Jesus was speaking to a group of Jews who had begun to believe in Him. He challenged them to not just believe, but to abide in His teaching—to truly live as His disciples. When He said, “The truth will set you free,” they pushed back, claiming their heritage as Abraham’s descendants meant they were already free.
Jesus then clarified that He wasn’t talking about political or national slavery, but slavery to sin. He pointed out that true freedom is not found in heritage, law, or self-effort—but in Him.
So when He says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” He’s declaring that:
- Real freedom comes through Him, not religion or lineage.
- This freedom is complete, not partial—”indeed” means it’s genuine, lasting.
- It’s freedom from the power and penalty of sin, not just external bondage.
Text: John 8:31–36 (Key Verse: John 8:36)
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36 (NIV)
1. The Message
John 8:31–32
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
- True discipleship is marked by a continued commitment to Jesus’ teaching.
- Truth is not just intellectual knowledge—it is a relationship with Jesus (John 14:6).
- John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
- That truth brings deliverance from sin, fear, and spiritual bondage.
John 8:33
“They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?'”
- Their response reflects spiritual blindness and misplaced confidence in heritage.
- Cross-reference: Matthew 3:9 — “And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
John 8:34
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'”
- Persistent sin is evidence of slavery to it.
- Cross-reference: Romans 6:16 — “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
John 8:35
“Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.”
- A slave has temporary status; a son is permanent and secure.
- Cross-reference: Galatians 4:7 — “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
- Jesus, the Son, holds the divine authority to release us from the power of sin.
- Cross-reference: 2 Corinthians 3:17 — “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (See example notes)
2. Why Do We Struggle to Live Free?
a. We misunderstand freedom. We often view freedom as the ability to choose anything without consequence. But biblical freedom is the power to choose what is right through Christ.
- Romans 6:22 — “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
b. We forget our position. Like the Jews in John 8, we can rely on external identity rather than our relationship with Jesus.
c. We return to familiar chains. Sin can become comfortable, and even after deliverance, we sometimes revisit the things that once bound us.
- 2 Peter 2:19 — “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
d. We don’t abide in the Word. Freedom grows from staying rooted in Jesus’ words. Without regular connection to Scripture, the enemy can subtly reintroduce old strongholds.
3. Key Takeaways
1. Freedom comes through a Person, not a process.Jesus alone can truly liberate us from sin.
2. Abiding in the Word activates freedom. Continued engagement with Jesus’ teaching secures and strengthens our walk in freedom.
3. You are not a slave—you are a child of God. You are not merely tolerated in God’s house—you belong there.
4. Real freedom results in transformation. Living in freedom should reshape how we think, respond, and live.