SERIES: FREEDOM
TEXT: JOHN 8:31-32.
“To the Jews who had believed in 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’.”
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a crowd of around 250,000 people. That day King delivered his infamous speech: “I have a dream”. He concluded that message with this timeless words: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”
Regardless of whom you are or what difficulties you may encounter along the journey of life, those are sweet words to the heart: Free at last!. We can be free from the entanglements of life that weigh us down: Free from the burdens and cares that make our hearts heavy.
This morning we are going to talk about what it means to be free. Let us discover the freedom that God has made available to all of us:-
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
- Freedom can only be purchased. Our freedom as Kenyans was purchased with blood of freedom fighters. If you are continue to be free then you must be willing to defend our freedom otherwise it can and will be taken away-(John 8:31-32). “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.”
Simply believing is not enough! To believe in Jesus Christ only the first step toward being free.
- Jesus Christ shows us here that it takes more than just believing in him to be free.
- Belief is a necessary step, but belief is only the first step towards being free.
- Jesus Christ knew that many listening to His teaching had take that important first step of belief.
- Jesus speaks directly to those who have put their faith in Him. Even as he spoke many put their faith in him (John 8:30).
- Jesus Christ says those who believe, including you and me today- “He went further, “Hold to my teaching”.
- “We must stick with this”, we must keep obeying His teaching”, “We must live by what He says”.
- We must abide in His word, we must continue in His teaching.
- It is not enough to simply believe, we must live out what we believe in our daily life.
Don’t make a mistake of just believing in Jesus. Believing the right thing is not good enough.
- Jesus shows us two groups of people separated on the day of Final Judgment: “BOTH BELIEVE HE IS LORD” (Matthew 25: 34-46).
- One group acted upon what they believed and thought of others instead of only themselves.
- They met the needs of Jesus Christ, even when they did not know they were serving Him.
- The other group believed and refused to live differently. They only thought of themselves.
- They were unwilling to help others for the sake of Christ.
Many people believe that freedom means independence: Many like the Prodigal Son, believe freedom means to live for yourself.
- If we believe that freedom only comes to those who remain in His Word.
- Freedom is given to those who learn to live out what He has taught us, to abide in Him.
- Those who refuse to move beyond belief only end up in bondage and slavery to sin all over again.
To live in real freedom, we must continue to believe in Christ and hold on to His word, we are then set free and then we are free indeed.
- We are set free to be authentic disciples, free to be acquainted intimately with the truth and free to be free.
FREE TO BE AUTHENTIC DISCIPLES-(John 8:31-32)
What does it mean to be Christ’s Disciples?
- Disciples are those who believe in Christ and then hold to His teaching. They are authentic disciples of Christ.
- A disciple is a follower, learner or student of Jesus Christ, to follow the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.
- A disciple believes Christ’s doctrine, rests upon His sacrifice, imbibes His spirit and imitates His example.
As a disciple (Authentic) how do we follow Christ’s example?
- (I John 2:6)– We must walk as Christ did.
- It is not going to be easy to follow Christ (I Peter 2:21).
- The Holy Spirit will help you to live in alignment with the patterns of Jesus life (John 16:13).
- Follow the example of other believers, (I Cor. 11:1).
- Join others in following the example of Christ as Apostle Paul admonishes us (Phil. 3:17).
- When we believe in Christ and abide in Him holding on to His teaching we are set free to be authentic disciples.
FREE TO BE ACQUAINTED INTIMATELY WITH THE TRUTH (JOHN 8:31-32)
Jesus Christ says we will “GINOSKO” know the truth, that is “to know by experience.”
- Jesus is not talking about just having a head knowledge about the truth. This is not mere knowledge of information.
- It means to know the truth through personal experience with the truth.
- Jesus will give you an intimate interaction with the truth.
- It means you will handle the truth, we can touch the truth and see that it is indeed the truth-(I John 1:1-4).
The Knowledge of Truth is not abstract. To know the truth is to know Jesus Christ- (John 14:6).
- Jesus Christ is THE TRUTH. We come to know Him personally, experientially, as we know Jesus the truth, we are saved (I Tim. 2:4).
- We are not saved by an abstract knowledge of truth, we are saved as put our faith in Jesus Christ who is the truth.
- As we are free not only to live by the truth as we follow the example of Jesus Christ, we begin to feel as Jesus feels. His passion becomes our passion. We become emotionally connected with Jesus Christ-(I Cor. 2:9-12).
- When we believe in Christ and abide in Him holding on to His teaching, we are set free to be acquainted intimately with the truth and then:-
WE ARE FREE TO BE FREE-(John 8:31-32)
The Truth set us free, we are no longer slaves to sin and death.
- On January 1st 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Slaves in south (USA) were set free. But on that day no slaves went free. Throughout the South blacks were still slaves, freedom did not come until after a bloody Civil War. Then freedom came.
- God declared in eternity to set the captives free, But freedom only came after Christ died on Calvary.
- But although there is freedom, it must be received (Romans 6:14).
- We are set free because we believe in Jesus and abide in His word-(John 8:36).
- We are free, Yes free indeed! Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
CONCLUSION
- Jesus Christ has come to set us free.
- Freedom is not free, Believe and Abide!
- You will be free to be an authentic disciple of Jesus following His example.
- You will be free to be acquainted intimately with the truth, you will experience personal relationship.
- You will be free to be free, No longer living in bondage to sin and death. Yes, you are free at last!
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