FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, PART 1 (29 OF 75)
by Mike Stone
Scripture: John 8:31-59
This content is part of a series.
Free at Last, Free at Last, Part 1 (29 of 75)
Series: The Gospel of John
Mike Stone
John 8:31-59
In this text Jesus continues a caustic encounter with the religious leaders. Having revealed Himself as the Light of the World, the Jews continue to reject Him and His message. Although a few seem to believe in verse 30, most obviously do not.
And some who gave initial appearance of belief were the first to fall away, evidencing their belief was in the head but never in the heart.
To get the full impact of this scene, consider the following example:
At the invitation, 75 people come forward, presumably to be saved. Rather than presenting them as new believers and announcing their conversion, I begin an on-the-spot interrogation:
Are you planning to turn from your sin? To give ALL?
Do you plan to be faithful to this church?
Is it your intention to get a job here and serve the Lord?
Are you...yes you...going home and edit your FB page?
As you sit under sound teaching of God's Word, are you willing to change EVERY ONE of your personal, social, political, and theological beliefs that don't line up with the Word of God?
In a similar way, Jesus doesn't just embrace this crowd. He raises His voice and lowers the boom about what true freedom really involves. We will take several weeks to dissect this one sub-section of John 8.
1. This freedom is a matter of spiritual liberty (31-36)
Verse 36 - He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
The word ''indeed'' is also rendered, ''truly, really, unquestionably.''
The mere inclusion of being ''free INDEED'' implies there is a type of freedom that is NOT free INDEED...Like a slave who is free to move about the master's manor so long as he doesn't pass the threshold, there is a type of freedom that isn't freedom at all. It's so limited in its scope and duration that it doesn't even deserve the label of ''freedom'' from those who are truly free.
German philosopher - ''None are more hopeles ...
Series: The Gospel of John
Mike Stone
John 8:31-59
In this text Jesus continues a caustic encounter with the religious leaders. Having revealed Himself as the Light of the World, the Jews continue to reject Him and His message. Although a few seem to believe in verse 30, most obviously do not.
And some who gave initial appearance of belief were the first to fall away, evidencing their belief was in the head but never in the heart.
To get the full impact of this scene, consider the following example:
At the invitation, 75 people come forward, presumably to be saved. Rather than presenting them as new believers and announcing their conversion, I begin an on-the-spot interrogation:
Are you planning to turn from your sin? To give ALL?
Do you plan to be faithful to this church?
Is it your intention to get a job here and serve the Lord?
Are you...yes you...going home and edit your FB page?
As you sit under sound teaching of God's Word, are you willing to change EVERY ONE of your personal, social, political, and theological beliefs that don't line up with the Word of God?
In a similar way, Jesus doesn't just embrace this crowd. He raises His voice and lowers the boom about what true freedom really involves. We will take several weeks to dissect this one sub-section of John 8.
1. This freedom is a matter of spiritual liberty (31-36)
Verse 36 - He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
The word ''indeed'' is also rendered, ''truly, really, unquestionably.''
The mere inclusion of being ''free INDEED'' implies there is a type of freedom that is NOT free INDEED...Like a slave who is free to move about the master's manor so long as he doesn't pass the threshold, there is a type of freedom that isn't freedom at all. It's so limited in its scope and duration that it doesn't even deserve the label of ''freedom'' from those who are truly free.
German philosopher - ''None are more hopeles ...
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