| The Christian Life | March 1941 |
The Truth Shall Make You Free
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, find the truth shall make you free.”—John 8:31,32
IT IS apparent from the words of our text that it is possible to believe on Jesus and yet not to continue in that belief. It is also made plain that only those who continue in their obedient belief are considered by the Master as being His true disciples. It is to these true disciples, who not only believe on Jesus but who continue steadfast in the faith, that the promise is made, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Many make the mistake of failing to continue in the Lord’s Word. Instead of this, they are prone to delve into various human philosophies which ignore or pervert the Word of the Lord and, instead, set up opposing theories. Jesus did not promise that those who seek for truth from other sources than the divine Word, would ever find it. And they never do. Divine truth is not found except in the divinely appointed channels; and those channels are the Lord and the apostles and prophets. To continue in the doctrines set forth in their inspired writings, to study and meditate upon them, to trust implicitly in them, and faithfully to conform our lives and characters to them is what is implied in continuing in the Word of the Lord.
If we thus continue in the Word of the Lord, as earnest and sincere disciples, we shall, indeed “know the truth.” We will not be among those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (II Tim. 3:7) Not only so, but the promise also is that such faithful ones will be, “rooted and grounded in the truth.” Another promise is that they shall be “established in the present truth.” (II Pet. 1:12) Yes, by divine help, those who continue in the Word are made “firm in the faith,” and able “to give a reason for the hope” that is in them. Indeed, such are glad to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.” They “witness a good confession.” They are firm to “endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.” By divine grace, these continue in this way of faithfulness, even to the end of the way.
None can hope to come into a full knowledge of the truth at a single bound; but gradually, step by step, the Lord leads the humble, obedient disciple into more and more of the light of His Word. Every step will be one of sure and certain progress, and each one leading to a higher vantage ground for further attainments, both in knowledge and its blessed fruits of established character. The truth thus acquired becomes a sanctifying power, bringing forth in our lives its blessed fruits of righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit, love, meekness, faith, patience, and every virtue and every grace, which time and cultivation will ripen to a glorious maturity.
THE TRUTH MAKES FREE
Those who continue faithfully in the Word and thereby become disciples indeed, who know the truth, are promised that the truth shall make them free. In the context the Master indicates that the freedom to which He refers is that of being liberated from the great taskmaster, sin. Through Adam the entire world became slaves of sin. To a still further degree the Jewish nation, to whom Jesus is here speaking, were brought under the bondage or condemnation of sin, through the Law. Not that the Law itself was sinful or imperfect, because it was not. The Law was given by God and therefore said by the apostle to be “spiritual.” It was because of the imperfections of the Israelites which made it impossible for them to obey the Law that sin was emphasized as the master that was dominating their lives, making them slaves and dragging them down to death.
The truth that centers in Jesus makes free from sin, in that it points out the provision of divine love, whereby the merit of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice covers our unwilling imperfections and gives us the assurance of acceptability with God. Those who through belief of and obedience to the truth become bondslaves of Jesus Christ, are no longer the servants of sin. These are not free to follow the depraved desires of their fallen flesh, but they are free to do the will of God, as it is expressed through the Word. Those who live after the flesh, shall die; that is, they pay the wages of sin. It cannot be said of such that they are free. Those on the other hand, who, through obedient belief, become the Master’s disciples indeed, are made free from the law of sin and death. No longer are these under condemnation. They are free. They are free to serve the Lord, and in their service have the assurance of divine approval.
Sin manifests itself in many ways. Among these manifestations are ignorance, superstition, fear, etc. Those who have received the truth, know by blessed experience something of its liberating power. As soon as any measure of it is received into a good and honest heart, it begins to strike off the fetters of sin, of ignorance, superstition, and fear. It throws its health-restoring beams into the darkest recesses of our hearts and minds, and thus invigorates the whole being.
Sin cannot endure the light of the truth, and those who continue to live in sin when a sufficiency of light has been received to manifest its deformity, must inevitably lose the light because they are unworthy of it. Darkness hateth the light, and those who prefer the darkness, after having had a glimpse of the light, give evidence that they would rather continue being servants of sin than of Jesus Christ, the light and life giver. Ignorance and superstition must vanish before the light of truth, and what a blessed realization it is to be thus liberated. Millions are still under this galling yoke.
