You will know the truth and the truth will set you free

John 8:32,36  (NLT)

Jesus said, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free……So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” 

There are two obvious key words in this passage—truth and free.  What is truth and what is being set free? 

Truth

Truth is perhaps one of those words that you think that you know what it means (opposite of lie), but to define it further is difficult.  The Greek word for truth is “alétheia”, meaning factual and connoting the character of God.  Numbers 23:19 states that “God is not a man that He should lie….” and Hebrews 6:18 states “….it is impossible for God to lie”.  Who is the main liar in the Bible?  The devil!   Jesus called him “… a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

One of the saddest segments of the Bible is found in John 18:37-38 when Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth?”, but the Bible does not record an answer.  The few commentaries I have read seem to agree that Pilate’s question was one of skepticism or cynicism, not one where he really cared to know the answer.  Of course, since Jesus described Himself as the truth, Pilate was face to face with the truth so there was no need for an answer.  Yet, Pilate represents humankind, some more than others, where humans do not want to know the truth.  The truth can be too hard, too embarrassing, and/or requires too much from us for us to accept/believe it.   And, perhaps, Jesus knew this about Pilate and did not answer his question.   

Jesus defines the Bible as the truth (John 17:17).  So, when He speaks of the truth in these verses, He is referring to the Word of God.  In the latter part of verse 31 Jesus said that “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples” so verse 32 connects truth with “My word” or the Bible.

Free

To be free means to be delivered from enslavement, to be liberated from whatever controls you.  From a biblical perspective, what is the main thing that enslaves you, that keeps you from being completely free?  SIN!  Knowing the truth of God through the Word of Christ sets you free from the enslavement of sin.  This means both freedom from the enslavement of the sin nature of an unsaved person and freedom from any specific sin that may continue to enslave or dominate the life of a saved person.

To be free from the control of sin is a wonderful thought, feeling, and experience. What are the specifics in your life with respect to either sin nature or specific sin(s)?  Do you believe the words of Christ in these verses?  Can you find the specific guidance in the Word that will free you from whatever is keeping you from the kind of freedom Jesus is talking about?  If He sets you free, you are free indeed.  To be free you must know the truth.  To know the truth, you must be a disciple of Christ.