“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.”
John 8:31-32
Truth Leads To Spiritual Freedom
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Galatians 5:1). This is Paul’s declaration that the very purpose of Jesus’ sacrificial death was to set us spiritually free. This is freedom from condemnation. It is freedom to live without fear of death. It is freedom to love and serve others knowing that we are forgiven and eternally secure. And this freedom is found as we put on the belt of truth.
Today’s passage is a reminder that spiritual freedom comes as we allow the Word of God to flow from within us. The more we immerse ourselves in the truth of scripture, the more we experience this spiritual freedom. Jesus said, “If we continue in His word…” then we would know the truth. The word “continue” means “to remain.” It is a continual action. When we spend time in the living and active Word of God, we discover truth. We need to remember that truth is not just a set of factual statements or propositions rather truth is found in the Person of Jesus and we are to live in relationship with Him. Those who make the study of scripture a priority will have a greater understanding of spiritual truth and it will translate into their walk with Jesus and their attitudes toward others.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He declares that the truth itself will make us free. This is commonly translated “set you free” but I believe the better rendering is “make you free.” To set someone or something free brings to mind the image of releasing someone or something. It would be like taking a caged bird outside and then opening our hands only to watch the bird fly away into the sky above. But Jesus is not describing a one time event of being set free rather He is referring to a continual action. Making us free is a repetitive action; one that we can experience every day. So the maturing believer in Jesus is not living in a more and more restrictive spiritual environment rather the maturing believer should be experiencing new levels of spiritual freedom as they walk with Christ.
We see the same message preached by Paul:
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him (Jesus) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
Acts 13:38-39
In Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness of sins. God doesn’t forgive the way fallen mankind often does. God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness are eternal and they never run out. I believe that this is what Jesus was teaching Peter when he instructed him to forgive seventy times seven. The idea was that Peter was to forgive others their transgressions as often as was necessary. Our sinful nature rejects this notion because we tend to label others as being “beyond” forgiveness. But the truth is that God is willing to forgive all of our sins past, present, and future through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This forgiveness is for everyone who believes.
Knowing that we are forgiven and that our sins will never bring condemnation (John 3:18, Romans 8:1) is a major attribute of putting on the belt of truth. This saving knowledge frees us “from all things.” Paul contrasts this spiritual security and freedom with that of trying to follow the Law of Moses as a means of being justified. Everyone who believes (trusts in the finished work of Christ on the cross) is freed from all things, “from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”
Tragically, for many believers, they understand that salvation is not by works of the Law but only by faith in Jesus (Galatians 2:16). So they place their trust in Christ but then gradually (and perhaps unintentionally) move themselves back under the Law once again. This is all too common among religious people. They will say that they are depending on Jesus for salvation but will then move into a form of moralism as a means of either obtaining or keeping their salvation. Paul reminds us that this type of religious doctrine will not produce spiritual freedom. And how can it? None of us, even after we have been converted, will go on to live a perfect life. We will all fail and it is how we respond to that failure that will determine whether we live in spiritual freedom or not.
As we conclude, let’s consider the importance that the belt of truth plays in “standing firm against the schemes of the enemy.” The enemy desires to rob us of our spiritual peace and security. He will take our failures and shortcomings and attempt to convince us that those things are what define us. He will often throw flaming arrows of doubt, fear, and unending shame as a means of bringing us into a state of despair. If we are not standing firm in the truth that we are sons and daughters of the King by faith and that we are fellow heirs to His kingdom by faith, then we position ourselves to be spiritually defeated. The truth that our right standing with God is by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and that our eternal standing is secure will allow us to live in spiritual victory.
Putting on the belt of truth means:
- Recognizing The Enemy
- Knowing That Truth Is A Person
- Experiencing Spiritual Freedom
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
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