Free Indeed

Gospel of John Series #21—Do You Know My Jesus?

I.                    Introduction:  In the beginning of John 8, Jesus was teaching in the temple.  He was interrupted when the Scribes and Pharisees entered, bringing with them a woman found in the sin of adultery.   Seeking to trap Jesus in His words they said, “Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” (John 8:5)  Jesus answer is found in John 8:7 “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”  One by one they left, each being convicted of their own sin.  When only one sinner, the woman, remained, Jesus asked her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned thee?”  She said, “No man, Lord.”  Jesus in offer of forgiveness responded, “Neither do I condemn thee,” and by His instruction He showed He did not approve of her sin.  He said, “Go and sin no more.”  Jesus offers the same forgiveness and instruction to us today.  Once we turn to Him as Savior, we are instructed to “Go and sin no more.”  A true believer is a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away, all things are become new.  The Holy Spirit that lives inside the believer, convicts us of sin and causes us to not want to sin any more.

Once Jesus finished instructing the adulterous woman, it seems Jesus used the circumstance to launch into His further teaching.  In verse 12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  He that followeth me (that is, he that is a true disciple of mine) will not walk in darkness (That is, will not continue to live a life of sin) but shall have the light of life, (that is shall have and live righteously according to the light given when one receives eternal life).

II.                 Proposition:  Understand today that Jesus is who He said He is.  He is the light of the world and He can free one from living a life in bondage to sin.  STAND AND PRAY.

III.             Transition:  Let’s now read how those of the established Jewish religion challenged Jesus and how Jesus answered their challenge, verifying that He is the light of the world that can free one from the bondage of sin.

IV.             Body:  Read John 8:12-18.  Jesus stated in verse 12, “I am the light of the world.”  The Pharisees challenged Him—you are saying this about yourself, but what you are saying is not true.  Jesus (V. 14) defended His record of Himself.  He said, “I know where I came from and I know where I am going.” And you Pharisees don’t know these things, you are only using your physical earthly judgment.  Jesus then said, “I judge no man” but if I judged my judgment would be true because I do not judge by myself but with my heavenly Father that sent me.  He reminds the Pharisees that Old Testament law states that the testimony of two men is true and both Jesus and the Father who sent Him, bear witness of Jesus.

Read John 8:19-20.  Here we see the Pharisees second question and challenge to Jesus.  “Where is your father?”  Jesus answered the Pharisees—you don’t know me or my Father.  If you knew me, you would also have known my Father.  Despite this pointed rebuke of the Pharisees, no one took Jesus to be tried or condemned because it was not yet God’s appointed time for this.  Verse 20 says, “No man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.”  We must remember that God has His plan.  Concerning salvation, God’s plan and timing are clear, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.”  (II Cor. 6:2)

Read John 8:21-24.  Jesus again spoke to the Pharisees.  He told them the He was going to go His way, and the time would come when they would seek Him, but they would die in their sins, and not be able to go where He was going.  But the Jews missed the whole point, and questioned, “Will he kill himself?”  Their question shows how Satan blinds the minds of men.  Let me repeat what Jesus said in verse 21 and see if you understand what Jesus was saying.  “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins, whither I go, ye cannot come.”  In verses 23-24 Jesus explains what He meant.  The first point He made is that He and they are from different worlds.  They are from beneath, that is from this world, and Jesus is from above, heaven, not of this world.  This is the basis for their lack of understanding and the unbelievers’ lack of understanding of spiritual matters today.  Then Jesus restated His original point.  That is why I said you are going to die in your sins.  If you don’t believe me now, that I am who I said I am, the light of the world, and you don’t follow me there will come a time when you will seek me, but it will be too late, and you will die in your sins, and not be able to go where I go, that is, to heaven.

Read John 8:25-29.  It seems at this point some of the Jews became more serious minded about what Jesus was saying.  They asked Him, “Who art thou?” This is a good question everyone in this room and everyone in the world should be asking concerning Jesus—“Who art thou?”  This question brings us back to the beginning of Jesus teaching session in John 8:12.  “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  In verses 26-27 Jesus said He had many things to say, but they did not understand that Jesus was speaking what He heard from the One who sent Him, His heavenly Father.  In verses 28-29 Jesus explained there would come a time when they would know who Jesus was, and that He was from the Father.  That time would be when Jesus, the Son of man would be lifted up on the cross. In John 8:30 we find the people’s response to Jesus teaching.  Read John 8:30 “As he spake these words, many believed on him.”  They believed the truths Jesus taught and they put their trust in Him.  Jesus instructed these new believers in John 8:31-32, “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, and the truth shall make you free.”  Proof of being “a disciple indeed”, a true believer, is this; a true believer will continue in obedience to God’s Word, and will know the truth and Jesus, the truth will free that one from the power of sin in this life, and from the penalty of sin after death.  Do you know the truth?  In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Jesus is the truth.  Do you know Him?  Has He made you free from your sin and its penalty?

Maybe you are saying, I have always believed in Jesus, or I have my own beliefs.  How can you say to me I will be made free?  This sounds like what some of the Jews said to Jesus.  Let’s read the Jews conversation with Jesus in John 8:33-36.  Read.  “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

In verse 33 we see they tried to put their hope in their old religion.  They claimed they were not in bondage and they did not need to be made free.  Note this.  No one can receive help until they admit they have a problem.  Though they denied having a need, Jesus pointed them to clear fact and truth in verse 34, “Truly, truly, whosever commits sin is the servant of sin.”  A servant does not remain in his master’s household forever.  Only a son remains and becomes heir to the father’s inheritance.  The fact is we all commit sin, we are all the servants of sin, and as servants we have no inheritance from our Father in heaven.  To receive inheritance from the Father, everlasting life, we must face the terrible reality of our own sinfulness and turn to Jesus, the Savior, who alone can rescue us. He is the light of the world, and He can free one from sin’s bondage.  John 8:36 states “If the Son therefore shall make you free; ye shall be free indeed.”

V.                 Conclusion:  You may have been taught about and believed in Jesus all of your life, and even prayed one or many prayers to be saved, but you may still be in the same group as those who never did any of these things.  The proof of true belief is in your life.  Since the time you asked Christ to save you has it changed your life?  Do you show evidence of being “a disciple indeed”?  John 8:31-32 “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Do you know my Jesus?  Has God spoken to your heart today?  Is He speaking to you NOW? 

Hymn 224—Why Not Now?

Hymn 244—Just as I am Without One Plea.