Truth Freedom:

John 8:31-32 “...So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...”

Did all Jews reject Jesus?

What advise did Jesus have for the Jews who believed Him?

• Abide in My word. Live in My truth.

What is demonstrated by those who “...abide in My word...”?

• Discipleship.
• Truth.
• Freedom.

What freedom do people need?

• Not freedom to do as they please.
• Freedom from falsehood.
• Freedom from a life that is perverted from the original intentions of God.
• Freedom from sin.

How do we know that Jesus is referring to truth freeing a person from sin?

John 8:34-38 “...Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father...”

How does sin make people slaves?

• A slave must do what his master demands.
• A slave can’t just decide to not be a slave.
• Sin is unrelenting, forcing itself upon those who have been captured by it.

What causes a person, even Abraham’s descendants, to become slaves to sin?

• Rejecting the word (“...my word finds no place in you...”).
• Living in less than the truth.
• Listening to the traditions of men (“...your father...”) rather than kingdom truth (“...My Father...”)

What does accepting less than the truth cause people to do?

• People take active steps to try to destroy that which opposes them.
• Abraham’s descendants sought to kill Jesus.
• The world’s offspring seek to silence the Words of Jesus.

John 8:39-41 “...They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father - even God...”

How do religious people become self deceived?

• Following traditions can lead to pride.

• Saying “...we have one Father, even God...” doesn’t always mean one is following God.

John 8:42-47 “...Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God...”

Why did Jesus say the Jews couldn’t understand what He said?

• They couldn’t bear to hear His words.
• The words He spoke were something they couldn’t receive.
• His words were too much for them?

When can people not “...bear to hear...” the words that Jesus speaks?

• When the words are different than they want to hear.
• When they are slaves to sin.

When can people hear the words of God?

• “...Whoever is of God hears the words of God...”
• People who have been set free by the truth are free to hear the truth.

• John 3:3 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...”

Do people who have not been born again hear the words of God?

Can a person be born again without hearing the words of God?

Do you value Truth Freedom?