True Freedom

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:31-32

What makes you free? Knowing the truth.

Who knows the truth? Disciples of Jesus.

How do you know a true disciple of Jesus? A true disciple continues in the Word.

The Greek word for “continues” is “meno”, and it is defined as follows:
I. to remain, abide
A. in reference to place
1. to sojourn, tarry
2. not to depart
a. to continue to be present
b. to be held, kept, continually

B. in reference to time
1. to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure
a. of persons, to survive, live

C. in reference to state or condition
1. to remain as one, not to become another or different

II. to wait for, await one

Meno is the same word Jesus uses in John 15 when he describes Himself as the true vine and instructs His followers, the branches, to abide in Him. Therefore, to know the truth, the follower of Jesus must abide in Him.

Placing one’s faith in Christ sets one free from eternal punishment, but only by abiding in Christ can we know the truth and be free in this life. Paul makes the reality of a choice clear in Galatians 5:1 when he writes: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” From this we can conclude that we can choose to abide in Christ, know the truth, and be free or we can choose to subject ourselves to a yoke of slavery. The yoke of slavery Paul is referring to in Galatians is legalism.

When one is abiding in Christ, He is being led by the Holy Spirit, so there is no need to resort to a list of rules and regulations to know how to live. The Spirit of Christ will not direct the believer to do anything in conflict with God's word. Galatians 5:18 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

The tendency to live by rules and regulations and to attempt to obtain one’s righteousness from them is manifested by those who do not abide in Christ, who do not have a relationship with Him. According to Paul, people who live this way are in bondage. In Galatians 3:1 he asks the question: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Paul is talking to Christians. He is saying, you were saved as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit. Now that you are saved, are you going to sanctify yourself by attempting to keep the law? That’s foolish. Just as you were unable to save yourself, you are unable to sanctify yourself. Only the Spirit can do that.

And He does it when you abide in Christ.

Happy Independence Day.