Your Greatest Freedom

Your Greatest Freedom

-Truth Will Set You Free

John 8:31-36

As we celebrate the 4th of July this week we need to praise God that for now we are still “A Nation under God.” We live in a country founded upon the principles of freedom. For the past 230 years America has been led for the most part by men and women of moral principles.

Benjamin Franklin, William Penn, Noah Webster, and Abraham Lincoln were all men who had faith in God.

Benjamin Franklin inaugurated a time of prayer before the meetings of congress.

William Penn became a devout Quaker and insisted on fair treatment of the Indians.

Noah Webster gave 36 years of his life in the development of the American Dictionary. At the age of 40 Webster started taking his Christian faith seriously. He became a devout student of the Bible. Before he died at age 85 he quoted to a close friend the words of the apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

Abraham Lincoln had a firm faith in God and regularly read the Bible. His speeches flowed with quotations from the Bible. Schuyler Colfax, who became Vice-President of the United States, said Lincoln would often get up at 4 a.m. so he would have time to read the Bible before visitors came to the White House.

At the very center of the Christian Faith is the belief that God’s Word contains the Truth and the Truth sets us free.

John 8:31-36 Jesus told the people that they were his disciples if they obeyed his teaching. “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The people argued that they were the descendants of Abraham and had never been slave to anyone. They asked, “What do you mean ‘set free’?”

The fact is the descendents of Abraham had been in bondage, four centuries in Egypt under Pharaoh and in Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. They currently were under the rule and bondage of Rome.

Jesus made it clear that anyone who sins becomes a slave to sin. Being a Jew, a descendent of Abraham did not make them free from sin. The Jews argued that they were descendents of Abraham and blessed of God so they were free and no longer under bondage and slaves.

Jesus told the Jews there were trying to kill him and because they were trying to put him to death their very actions proved they were still in bondage. If they truly loved God they would love Jesus because Jesus said He came from God. Since they were not listening to God if proved they were not children of God.

True disciples of God obey the teachings of Jesus. All who obey will know the truth and the truth will set them free.

I. What is truth?

A fundamental questions asked by Pilate when Jesus was on trial is a question that Jesus answered in different ways time and time again, “What is truth?”

Pilate asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

“Pilate replied, “You are a king them?” “You say that I am a king, and you are right,” Jesus answered. “I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” What is truth? Pilate asked.” John 18:37-38a)

In John chapter 14:6 Jesus had given the definition of truth. Ultimate truth is only found in a person, the person Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The dictionary defines “Truth” as a fixed or established principle or law.”

Is Jesus a truth or the truth? Is Jesus one truth among many or the truths? All religions present their principles and truths like Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or Christianity. The primary difference: you can take the spiritual leaders out of all religions except Christianity and still have a religion. If you take Jesus out of Christianity you have no religion. Christianity is not a religion it is a person.

The American religion of the 21st century is relativism. There are no absolutes. Everyone can find their god just by looking within themselves. The New Age religious fad of today believes that everyone can become their own god by looking within. You don’t need God’s will you only need your self will. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins is an advocate of that philosophy. He teaches people “How to awaken the giant within: How to take immediate control of your mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny and discover the unlimited power to success.” Those who believe that are buying into an illusion.