Research suggests that the modern conception of freedom — our most cherished value — is almost purely negative (i.e., freedom *from* constraints). The Truth of Jesus gives (negative) freedom *from* sin and (positive) freedom *to* fulfill our original purpose — right relationship with God. Though our culture often co-opts His words, His is the Truth that truly “will set you free.”
2. I’M FREE!
I'M FREE,
PRAISETHE LORD, I'M FREE
NO LONGER BOUND,
NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME
MY SOUL IS RESTING
IT'S SUCH A BLESSING
PRAISETHE LORD
HALELUJAH, I'M FREE
(eLyrics.net, Milton Brunson)
3. AMERICANS LOVE “FREEDOM”
• Landmark 2008 sociological study (Robert Bellah, CalTech) showed that
“freedom” was Americans’ most cherished value (Keller, 97)
• O say, does that Star-Spangled, banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and
the home of the brave
4. MODERN FREEDOM:
INDEPENDENCE
• Rolling Stones:“I’m free to do what I want any old time”
• Frozen (2013):“It's time to see what I can do.To test the limits and break through. No right, no
wrong, no rules for me. I'm free." (“Let It Go”)
• The World:You’re free to live however you want, as long as you don’t infringe upon someone
else’s freedom (Keller, 97)
• “Most of us in America believe a few simple propositions that seem so clear and self-evident
they scarcely need to be said. Choice is a good thing in life, and the more of it we have, the
happier we are. Authority is inherently suspect; nobody should have the right to tell others
what to think or how to behave” (Alan Ehrenhalt, as quoted in Keller, 97)
• “Let each person do their own thing, and . . . one shouldn’t criticize the others’ values, because
they have a right to live their own life as you do. The [only] sin which is not tolerated is
intolerance” (Charles Taylor as quoted in Keller, 97)
5. MODERN FREEDOM:
IMPOSSIBLE
• Because freedoms conflict (Keller, 101f.)
• Most of us can’t be free to live healthy
and be free to eat whatever we want
• We can’t be free to run a marathon and
be free to never exercise
• We can’t be free to be a good student
and be free to party all the time
• Because freedoms conflict it’s impossible
to live life without any constraints
6. CHOOSEWISELY
• Since freedoms conflict, we have to decide which ones are
more important (Keller, 101f.)
• If you want the freedom to earn/spend money, one likely
needs to constrain one’s freedom by working hours at a job
• If you want the freedom to be a great athlete, one likely
needs to constrain one’s freedom with years of training
• If you want to be a scholar, a musician, an artist… one likely
needs to sacrifice certain freedoms to gain other freedoms
• Freedom is not merely “the absence of constraints but..
choosing the right constraints.” (Keller, 102)
7. EXAMPLE: LOVE
• Perfect example of sacrificing our freedom to gain better freedom: love
(Keller, 101f.)
• To be in a committed relationship/marriage one has to sacrifice one’s
freedom to be with anyone else
• To be a committed parent, one can’t spend one’s time and money
however one wants
• Loving relationships require sacrificing our own freedoms for the sake of
those we love
8. LOVE’S LIBERATING
CONSTRAINTS
• Society: more freedom = more happiness
• Social science research: more strong social relationships = more happiness
• A strong relationship “strengthens the immune system, extends life (more than does
quitting smoking), speeds recovery from surgery, and reduces the risks of depression
and anxiety disorders. . . .We need to interact and intertwine with others; we need the
give and the take; we need to belong” (Jonathan Haidt as quoted in Keller, 106)
• “There is no greater feeling of liberation than to be loved well” (Keller, 107)
• Ironic: we have to give up some freedom to be in a liberating, loving relationship –
where there is a mutual sacrifice of freedom (Keller, 108)
• I contend that this is the kind of freedom Jesus has in mind when He says,“the truth
will set you free” (Jn 8:32b)
9. “THE TRUTH WILL SETYOU FREE”
• This has become a popular motto, a classic cliché
(Borchert, 303)
• The motto of Ottawa University, the University of
Charleston, the University of Portland, Lafayette College,
John Hopkins’ University, and the world-renowned
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is “the truth
will set you free”
• Also engraved in stone at he original headquarters of the
C.I.A.
• We must be careful not to confuse modern conceptions of
“freedom” with what Jesus has in mind
10. JOHN 8:31-36 (NIV)
• 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,“If you hold to
my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
• 33They answered him,“We are Abraham’s descendants and have
never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be
set free?”
• 34 Jesus replied,“Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a
slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family,
but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed.
