John 8:32-34 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the slave of sin.

We notice a double misunderstanding in these verses.
1. What does Jesus mean by the word "free"?

The Jewish leaders seem to think its a physical meaning of freedom from slavery as practiced in their society.
But Jesus is speaking of spiritual slavery -- slavery to sin. He's referring to freedom from sin.

As Paul understood it: Romans 6:16 Do you not know, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are, whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
In Prov. 5:22The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin
Jesus is speaking of their great need to allow the Holy Spirit to clean out sin in their lives.

Under the influence of the Spirit of God, people are not forced, each person is left free to choose whom they will serve. In the change that takes place in their lives when they surrender to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. It's true, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we come to Jesus with the desire to be set free from sin, recognizing our need; God gives us power out of and above ourselves, in fulfilling the will of God.

2. The second misunderstanding concerns being "the seed of Abraham".

The Jews seemed to believe that it's just genetic connection, biological inclusion. Yet Jesus is saying those enslaved to sin are no better off than the Gentiles, even though their lineage connects them to Abraham. True "children" are measured by their similar character and relationship to their Father.
As Paul points out:
Gal. 3:26-29 For we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
8:35 And the servant abides not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abides ever.
8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

A servant (or slave) is not a free person. They are required to render certain services, but they are not engaged whole heartedly.
Many think they are free when they reject Christ's ways and embark on worldly pursuits, only to find the sin binds them in cords that are not only hard to break but underneath their initial "glitter" and "thrills" sins are destructive.

When a person (still in servant mode) and still bond in the cords of sin joins the church, they can move in two directions.
1. Continue to allow the cords of sin to bind them while they go through the motions of serving God. That type of servant does not abide in the house forever, sooner or later they are out.

2. Find blessed forgiveness, cleansing and acceptance in Christ, and grow and mature as true children of God. (Sons and daughters of God) they will abide in the house of the Lord, forever.

Fence sitting is really not an option.
"Matt. 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and the materialistic world.

Jesus use of the word, "verily" or "surely", twice, emphasizes the truth of the statement.
"Surely, surely, I say to you, Everyone who continues in sin is the slave of sin."
Sin is a determined and harsh slave driver!
The problem is, we cannot free ourselves . But when Jesus sets us free, He frees us from the power of those sins, and in Him we advance in our Christian growth to become more and more like Jesus.

Romans 8:13-14 For if you live after the flesh (serving sin), you shall die:
but if you, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Philippeans 2:15 That ye may be blameless (forgiven and cleansed) and harmless (walking in the paths of righteousness with Christ) , the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Freedom
In these last verses we have studied above, the concept of freedom is stressed over and over.
Jesus wants us to realize, that without Him we are NOT free. No matter how much the carnal nature thinks they can find freedom by throwing the seeming restrictions of God's commandments away and following their own inclinations and desires, they will never find freedom, they will only plunge into greater and more destressing bondage!

Sin is the cruel master, but there is another arm of the tyrant that keeps people in cruel bondage, keeping them away from Jesus Who offers true freedom.

The bondage of fear:
John 7:13 No man spake openly of him (of Jesus) for fear of the Jews (the Jewish leadership).

Fear is a powerful motivator. Nothing makes us more uncomfortable than fear. It can make people do things that they would never do if they were calm and relaxed. Fear is the tool used to control people. It can control not just individuals, it can control the masses. Fear makes people manipulatable.
As one psychologist wrote: ""The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed - and hence clamorous to be led to safety."

We can see this in the chapter we've been studying. Jesus comes to Jerusalem and the tension is obvious, people are in FEAR! What is their fear? It's not rational fear, it's fear induced by the leadership.
See Nicodemus simply raising a point in the law that temporarily protects Jesus, how the leadership immediately speak in ridicule and condemnation of him. They use tactics to generate fear to control people, to keep them from speaking rationally, and keep them suppressed and under control.

The common people are wondering if Jesus is the Messiah, but due to the fear they repeat the arguments against Him to excuse their hesitancy. Some do break through the fear, and believe, and Jesus encourages them to continue in their believe and truly continue to be His disciples. Jesus knows the element of fear will be intensified in an effort to keep the masses from accepting Him. He encourages them to hold fast to their newly awakened faith.

The sad fact is that most people will let fear shape their choices. It's a natural reaction in pursuit of survival. Yet, Jesus keeps telling us -- no! Recognize your fear for what it is, don't just react to it. Look beyond, look to Him! He is life, He offers true everlasting survival, peace, and happiness, it is only in Him.
Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me.

He alone can set people free from their fears and from the tyranny of sin.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:37-41 I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.
8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father.
8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
8:40 But now you seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
8:41 You do the deeds of your father. .

The big question here --
Who is actually your Father?

What is the DNA test that proves who is your real father.

Jesus is basing it on character. Children inherit their nature from their fathers. So, those who are true children of Abraham should exhibit Abraham's character of faith and obedience. Abraham obeyed God and responded to His message.
But these men were plotting to kill Jesus. They could not, or refused to see the message and life of Jesus as coming from the God of heaven. It was Satan who has rebelled against Christ and sought to destroy Christ's influence. In the same way these men plotting to kill Jesus were listening to "their father" who wanted Jesus quenched.
Jesus points out that their actions reflect their father?and neither God nor Abraham are associated with lies and murder.

When people maintain the selfish, mean and sinful spirit of the world, God counts them as the children of this world, not as His sons and daughters.

In like manner the Lord encourages His followers to show His character shining through them. They are to stand distinct from the world in their manner of dealing with fairness and understanding. Their words are honest and pure, and their whole demeanor reflects characteristics that they have been in communion with God.

"The world will see the difference, they will see that the truth, which they conscientiously believe, makes them honest in their dealings; that those with whom they are connected may see that believers of truth are sanctified through the truth, and that the truth received and obeyed makes the receivers as sons and daughters of God, children of the heavenly King, members of the royal family, faithful, true, honest, and upright, in the small as well as the great acts of life. . . ". {CTr 352.4}

By their fruits you shall know who their father is!


Matt. 7:20-21 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

John 8:41-42 Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

The Jews were basing their spiritual assurance on the fact that they were descendents, biologically, of Abraham. Thus they seemed sure they would inherit the promises made to Abraham.
They even try to insinuate that Jesus was outside this special group (the chosen race) by their comment that He was born of fornication. Insinuating that Jesus didn't even know who His father was.

But Jesus doesn't let them side track Him. He tells them plainly that He proceeded forth, and came from God Whom they claimed was their Father. If God was really their Father, they would have recognized Him and loved Him.

The criteria still stands today --
Those who are God's children, love Jesus.
God's children recognize Jesus as the Messiah, Immanuel, God with us.
They are motivated by Christ's love, and desire to be like Him.


John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me:

Romans 10:12-13, Paul writes, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (ESV).