One form of superstition is that which is found in misguided loyalty to human authority in matters pertaining to the Christian life. Under this particular delusion many are led to fear and reverence some of the basic tools of Satan for their oppression and degradation. Through the light of divine truth men are led to see that all such misguided servants of Satan have no real basis for their claim of divine appointment. Realizing this, one who believes the truth is set free. Through bondage to self-constituted human leadership, men have been made to fear God as a vengeful tyrant, consigning the vast majority of His creatures either to an eternity of torture, or to some other dire punishment. Thank God, we who have received the truth have escaped that terrible nightmare, hence this particular bondage of sin and Satan over us is broken.
MADE FREE FROM FEAR
Jesus said prophetically of the present time that men’s hearts would fail them for fear as they look forward to the things coming upon the earth. Men see the collapse of what they have called civilization, including the downfall of Churchianity. Not knowing that God’s time has come for the establishment of a new world order, in which the true and pure message of truth will constitute the moral standards of the people, it is but natural that their hearts should be filled with fear, as they frantically watch the gradual breaking down of the best that man has been able to produce.
But we are made free from this fear of what men see coming upon the world. While we, too, see that the great civil and ecclesiastical systems that have so long ruled the world are being terribly shaken, yet we know from the prophecies that this has been foreknown of God, and that out of the chaos which is now developing will come the establishment of the divine Kingdom through which God’s will is to be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven. The truth has revealed this to us, hence, it has made us free from the fear that grips the hearts of others uninformed.
Because the truth has made us free from the fear that now grips mankind, we can actually rejoice as we contemplate what the glorious outcome of present world distress will be. The Psalmist declares, “We will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea: though the waters thereof roar and be troubled.” Continuing, the prophet explains why it is that we do not fear. He declares, “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.” (Psa. 46:1-4) The streams of the river seem clearly to represent the glorious truths, the promises of God which are such a satisfying portion to those who continue in them. These truths reveal the meaning of what is causing the world to fear, and because we know the meaning, our hearts are made glad.
THE BONDAGE OF FEAR
One of the most subtle forms of bondage is that of being enslaved by our own fears. The only effective antidote for this sort of bondage is the Word of God itself. To the extent that we can, by faith, lay hold upon the promises of God and be guided by the instructions of the Holy Spirit, we will be made free from our own fears. We may be fearful of our weaknesses; that is to say, fearful lest our imperfections will hinder us from rendering acceptable service to God. Such fear hath torment. It keeps us ever wondering whether or not we are actually pleasing to the Lord. This fear is expressed in the lines of the poet:
“’Tis a point I long to know
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord or no,
Am I His, or am I not?”
If we know the truth, we will be acquainted with the Lord’s assurances that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We will know that our imperfections are covered by the robe of Christ’s righteousness. We will know that greater is He that is for us, than all who be against us. We will know that divine grace and strength will help us in every time of need.
The Apostle tells us that the fear of man bringeth a snare. This means that if we strive to please men, or human institutions rather than God, we will be brought into bondage. That is, we will become the servants of men, rather than the servants of God. God wants us to co-operate with each other in His service, but He does not want us to become the slaves of man-made authority. If our affections are divided between allegiance to God and allegiance to man, this constitutes a very serious bondage. It means that we serve neither God nor man acceptably, yet have no freedom of action for ourselves.
The freedom of the truth, however, does not mean license to do as we please. We are free to do that which is pleasing to the Lord, and only that. The commands and instructions of the truth are so all-comprehensive that they will guide us in our every thought and word and deed, if we permit them to do so. The truth outlines our home duties and privileges. It tells us what we may and may not do in the church. It outlines the proper course of procedure in dealing with those who bring heresies among the people of God. There is no phase of the Christian life that is not brought under control of the truth, if we continue in that truth, learning and applying more and more of it as the days go by.
Dearly beloved, do we fully appreciate the freedom that is ours in the truth, the liberty wherewith Christ makes free? Having received this favor from the Lord, shall we not continue in it, giving no heed to seducing doctrines? Let us be faithful to it under all circumstances, defending it against every assault, and gladly bearing its reproach. Let us prove our appreciation of the truth by our loyalty and faithfulness to it. Today whole nations are fighting for their liberty. Shall we not as good soldiers of Jesus Christ continue faithfully to fight the good fight of faith and thus remain free to enjoy the wonderful liberty of the truth?