. v 33
1. Being Abraham’s Seed doesn’t make you free.
Illustration Topic: Sin Index: 3350 Title: Scorpion and the Turtle
A scorpion, being a very poor swimmer, asked a turtle to carry him on its back across the river. "Are you mad?" exclaimed the turtle. "You'll sting me while I'm swimming and I'll drown." "My dear turtle," laughed the scorpion, "If I were to sting you, you would drown and I'd go down with you. Now where is the logic in that?" "You're right," cried the turtle. "Hop on." The scorpion climbed aboard and halfway across the river gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle, resigned, said, "Do you mind if I ask you something? You said there is no logic in your stinging me. Why did you do it?" "It has nothing to do with logic," the drowning scorpion replied. "It's just my nature."
Application
Our standing with God changes our nature because we become the Children of God.
3. Freedom to Know the . . TRUTH ABOUT JESUS. v 35-36
A. Jesus is the . . Eternal Son of God. v 35
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Illustration Read the material from the JW’s Bible p 1158 This is blatantly incorrect.
B. Jesus is the . . Enabling Son of God. v 36
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV
Illustration Topic: Christ Subtopic: Divinity of Index: 701-718
Rev. W. Kingstone Greenland visited a vacant house with a friend who desired to purchase it. The friend was particularly struck by the beauty of one of the rooms which he wished to turn into his study; but he objected to a cupboard in the corner.
"I will have to remove it," he said to the architect. "No, you won't," was the reply. "But I can do what I like if I buy the house," said the man.
"You cannot do what you like with that cupboard," answered the architect.
"Why not?" he asked. "Is it protected by a clause in the deed?"
"No," said the architect, "it is not on the deed; it is on the plan. You cannot take away the cupboard without taking down the house, it is part of the main structure."
So if we take away the deity of Christ, we destroy the whole structure of Christianity. That doctrine is built in. It is central. It is structural of the structure.
Application
Jesus is the Eternal Son of God.
4. Freedom to Know the . . TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM. v 32 & 36
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free." 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV
A. Freedom is a relationship with . . Christ. v 32
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Rom 6:18-19 NAS
18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members {as} slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in {further} lawlessness, so now present your members {as} slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
B. Freedom is a relationship with . . Controls. v 36
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV
1 Cor 9:19-23
19 For though I am free from all {men,} I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. 20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 23 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it. (NAS)
Illustration Topic: Liberty Date: 3/1987.14 Title: The Cross that Frees
While taking a prisoner from a Guelph, Ontario, correctional center to be arraigned on charges of attempted armed robbery, police constable John Bolton noticed a cross around the neck of the convict. Knowing the man was not religious, he took a closer look. The prisoner attempted to conceal something protruding from the top of the cross. When questioned, he said it was a good luck charm designed to look like a spoon for sniffing cocaine.
But Constable Bolton was sure it looked like a handcuff key. By experimentation he found that the protuberance would open most handcuffs. The discovery led to the exposure of an attempt by prisoners in the correctional center to make a number of these cross-keys.
There is a cross that sets men free, free from the bondage of the law, and that cross is the cross of Calvary. Unfortunately many are more concerned about freedom for the body than they are about freedom for the soul. Whether inside or outside prison, all men need the cross that sets us free.
Freedom to Know the . .TRUTH ABOUT SIN.
Freedom to Know the . .Truth about Our Standing with God.
Freedom to Know the . . TRUTH ABOUT JESUS.
Freedom to Know the . . TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM.
James McCullen prepared this message to be delivered in the Sunday Morning worship service of July 4, 2004. The pastor and several members pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint every use of this message. We hope this written copy will be a blessing to aid your Christian walk.
Shalom and Immanuel
James A McCullen
Liberty Baptist Church,
14024 State Highway “C”
Belgrade, Missouri, 63622 573-766-5220
E-Mail Drjim@preachhim.org