This week we have celebrated our nation’s birthday once again.  It is another birthday curtailed because we again find our young men and women in combat zones of other nations and that seems to be a prevalent part of our history.  We justify this as defending freedom and freedom is what the United States has been built upon and many lives have been sacrificed for this cause.

I watched part of the John Adam’s series on television this holiday, and I have read David McGregor’s book, on which the series was based, at least three times.  It is one of my favorite secular books. One of the most remarkable features is that both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would die on the 4^th of July, 1826, the 50^th birthday of our nation.  John Adam’s last words were “Mr. Jefferson survives.” Thomas Jefferson had died earlier in that day. These men were two of our founding fathers who stressed and dedicated their lives for the liberty of our nation.  Freedom; was more than a word to them.

As important as being a free nation and a free people it is much more important to be free in Christ. The freedom that comes in Christ is beyond any freedom that a nation or government can provide.  The freedom in Christ, frees us from sin, from Satan, from the law, and from the fear of death.  It provides hope and light even in the darkest of days. 

John 8: 31-36

Notice in our reading that Jesus is addressing those who believe.  There were some who believed but were not free.  They were not free because they had not committed themselves to the Lord.  It is one thing to say I believe but it is another to commit yourself to your belief.  

Jesus describes the two different believers as disciples and disciples indeed.  This morning we ask the question are you a disciple indeed or are you just a believer.  It is the true disciple that is free.  It is the true disciple that abides in the word of God, learns the truth, and the truth makes him free.  Are you truly free this morning?

Let us closely examine these six very beautiful and powerful verses.  We are going to examine the Progress of Freedom; the Pretense of Freedom, and the Promise of Freedom.

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.’ And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

I.                    The Progress of Freedom (31-32)

a.     Jesus was addressing those who believed but were not committed.

b.     1^st Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

c.     There are things that just do not make sense until you are fully committed to the Lord and His word.

d.     We abide in Christ when we place ourselves in him and continue there, drawing life from His words.

e.     To know the truth is to know Jesus.

f.        Titus 1:1-2 “…and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…”

g.     Truth has always existed. 

h.     The truth here is that there is eternal life, which was the oldest promise of all time.

i.         John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

j.         The progress of freedom can be measured in how much you abide in God’s word.

k.      If you want to be free from sin, free from Satan, free from the law, and free from the fear of death then become a disciple indeed.

l.         A disciple was a follower or learner of another.  There were some who claim to be followers but they have never committed and are not indeed disciples.

m.   Are you committed to the Lord?  Do you truly abide in His word?  Are you free?

“They answered Him, ‘we are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone.  How can you say, You shall be made free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.’”

II.                  The Pretense of Freedom (33-34)

a.     Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

b.     Did you do that? Did you obey from the heart?  Did you totally commit to the Lord?

c.     Not everyone who attends church or claims to be a Christian is such.

d.     Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My father in heaven.”

e.     Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?

f.        Those who are not pretending but are committed are in God’s word on a daily basis.  They are learning the truth of Christ and that truth is making them free.

g.     Are you a pretender or are you free?  Are you a disciple or a disciple indeed?

“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

III.                The Promise of Freedom (35-36)

a.     Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

b.     Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

c.     Are you indeed free this morning?  Do you know the truth that makes you free?  Are you abiding in His word?

d.     If you are then you truly are free and the promise you have is an eternal promise beyond description or measure.  If you truly are free then you should rejoice in the Lord this very day. 

e.     “Rejoice in the Lord, always”  John Adams

“You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

To be free in Christ is not equaled anywhere else.  The Liberty that is in Him is an eternal freedom.  We obtain this freedom by accepting Him and knowing Him.  This freedom is not an acquiring of intellectual knowledge but the development of a vital relationship with Jesus Christ.  You shall know the truth, you shall abide in the truth, you shall be committed to Him and then you will be truly free.