11. WHO IS JESUSTALKING TO?
• 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,“If you hold to my teaching, you
are really my disciples (Jn 8:31, NIV)
• Likely the same audience Jesus has been teaching in the temple courts since John
7:14f. (Milne, 131)
• “Many” of the Jews who were listening to Him had believed in Him (Jn 8:30;
Michaels, 504)
• But, as we find throughout John (cf. Jn 2:23-25, Jn 6:60f.), those who professed to
believe in Jesus likely had not yet comprehended what it truly means to
believe in Jesus (Carson, 347-48; Morris, 404; Keener, 747; Borchert, 302-03)
12. PROFESSINGVS. PERSEVERING
JOHN 8:31B
• If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciple (Jn 8:31b, NIV)
• It’s one thing to profess belief in Jesus; it’s quite another to practice belief in Jesus.
• Lit: if you remain in my word, truly you are my disciples (AT).To remain in His word is to
hold to Christ teachings (cf. Jn 5:24; 14:23, etc. cf. Jn 8:37, 43, 51, 52, 55; Morris, 404)
• This entails ongoing allegiance (Michaels, 505) and obedience (Jn 14:15, 21, 23, 24; 15:10;
17:6; Kruse, 207)
• If you love me, keep my commands (Jn 14:15, NIV cf. Jn 15:14, etc.)
• True, obedient faith in Christ perseveres (Carson, 348); it lasts to the end.“It is only those
who continue who are genuine disciples” (Morris, 404)
13. FAIRWEATHER FANS
• Isn’t it easy to follow someone/something when it’s easy and things are going well?When do you find
out who your true friends are?
• Jesus feeds the 5,000 (Jn 6:1-13).Then He withdraws from the crowds (Jn 6:14-15).
• Jesus walks on water and joins His disciples in their boat on the lake (Jn 6:16-21).The next day the
crowd find out that Jesus and His disciples had gone to the other side of the lake (Jn 6:22-24)
• 25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him,“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered,“Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I
performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill (Jn 6:25-26, NIV)
• After the Bread of Life discourse where He talks of people eating His flesh and drinking His blood:
“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (Jn 6:66, NIV)
14. THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST
• We find out who are true friends are when times get rough, when situations become costly,
when relationships require sacrifice
• These Jews are saying “We believe you, Jesus! “We believe,We believe!” But, Jesus is saying
that truly believing in Him has a cost (Lk 9:23 cf. Lk. 9:57–62; 14:25–33; Carson, 348) –
sacrifice and obedience.
• 23Then he said to them all:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and
take up their cross daily and follow me. (Lk 9:23, NIV)
• Jesus contrasts “fickle faith” (Carson, 348) that does not last, with true faith that
perseveres to the end (Keener, 747)
• Apple trees (by definition) bear apples; true disciples (by definition) are faithful to the end (cf.
Milne, 132, Beasley-Murray, 133)
15. THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE
• Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:32, NIV)
• This truth is not simply a matter of principles that can be learned in a lecture.
ThisTruth is both the principles and the Person of Christ Himself
(Borchert, 303; Morris, 405)
• The Truth is both intellectual and experiential; it’s not just intellectual
assessment but moral commitment (Carson, 348-49; Beasley-Murray, 133)
• “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me” (Jn 14:6, NIV cf. 1:14; Carson, 349)
• If we persevere in theTruth of Jesus, we will be set free
16. SET FREE FROM WHAT?
• Many of us today don’t even admit that we have a problem from which we
need saving.
• We won’t admit that we have chains from which we need freeing
• Many people believe that they are “good” people and that “good” people go
to heaven (see Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton on “Moralistic
Therapeutic Deism”)
• Hard to tell someone about salvation if they think they don’t need to be
saved or freed
• First step: admitting one has a problem
17. AUDIENCE:
WE DON’T NEEDTO BE SET FREE
• We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we
shall be set free? (Jn 8:33, NIV)
• The Jews had been enslaved by the Egyptians, then the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, the Persians,
the Greeks, the Egyptians (again), the Syrians, and at that very time, the Romans (Michaels, 506;
Borchert, 303; Carson, 349; Morris, 405; Beasley-Murray, 133; Keener, 749)
• They’re probably not talking about political freedom (Keener, 749).They often thought of themselves
as spiritually free (Kruse, 208; Michaels, 506; Carson, 349)
• One famous rabbi, who wrote around the same time as John said,“All Israelites are sons of kings”–
meaning Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (R.Akiba cf. Keener, 750; Beasley-Murray, 133 cf. (B. Shabbath 128a
by R.Akiba); Carson, 349)
• In their eyes, they were spiritually free simply because they were Abraham’s offspring and
therefore the spiritual children of God (Beasley-Murray, 133-34.; Borchert, 303-4)
18. STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
• During a 1973 attempted bank robbery in Stockholm,
Sweden, employees were held hostage.
