John 8:31
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Truth is such an important aspect of our relationship with God. It can be found at the very basis of everything we profess to place our faith upon. The most important contrast in Scripture may possibly be the distinctions made between truth and fallacy… God and Satan. Christ Himself claims to be “the truth” (John 14:6) while Satan is labeled the “father of lies” (John 8:44). It is with this in mind that John 8:31 becomes such an important verse.
We were all born into this world under the slavery of sin. It was only after accepting Christ as our Savior that we were delivered from this spirit of slavery (Galatians 5:1). Romans 8:15 explains that once we accepted Christ as our Savior we were adopted as sons and daughters of God, free from the spirit of slavery. I liken this to a child enslaved to a wicked father. He or she is abused and forced to live under the “rules” of that household. One day a righteous father is able to adopt this abused child. Once he or she is adopted, the previous master no longer has any authority to abuse or dictate the child’s precious life. In the same manner, we who are children of God have been delivered from the bondage of slavery we were once born into. John 8:35, 36 says, “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Regrettably though, many Christians have failed to grasp this important truth.
We do not grasp this truth because we do not look for it. This is why verses 31 and 32 are so important. We must daily “continue in His word.” It is only through the daily study of Scriptures and time in prayer that we will come to know the truth. If we will do this, Jesus promises that the “truth will make us free.”
How close to the truth are you living on a daily basis? The problem that continues to plague most Christians after being adopted into the family of God is that they ignorantly take orders from Satan. When will we wake up and realize that he no longer can tell us to “take out his trash” or “clean up his dishes” or “wash his clothes”. Once God the Father adopts us, the truth of the matter is, we are free from the slavery of sin. Why then, do we continue to listen to the lies of our former master as he insists that we must still live in slavery to him?
The more time you spend in the truth, the fainter the father of lies voice will become.