John 8:31-36 (WEL) Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue in my teaching, you are truly my disciples. 32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and were never in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be set free?’” 34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I say to you that all who commit sin are slaves of sin. 35 “The servant does not remain in the house forever. The Son does remain forever. 36 “Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will be really free.
V31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue in my teaching, you are truly my disciples.
Endurance, loyalty, faithful service to Jesus Christ are some indicators of true conversion.
Principle: Do you believe the doctrines, way of life, Law of Christ, worldview, etc. that we read in the New Testament? It is a must.
It is quite likely that these Jews believe in Him but it is a fickle faith that will be dropped and forsaken at a threat. Compare Matthew 13:20-21.
Those who really believe would rather die than deny. Compare Luke 8:6 and Luke 8:13 with Revelation 12:10-11.
V32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Lord Jesus taught, and the hearers learned. If they/we continue in that teaching, then we have been taught the truth and continue to believe and live that truth. Continuing in Jesus’s teaching with reading and studying will give us knowledge and understanding which leads to true wisdom. Knowing the truth frees us from deception and other lies.
Staying true plus reading and studying the Bible then brings truth into our lives and that truth of the Bible sets us free from lies, deceptions, and sin. We always need God’s assisting grace.
(New Living Translation (NLT) Study Bible Notes) Discipleship is more than knowing who Jesus is. It is also about obeying his teachings (John 3:36; John 14:15-23; John 15:10). • Because Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), knowing him brings discernment of what is true and what is false. • It sets you free: “The truth brings freedom from darkness, falsehood, and sin.”
Truth is reality. Most people believe lies for various reasons. The most common basic reason is that they want to believe something even if it is false.
Telling lies is basic to the unsaved person’s heart (inner being): Mark 7:20-23 20 He said, “That which comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 “For from within, out of the heart of people, come evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, 22 “Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, wantonness, envy, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23 “All these things come from within and defile people.”
V33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and were never in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be set free?’”
Three problems are here—1) The Romans rule the kingdom of Israel and impose taxes, etc., on the Israelis, 2) they were slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1:9-14) and later to Babylon (Jeremiah 25:11, Jeremiah 27:6, and Jeremiah 27:13), and 3) they are slaves of sin (John 8:34).
Sin is the ruler of every heart (Romans 6:16-19). Only the Lord Jesus can break that slavery (Galatians 3:13).
V34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I say to you that all who commit sin are slaves of sin.
The most important message from the Lord Jesus: People are slaves of sin. Jesus sets any human free from slavery if they but obey the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ alone.
V35 “The servant does not remain in the house forever. The Son does remain forever.
Servants die; sons die, but this Son, God the Son, remains forever.
Slaves can be sold, exchanged, or thrown out.
Robertson’s Word Pictures: “The slave has no footing or tenure and may be cast out at any moment while the son is the heir and has a permanent place. Cf. Ishmael and Isaac (Genesis 21:10) and Paul’s use of it in Galatians 4:30.”
V36 “Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will be really free.
A slave cannot set someone free from slavery or prison; the son has the authority.
Real freedom can only be found in Jesus Christ.
AskAndyAI summary:
“John 8:36 — “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” — means that Jesus brings real, comprehensive freedom. Based on the teaching reflected in these messages, here are some of the key ways Christ sets people free:
- Freedom from slavery to sin — Jesus breaks the power that sin has over a person’s life (John 8:34–36). Sin no longer has the final claim on us.
- Freedom from spiritual bondage and guilt — the chains of guilt and condemnation are removed when Christ frees a sinner.
- Freedom from addictions and enslaving habits — things like sexual immorality, substance abuse, materialism, and other compulsions that masquerade as “freedom” are exposed as slavery and can be broken by Christ.
- Freedom from bitterness, resentment, and anxiety — the Spirit brings liberty from the emotional chains that enslave hearts.
- Freedom from legalism and religious bondage — Christ delivers people from trying to earn acceptance before God by ritual or law; believers are saved by faith alone and freed from a yoke of performance (cf. Galatians 5:1).
- Freedom that transforms families, churches, and societies — wherever Jesus’ truth and the Spirit’s work go, liberty tends to follow (homes, churches, even civil life).
- Freedom unto service and good works — salvation doesn’t leave people inert; being set free positions believers to serve God and others for His purposes (we are saved unto good works).
- Freedom as a present, inward reality assured by the Spirit — 2 Corinthians 3:17 shows the Spirit’s presence produces liberty in the believer’s life.
We learn:
- The authority and power of Jesus Christ.
- That Jesus Christ is a son, namely God the Son.
- Most people do not realize that they are slaves, especially to sin.
Questions:
- How do you celebrate the freedom that Jesus Christ has given to those who believe in Him?
- Did or do you recognize that you were/are a slave of sin?