• While they were held hostage, they began to “[develop]
sympathetic feelings toward their captors.” (Webster’s)
• In 1978, this “psychological tendency of a hostage to bond
with, identify with, or sympathize with” a captor, began
to be called “Stockholm Syndrome” (Webster’s)
• Incredibly tragic, as victims often suffer both physically
and emotionally.
19. STOCKHOLM SYNDROME:
EXAMPLE
• One ten-year-old named Natascha was kidnapped in March 1998 in Austria.
• For the better part of eight years, underneath a garage, she was imprisoned in a 54-square-foot, windowless,
soundproof, cellar.The windows and doors of the house were booby-trapped with explosives.When she was
permitted to go upstairs, Natascha was often abused (The-Line-Up.com)
• In her autobiography, she wrote that she was beaten up to 200 times per week. And she was forced to refer
to her captor as “My Lord.”(Telegraph.co.uk)
• One day, in August of 2006, she was vacuuming under her captor’s car while he was supervising.Then the phone
rings.When her captor leaves to answer it, she leaves the vacuum on, and flees to the streets. She finds a neighbor
who calls the police, and she is finally free. Soon after her captor learns of her escape, he jumps in front of a
moving train.When Natascha learns of his death, she weeps (The-Line-Up.com)
• Ten years later, in a 2016 interview, she admitted that she still carries a photo of her captor in her wallet. In
spite of everything she went through there, Natascha eventually bought that very house. She reportedly sleeps
there several nights a week. She still has sympathetic feelings for her captor (News.com)
20. THEOLOGICAL STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
• Dr.Tom Long refers to our infatuation with sin as “theological Stockholm
Syndrome.” He says we are “enthralled with the very powers that hold us
captive.”
• Sin is our captor and we have developed feelings for it.
• In John,“any will or power that opposes Jesus is sin.” (Silva, 260). It’s “a
conquering power that takes people captive and then controls their lives.”
(Osborne, 134)
• Sin tells us to live our own way – instead of living like Jesus (who isTheWay,
theTruth, andThe Life (Jn 14:6)). Sin captivates us; we develop feelings for it.
• For years, I was captivated by secular music & dedicated my life to it as a DJ
21. EVERYBODY SERVES
SOMEONE/SOMETHING
• NT: we serve either God or someone/something else (Keener, 751; cf. Rom 6:6-7, 14, 16-23; Osborne,
134);The someone/something else becomes our master – an idol we sinfully serve (cf. Mt 6:24)
• “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a [servant or a] slave to sin” (Jn 8:34, NIV).
• Anyone who continues to be faithful to Jesus is, by definition, truly a disciple; Anyone who continues
to be faithful to sin is, by definition, truly a sinner (cf. Morris, 406)
• Jesus: it’s not about your “seed”; it’s about your sin (Klink, 416)
• Freedom to do whatever we want = slavery to one’s own sinful desires.What we call “freedom” is
actually bondage. Sin is like an addiction that we can’t kick on our own. (Keller, 112 cf. Long)
• We need someone to more powerful than us to break our chains.Whether we realize or not, whether
we desire to or not, we need to be set free (Morris, 406; Beasley-Murray, 134)
22. IN THE HOUSE
• Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever” (Jn 8:35, NIV).
• A more literal translation would be: Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the Son
remains forever (AT; cf. Jn 8:35, NRSV, Jn 8:35, ESV, etc.; Kruse, 209)
• The word remain (μένω | menō) is the same word that appears in Jn 8:31 when Jesus says
“remain in my word” or “hold to my teaching.”
• Also, the Greek word οἰκίᾳ (oikia, which sounds like to IKEA) is more literally translated “house”
or “household” (Silva, 469)
• In John, in the only other two instances where Jesus uses similar wording for “house” He is
referring to His Father’s house (Jn 2:16; Jn 14:2; cf. Keener, 752)
23. SLAVESVS. SON
• These Jews knew that slaves had no permanent place in the household. In their society,
slaves could be sold at almost any time (Michaels, 507; Cf. Beasley-Murray, 134)
• Son vs. slave could also allude to Abraham’s sons through Sarah and Hagar (Gen 21:1-21;
Kostenberger, 457 cf. Keener, 751; Borchert, 304-5). After Sarah’s death,Abraham had six
other sons through his second wife Keturah (Gen 25:1f.). It’s Not about “seed” (ancestry)
• Slaves could work in the same house their entire life, yet have no rights and no power.
