The Truth and Freedom

John 8:31-32, NIV

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."


Human beings aspire to freedom. Today, people are searching for freedom. Where can we find true freedom? Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."


1. What is the truth? (Jn 8:31-32)

Pilate questioned Jesus, asking Him, "What is the truth?" The truth that Jesus meant was the truth of eternal life, and the truth of God. People in the world are deceived by what is not true, indifferent to the real truth, and live in despair. The truth is the fact that God exists and that Jesus came as the Savior of humankind. Only Jesus is the eternal truth of God that reveals the will of God (Jn 1:14; 14:6). We can realize the truth through Jesus. Knowing Jesus does not mean only having knowledge of Christianity. It means to know the Lord wholly through experience, knowledge, emotion, and will. When we understand the truth of Jesus, our destiny will be changed. A fundamental change comes into our life, and despair, sorrow, and the curse turns into blessing. Jesus is with us until the end of the world (Mt 28:20). Therefore, I hope that you love Jesus, become His true disciples, fully obey the Lord (Mt 16:24), and enjoy true freedom in the truth.


2. True freedom

Human beings reject bondage and desire freedom. Sometimes people try to escape from the routine of their everyday lives. However, they are not able to have full freedom, absolute freedom by themselves. When they live on their own, ignoring orders, they face vanity, despair, and destruction. Freedom means freedom from the bondage of slavery to sin and death. We can enjoy true freedom, only through a direct and personal relationship with Jesus, the Word of truth. Those who commit sin are slaves to sin (Jn 8:34). Sin causes us to break the Law, the standard of life that God commanded (Ro 3:23). No one is perfectly righteous before the Law (Ro 3:20). Under the Law, human beings are in absolute despair, unable to avoid death, which is the wage of sin. By becoming slaves to the devil, many people are jealous, critical, judgmental, and liars, but they do not feel guilty. The Lord tells those people to gain freedom through Jesus’ achievement on the Cross. We can solve the problem of sin through the true life of Jesus who works in us, and restore a good conscience of faith before God. We can have freedom of the spirit from fear and guilt, enjoy true peace that comes from the confidence of forgiveness, and have freedom from the curse (Gal 5:1).


True freedom is freedom from sin and death and from the curse and the Law. This freedom comes from overcoming fear, anxiety, hatred, and jealousy, and restores love. Jesus is the real truth. There is true freedom in Jesus. May you meet Jesus personally, fully obey the Lord, and enjoy true freedom.