31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father–even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” —John 8:31-47
Introduction: As we prepare our hearts and schedules for Missions Conference here at CBC this upcoming weekend it is fitting that our attention is brought to Jesus’ message of freedom in John 8. We live in a world that has been overtaken by misinformation that has been spread for centuries. Our world longs for clarity of truth and purpose. In order to reach a waiting world, we as true disciples, must root ourselves in the Author of Truth so that we proclaim truth of the gospel.
Relativism - assumption that there is no such thing as
Subjectivism - I, the subject, have the right to determine what is right and wrong without submitting my judgment to any
Jesus offers
1. Jesus offers
freedom (v.31-38)
- a. True disciples follow the instruction of their teacher (v.31)
What you
- b. Jesus liberates His disciples from spiritual ignorance (v.32)
- c. Self-deception is common in the human heart (v.33)
2. Jesus offers freedom from baggage and
(v.31-38)
a. Jesus is full of grace and truth (John 1:14)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14
b. Sin is habit forming (v.34)
- c. Jesus has the power to free us from the slavery of sin. (v.36)
3. Jesus offers freedom from the
(v.39-46)
- a. They were blind to the authority of the true messiah (v.39-41)
Freedom is not found in having
- b. Sinful human nature does as the devil does (v.44)
Satan offers lies, which are ideas that are
- c. Liars not only speak untruth but also reject the truth (v.44-45)
The most effective lies are the ones we
4.
(v.47)
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
What you believe determines how you behave. How have false beliefs affected you? How are you growing in discerning truth?
John 1:14 said Jesus came full of grace and truth. Truth without grace can lead to legalism. Grace without truth can lead to an “anything goes” mindset. Do you lean more towards legalism or “anything goes”? How can you experience the fullness of His grace and truth at the same time?
Spend time praying for God to work in your hearts over the missions conference next weekend and that He would give you wisdom in how you can encourage and support our missionaries.