The Truth Will Set Us Free and So Much More...
One warm Spring day, several very nice ladies came to my home for a Bible study. In this particular lesson, which they had generously prepared, focused on John 8:31-32, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
In their wisdom, the ladies quickly corrected the false modern notion that this Biblical verse's meaning is about telling everybody our truth then expecting to be free from blame. Although, it's always a good idea to tell the truth, our perspective on the world will not set us free. However, this beautiful verse has immeasurable depth and offers us so much more.
Largely ignored is the first part of Jesus' statement: "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Jesus is teaching us that those who are really followers of Christ will learn His truth, will hold to His word, will practice obedience to His teachings and will not be deceived by falsehood or imitators because they will know the truth about God and the Scriptures. Anything outside of Him cannot be relied on. Only God's truth gives us a greater understanding of our condition and sets us free from slavery to sin, from condemnation and from death.
To recognize falsehood we must first be experts with Truth. And Truth is not a concept. He is a Person ("I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. John 14:6). To be free from deceipt and error, we can only look to Jesus, learn and hold to His word and make every effort to practice His teachings.
Then, the Truth will set us free.
