Man's True Independence — We are Free Indeed

September, 2005

by: Walt Bertelsen

July is behind us, and we don’t hear much about freedom and independence. Pity. Talking about freedom shouldn’t happen only once a year. We should continue to reflect on the meaning of freedom.

As you might guess, I’m not really writing about the idea to which our founding fathers pledged their lives, liberty, and sacred honor. They had noble thoughts. Yet many of those men—as courageous and dedicated as they were to our freedom—knew little or nothing of the true freedom of the Christian man.

Our Savior promised that, when He sets us free, we will be free indeed (Jn 8:36). Unfortunately, many of the men who occupy our pews don’t truly know what it means to be “free, indeed.” Most of us are familiar with this statement of Jesus about being free. And we note that Jn 8:32 greets the visitor entering the lobby of our CIA headquarters: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

That’s the type of statement that stirs the deepest longings of mankind.

Unfortunately, many men who name the name of Christ are emphatically not free. Many understand that the freedom Jesus was speaking of was freedom from slavery to sin. Yet many continue to live as though held in slavery to sin. Are you one of them?

You may have stopped believing these remarkable words. You wouldn’t dare say that out loud. You could never disbelieve something Jesus said. Likely you’re thinking that you just don’t understand something right. You think you deluded yourself in believing its powerful simplicity, its plain sense. Perhaps you’ve been “examining” yourself and, not seeing fruit, wonder, “Am I truly saved?”

If you’ve had thoughts like these, then, likely, one of three things is true: 1) you really did not understand something right, either some doctrine/teaching or how to implement that teaching in your life; 2) you have been doing something wrong, either from ignorance, lack of concern, or deliberate, willful sin; or 3) your faith is not really saving faith.

Let me invite you to take a closer look at the passage (John 8). Let’s do a little “Bible Study 101.” Hopefully, you will gain some understanding of how to be free, how to have the true independence of the Christian man. (We will be looking at this passage more next month, so, hang in there!)

You must first look at how the passage fits in with the surrounding sentences and paragraphs—the context. This includes, at least, verses 12-38.

Jesus was speaking to the Jews, saying that He is the light of the world, that His followers have the light of life. He warned His listeners that they would die in their sin. In crucifying Him, they would know that He is the one the Father sent. Many believed in Him (8:31), and Jesus told them, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (8:32).

This means, then, that “abiding” is the key to true freedom. What did Jesus mean, “abide in My word?” The word “abide” may be translated “continue” or “remain” or “hold to.” The word “abide” in this context describes what faith is all about. To abide in Christ’s word includes obeying it, but it also includes so much more. To abide in Christ’s word means to order your life by it, to walk in it, to live in and follow it, to trust in it. To abide in Christ’s word is not just following a set of written rules. To abide in Christ’s word is about listening to and living for Him. His Word, the Bible, is His voice, His message to you.

You don’t learn to abide by study. You learn this truth through doing. Living out the Word moves the knowledge of God those 18 inches from your head to your heart. (Yes, it must be in the head first). So abide in Christ’s Word. If you do, you are true disciples, and you will know the truth and you will be free.

Are you free?