Jesus Will Set You Free! Series

“JESUS WILL SET YOU FREE!” John 8:31-36

FBCF – 10/24/21

Jon Daniels

INTRO – We Americans value our freedom. “Land of the free, & the home of the brave.” Many of us understand the great price that has been paid for our freedoms in this nation. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of people in our nation who do not understand & do not value our freedom, & they want to take it away.

Socialism, Marxism, & Communism are all terms that most of us never thought we’d hear mentioned as a real possibility of where our nation would be one day. In fact, we’ve fought against those evil ideologies. And yet, there are more & more people in our nation who are leaning that direction. It’s a disturbing trend that has wide-reaching implications for us, but mostly for our kids & grandkids. It erodes free speech. It denies the free exercise of religion. And it lays groundwork for a one-world gov’t. Despite that:

- 40% of Americans have favorable view of socialism

- 47% of Millennials & 49% of Gen Z

- 2019 poll – 61% of Americans age 18-24 positive view

(This info taken from Where Do We Go From Here? by David Jeremiah)

Our nation is in deep trouble as freedom gets more & more twisted.

- Elementary-age school children taken on field trip to a gay bar in Florida last week

- Last week, US State Dept issued 1st passport w/ an X gender marker for people who deny being male or female

- Boy wore a skirt to go in girl’s restroom in VA school where he raped a girl. Students in that school can choose to go to the bathroom of the gender w/ which they identify.

- We are seeing 2 Timothy 3:1 lived out right in front of us: “But understand this, that in the last days, dangerous times [of great stress & trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].] (AMP)

Our national freedom is under assault on multiple fronts. If our nation doesn’t change course, we will see our freedoms taken away more & more in the days to come.

But there is a freedom that can never be taken away from us – the freedom that comes from Jesus Christ!

- This freedom doesn’t come from the Oval Office – it comes from the throne room of heaven.

- …doesn’t come from the President – it comes from the King of kings & Lord of lords.

- …doesn’t come from manmade laws – it comes from the unchanging eternal Word of God.

- …doesn’t come from men fighting against each other – it comes from the One who has fought against & defeated Satan.

- …doesn’t change based on which political party is in power – it’s unchanging b/c it is based on the GRACE of God, the POWER of God, & the TRUTH of God.

EXPLANATION – John 8:31-36

Moving forward in Jesus’ life & ministry. Some people have decided they don’t want to follow Him anymore. Opposition from religious leaders is growing (John 7:1 – “…the Jews were seeking to kill Him.”). Accused of leading people astray (7:12); of being demon-possessed (7:20); people were divided over who He was w/ some believing in Him (7:31) & others arguing over His lineage (7:40-44).

But Jesus keeps teaching, keeps preaching, keeps reaching out to those who are the outcasts, the rejects, those living in sin, setting them free.

- Woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11)

Another “I AM” statement – John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world.” All of His 7 “I AM” statements are statements of freedom:

- Light of the world – set free from darkness of sin

- Bread of life (John 6:35) – set free from spiritual hunger

- Door (John 10:9) – Enter & be set free from eternal death

- Good Shepherd (John 10:11) – set free from spiritual wandering & from attacks from enemy

- Resurrection & Life (John 11:25) – set free from the fear of death & hell

- Way, truth, & life (John 14:6) – set free from spiritual confusion that leads to spiritual death

- True vine (John 15:5) – set free from a barren, fruitless life

APPLICATION – Knowing Jesus is the only way that we can be truly free.

THE PROCESS OF FREEDOM – v. 31 – Believing in Jesus for salvation sets us free from hell & death (John 3:16). Abiding (remaining, staying, continuing) in His Word (His message of the unchanging Gospel) will keep us free from all the lies of Satan & this world system. It also proves that we are “TRULY” His disciples, not those who will abandon Jesus when things get tough like we saw in John 6:66 – “After this many of His disciples turned back & no longer walked w/ Him.”