Misplaced faith in the truth
John 8:31-36
Polls identify our views on many subjects, companies spend millions of dollars to identify their product to potential buyers and people who know us identify us with to some particular views that we hold to. The question we need to be aware of how other identify us to Christ.
Starting in verse 31 thru the end of chapter 8, Jesus reveals some identifying marks of those who are opposed to him and then clearly identifies himself as God, “I AM”.
Our text shows some have a misplaced faith in truth. Verse 3 reads “we will know the truth and the truth will set you free”, probably one of the most abused text of scripture in our society. Looking up this phrase on the internet, I discovered all kind of groups have identified themselves with it (political groups, environmental groups, groups even opposed to Christianity, all stating they have the truth and their version of the truth will set us free). What they are ignoring is the condition Jesus placed on this phrase which is “abiding in his word” and then and only then will we be free. Not free in the sense of the world’s view of freedom (freedom from government intervention, free love, etc) but freedom to having the power and guidance to act in accordance with God’s Himself.
The opponents of Christ were placing their faith in themselves our in their national heritage and not in the person of Christ. In doing so they thought they were free but in reality they were slaves. Are not many today in the same position, many saying”no way, I’m not a slave to this or to that”.
The only way to have true freedom is to place your faith totally in the person of Jesus Christ by receiving him as your savior and remaining in his teaching. Galatians 5:1 “for freedom Christ has set us free, stand fast therefore and do not subject again to a yoke of slavery”