(Morris, 407)
• Virtually nothing could change a son’s position as a child of the household.They had
rights and they had power (Morris, 407; Carson, 350; Michaels, 507)
• Moreover, sons ultimately had the power to free slaves (Keener, 752)
24. JESUS,THE SON
• Jesus is saying is that He is the Son who
remains in His Father’s house forever. (Kruse,
209; Milne, 132)
• Therefore, as God’s one and only son (Jn 3:16),
Christ is the only One with the rights and the
power to set slaves free. (Borchert, 304; Carson,
Guthrie, 1043, Morris, 407)
• “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
indeed” (Jn 8:36, NIV).
25. NEGATIVEVS. POSITIVE
FREEDOM
• Negative freedom is freedom from; Positive freedom is freedom to (Keller, 108)
• Negative freedom is freedom from constraints, freedom from limitations,
freedom from oppressive authority. This is the modern conception of freedom in
the American Land of the Free.
• This is virtually impossible because freedoms conflict; we have to find the most
liberating constraints
• Social studies and experience both suggest that we feel the most liberated when
we are in loving relationships – relationships in which there is a mutual
sacrifice of freedoms.
26. NEGATIVE & POSITIVE
FREEDOM
• Positive freedom is freedom to: freedom to live a certain way, freedom to reach a certain goal,
freedom to fulfill a certain purpose (Keller, 108).
• We have been created for a purpose: to be in communion with our Creator, to be in
relationship with our God.We were created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27) to know God,
to serve God, and to love God (Keller, 113)
• But we sinned and became slaves of sin, damaging our relationship with God.We have no rights
or power to free ourselves from the shackles of sin. And, because of our theological
Stockholm Syndrome, our chains even start to look attractive.
• Jesus sets us (negative) free from spiritual slavery to sin. He redeems and reconciles and
restores us – giving us (positive) freedom to be back into right relationship with the Father.
27. LOVE: MUTUAL SACRIFICE
OF FREEDOMS
• What sets Christianity apart from every other worldview: the One we can truly call
“My Lord” gave up His freedom to give us eternal freedom“ (Keller, 117)
• This is no one-sided relationship; it is a loving relationship where there is mutual
sacrifice of freedom.
• Out of love, we ought to give our lives to the One who gave up His life – in order to
give us eternal life (cf. Rom 12:1-2, 2 Cor 5:15, etc.).
• On July 4th we celebrate Independence Day. But, let us declare every day a
“Dependence Day” (Pastor Scotton) for our dependence on Christ – our Lord
who, indeed, gives true freedom
28. CONCLUSION
• Modern conception of freedom is negative: freedom from constraints, independence
• This is impossible because freedoms conflict.We have to choose the constraints that are most liberating –
loving relationships with mutual sacrifice of freedom
• If we hold to Christ’s teaching, we are truly His disciples.Then we’ll know the Truth, which/who will set us free
• No matter our ancestry, if we continually sin, we are slaves to sin. Be wary of Theological Stockholm Syndrome
• 1st century slaves had no permanent place in the household; sons remained forever + had power to free slaves
• Jesus – the Son of God who remains in the Father’s house forever – has the rights and authority to free slaves
• So, if the Son sets us free, we will be free indeed. Negative freedom (from sin) + Positive freedom: freedom to
fulfill our God-given purpose of being in right relationship with God
• We can be in a mutually sacrificial, loving relationship with Christ – on whom we must remain dependent
Slides will be uploaded to CatchForChrist.net!
29. I’M FREE!
I'M FREE,
PRAISETHE LORD, I'M FREE
NO LONGER BOUND,
NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME
MY SOUL IS RESTING
IT'S SUCH A BLESSING
PRAISETHE LORD
HALELUJAH, I'M FREE
(eLyrics.net, Milton Brunson)
30. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos, 2007.
• Beasley-Murray, George R. John. Vol. 36. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002.
• Borchert, Gerald L. John 1–11. Vol. 25A. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996.
• Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, and Trent C. Butler, eds. “Festivals.” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.
• Burge, Gary M. “John.” In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, 3:840–80. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995.
• Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
• Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Booths, Feast Of.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988.
• Guthrie, Donald. “John.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1021–65. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-
Varsity Press, 1994.
• Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary & 2. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012.
• Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
• Keller, Timothy. Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical. Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
• Klink, Edward W., III. John. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016.
• Kruse, Colin G. John: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 4. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
• Michaels, J. Ramsey. The Gospel of John. The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010.
• Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003.
• Milne, Bruce. The Message of John: Here Is Your King!: With Study Guide. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
• Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995.
• Osborne, Grant, Philip W. Comfort. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 13: John and 1, 2, and 3 John. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007.
• Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.
