Truth Shall Make You Free

John 8:32

Introduction

1. This is spoken to rebellious Jews.

2. Its principle needs restressing today.

3. The world is sadly in need of the truth.

4. But often, like these Jews, they don’t realize it., cf. vs. 33

1. WHAT IS TRUTH?

a. truth MAY refer to anything that is true....

b. THIS text = refers to the gospel, John 17:17

1. It may be turned away from, 2 Tim. 4:3-4, Titus 1:14; James 5:19

2. Something that may be obeyed, 1 Peter 1:22-23

3. The system brought by Christ, John 1:17

4. Gospel is called "word of truth" - Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18

2. BONDAGE IMPLIED

a. Illustrate bondage by african slavery....

b. Also by bondage in Egypt, Ex. 1:7-14

c. These were in bondage of SIN, John 8:33-34

1. Rom. 6:17-20; 2 Pet. 2:19

d. Sinners bound by the cords of sin, Prov. 5:22, Acts 8:23

e. Bondage of sin the worst of all bondage -- result.

3. LIBERTY OFFERED

a. Shall be made free indeed. John 8:36; Rom. 6:14

b. Gospel is called "law of liberty." Jas. 1:25; 2:12

c. Makes free from law of sin and death., Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1

d. Freedom from sin the greatest of all liberty.

5. Liberty does not mean ‘do as you please." Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:16

4. MUST KNOW THE TRUTH

a. God wants all to know it, 1 tim. 2:4

b. Had it revealed that we might know, John 14:26; 16:13

c. Commanded that it should be taught, Mtt. 28:19; 2 tim. 2:2

d. It must be heard - John 6:45; Rom. 10:14, 17

e. To know it is to understand it

1. Those who fail to understand, not converted Mtt. 13:15; Eph. 4:18

2. Good-ground-hearer understood, Mtt. 13:23

3. Gospel addressed to man’s understanding (Heb. 8:10-11) hence infants not included

5. KNOWLEDGE IMPLIES OBEDIENCE

a. Professing to know without obedience unprofitable, Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4

b. Must obey truth to be made free, 1 Pet. 1:22; Rom. 6:17

c. Conditions on which freedom depends -

1. without faith will die in sin, John 8:24

2. Made free WHEN baptized, Rom. 6:17-18, cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16

CONCLUSION

- some ‘resist the truth’ - 2 Tim. 3:8 - hence stay in sins.... what will you do?