Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who said “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
“Man is born free; but everywhere he is in chains” said the French Philosopher, Rousseau. When he made this statement, probably he had in mind the social fetters that have bound the man with. Possibly, he compared the present generation with the early primitive man, who enjoyed much freedom with hardly any restriction. But as the society developed, people have come under various laws that have bound them and restricted them. Thus, man came under many restrictions; and these restrictions, according to the French Philosopher, are chains, and he was advocating freedom from these social fetters that have bound them. Many people would readily agree to this philosophy, since everyone wants freedom from these social fetters. For them, freedom means liberty to choose their life, to speak, to eat food of their choice, to dress etc. etc.
Everyone will agree that freedom is the most sought after thing by any human being in this world but the freedom that our Lord Jesus promises is not social but spiritual. When God created man, He created him with a free will to choose. The only restriction from the Creator God was not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This restriction was not a chain; rather it was an advice from the loving God for man’s own good. Man misused his freedom and voluntarily accepted the chain, by believing in the lie of the devil. It is the lie that brought him in chains of Satan, sin and death. The freedom he needs is from these chains; and that is what Jesus is promising him.
Jesus said “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Only ‘the knowledge of the truth’ will be able to set the man free from his chains. Since it was ‘the lie’ that brought him under slavery, only ‘the truth’ can give him freedom. Satan is a liar and by his lies, he brought the whole mankind under slavery. Only the knowledge of the truth, which is the Word of God, can set him free from these chains.
There is a well-known prayer, “Asatoma Sadgamaya”. This Sanskrit prayer literally means “Oh Lord, lead me from untruth to truth” or in other words, “lead me from the bondage of this world to freedom.” Though this is a very meaningful prayer made repeatedly, freedom eludes them because they are not genuine seekers of the truth. “What is the truth?” Pilate once asked Jesus. Sadly, he did not wait for an answer and handed over “the truth” to be crucified because he was not a genuine seeker of truth. Those who genuinely seek will find the truth and the truth will set him free.
Jesus claims “I am the truth.” Jesus Christ is the ‘Word of God’ that came in flesh. Only the knowledge of Jesus, the true living God can set a man free. Jesus said “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) This knowledge of the truth sets a sinner free from all bondages and gives him eternal life. Jesus also said “All who have come before me are thieves and robbers.” (John 10:8) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
It was this Word that came to the earth as the Son of Man to seek and save the lost. He gave his life as a ransom for the sinners. The knowledge of the truth not only gives liberty, but it also sanctifies us. Jesus, when he was on the earth prayed “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) After having received freedom, we are called to live a life of freedom in Christ. We have been set free; and no more slaves to sin and Satan. This freedom in Christ does not give us liberty to live as we please.
The scripture says “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death. But now you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness and result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Rom.6:21-23)
After you have been set free from sin, you have become bond servants of God. This submission is purely voluntarily and out of gratitude. Jesus has redeemed you not to become a slave again to sin and Satan. You are a slave to the one you obey. When you serve a Master, you can expect to receive wages. Sin pays wages, which is death; and the slaves of God also receive their wages, which is eternal life.
When Jesus Christ died, he died to sin and He broke the power of sin. Hence, sin and death have no control over him. In Christ Jesus we are also free. The blood of Jesus has made this freedom possible. It is the knowledge and the acceptance of the truth that sets a sinner free.
Dear brethren, since you have received freedom in Christ Jesus, Satan and sin should have no dominion over you. You have now become slaves to God and the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life. May your life bring glory and honour to the name of the Lord!
Yours in Christ
Pastor Jacob
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