The Truth Shall Set You Free

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. …everyone who sins is a slave to sin. …if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-32, 34, 36)

In these verses, Jesus announces the liberation of humanity. Yet, to this day, we still struggle to let that liberation become our reality. Jesus clearly laid the groundwork for our status as "slaves to sin" in His first great teaching, the Sermon on the Mount. However, portions of that sermon are often taken out of context, leading us to faulty conclusions. While many of Jesus’ teachings were impromptu or focused on a single subject, the Sermon on the Mount was a lengthy public address containing the pillars of the New Covenant faith. Because no one was writing it down as He spoke, and it would not be available in print for decades, those present would have left with impressions shaped by their own unique perspectives.

We should, therefore, consider this sermon as those present did. Imagine arriving home after hearing Him speak and being asked, “What did Jesus say?” Your answer, based on pure recall, might go something like this: “Well, He began with words of encouragement for the despairing and praise for the good-hearted. He taught us about prayer, trusting God, and caring for the poor. But what stood out most was His emphasis that the Law remains fully in force—He said that even thinking of breaking a law is the same as committing the act. Regarding justice, He taught that we should endure offenses and love our enemies. It seems that keeping the Law is now more difficult than it has ever been!”

Such a conclusion is natural if one listens to the sermon in its entirety. Jesus was making the case that the Law is impossible to keep; anyone attempting to attain righteousness through it will fail. This was, in fact, God’s intention regarding the Mosaic Law from the beginning. The Law was, and remains, our judge, jury, and executioner, revealing our status as slaves to sin in need of a Redeemer.

An analogy helps bring this home: Imagine we are far from shore in a sea, treading water. This sea is “sinfulness.” Sometimes it is calm and manageable; other times it is rough and overwhelming. Our endless challenge is to keep our heads above water through repeated, wearying cycles of avoiding sin and repenting each time we fail. This is what bondage to sin looks like. We have time for little else because we are consumed with the sheer effort of staying afloat just to continue breathing. No matter how accomplished a swimmer we are, eventually we will become exhausted and surrender to death by drowning.

But imagine that at the very moment we surrender to our fate, Jesus’ hand appears. He does not simply grasp our hand; He beckons us to grasp His. In a faith born of desperation and hope, we reach out. In that moment, grace meets our helplessness, and He pulls us up out of our watery grave.

After this rescue, does it make sense to return to a life defined by the conscious, fearful attempt to avoid drowning? No. We already lost that struggle; we were as good as dead until Jesus delivered us. Without Him, we are dead, but through faith in Him as our Savior, we have "crossed over from death to life." Why return to the mindset of a slave when we have been set free from such bondage?

We, of course, still war against sin, as Paul so eloquently admitted: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15). We are, however, a new creation in Christ. Our perspective has shifted. “The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17). The Sermon on the Mount was not ultimately a proclamation of condemnation, but a call to embrace a "perfect" (mature and complete) love that reflects God’s own heart. Our actions now become the evidence of our transformation. As James declared, “I will show you my faith by what I do.” As "born-again," Spirit-filled, and set-free children of God, gratitude now compels us to please our Father in a manner the Law never could. The truth has indeed set us free to live a life of love rather than fear.

Father, thank You for the truth that sets us free. Help us to stop treading the waters of self-effort and instead rest in the strength of Your outstretched hand. May our lives be lived not out of the fear of drowning, but out of the joy of being rescued. Transform our hearts so that our obedience is the result of our gratitude for Your great love. Amen.

mgb