Two Types of Freedom – John 8:36
“Two Types of Freedom”
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed. ” – John 8:36 John 8:36
There are two aspects to this total discourse (John 8:31-
38). Jesus was answering the claim by those Jews that they
had never been in bondage because they were Abraham’s seed.
(vs. 33). Many today see themselves as spiritually free, but
they are actually in bondage. Why?
First, they have substituted some religious system for “the
truth” (vs. 32). Jesus has become secondary to their religious
system.
Second, they have substituted some human preacher for
the Word of God (vs. 31). You might hear someone say, “I
follow so and so on television or radio.”
Third, they have substituted their personal evaluation for
the conviction of the Holy Spirit. They have categorized sins
and feel they are not in any bondage to sin because they have
not committed the “worst” sins.
I believe it was G. Campbell Morgan who referred to “the
socially acceptable sins.” A person may believe he is not in
bondage to sin because he has not committed adultery or
murder. However, he does lie, lust, covet, and gossip. (see
James 2:10).
For those Jews, boasting of being Abraham’s seed was
leading to trying to kill Jesus, the Truth, Who stood before
them as their only hope of freedom from the bondage of sin.
Jesus gave them the second main thought, ” … my word hath no
place in you. ” (vs. 37). Now that’s a big problem! Freedom
from sin and freedom from self we desperately need. – G.G.
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread”, February 12, 2023, by author Dr. Guy Goodell, Pastor, Bible Baptist Church, Hudson Falls, NY. With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread.
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