You may accept heard this saying in an academic setting before; "the truth will prepare you lot free" could certainly use to learning and gaining new knowledge. Notwithstanding, the original intent of this phrase refers to a spiritual liberty from the bondage of sin. Allow's explore what truth means for u.s.a. from this Bible passage.

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you bide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and y'all will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and take never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become gratis'?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you gratuitous, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to impale me because my word finds no identify in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Male parent, and you practice what you have heard from your father'" (John 8:31-38).

What is Truth?

Truth is defined by Merriam Webster equally the actuality of things or events, fact, or spiritual reality. Other definitions of truth accept to do with sincerity in action or grapheme, while others literally refer to God. The reverse of truth, then, is lies, falsity, fiction, and falsehood. No matter how information technology is viewed, truth bears the fruit of trust, and many of us spend our unabridged lives looking for it. The intrinsic desire for truth is what gives the states that deep, personal longing to answer questions similar "what is my purpose," "who am I," or "who do I serve?"

Who said "the truth will set you free" in the Bible?

John 8 begins with the story of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees bringing in a woman caught in infidelity. They take her stand in front of a group while they announce her sin, and state that per the constabulary of Moses, she should exist stoned. In response, Jesus begins writing in the sand with his finger, and then says, "Permit any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." People began disbanding from the group, while only Jesus remained. He asks the woman if anyone had condemned her however, and when she says no, he tells her to "Go at present and go out your life of sin."

This led to dispute of who Jesus actually was. He explained to the Jewish people that he was not of this earth, and that he is only doing what the Father taught him. In John 8:31-32, Jesus said (to those who believed Him), "Yous are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you lot will know the truth, and the truth volition set y'all free."

What is the context "the truth will prepare you lot free" and who heard information technology?

Ellicott's Commentary expands on the context of this verse in this fashion; on "the truth will prepare you lot complimentary" it adds that "truth and holiness are spoken of as correlative," as read in John 17:17. The verse says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your give-and-take is truth." At this time, people limited freedom to being costless from slavery or Roman dominion. But Jesus meant "truth" and "complimentary" every bit far deeper things.

The commentary goes on to say, "Sin is the bondage of the powers of the soul, and this bondage is willed considering the soul does non encounter its fearful evil. When it perceives the truth, there comes to it a power which rouses it from its shock, and strengthens it to suspension the fetters by which is has been jump." When Jesus said, "If yous remain faithful to my teachings…" He was referring to the police that sums up all the police force of the commandments as found in Matthew 22:37-forty:

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your centre and with all your soul and with all your listen.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the 2d is like information technology: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

In summary, it says we should dearest God and love people. Carrying out the stoning of a adult female in sin does not evidence a graceful, merciful dear. The grace that Jesus offered her gave her an opportunity that nearly certainly raised her spirit to truth and gave a glimpse of spiritual freedom.

What does "the truth will fix you free" mean for Christians today?

The truth, which will ready us free, however applies the aforementioned way today. Although today we don't seek rubber from the corruption of the Roman empire, we still all suffer under the bondage of sin. Perhaps today nosotros seek safe from debt, stress and anxiety, lack of discipline, or a number of other problems. If we are focused on these wordly needs, then we volition likely limit a verse like "the truth volition fix you costless" to the things we want or need. However, what Jesus taught us in John 8:32 hits our soul, not but our minds, and is greater than our emotions.

How we tin can alive this out every day

At that place are several ways that we tin shift our focus to the spiritual attribute of Jesus' education. The first is focusing on how we can demonstrate the grace and loving kindness that Jesus shared with the adult female caught in adultery. The teachers of the law that wanted to condemn the woman were living their lives in fright. They were in protection mode of the police. In that protection, they considered those who broke the law to exist a threat to them. Do you feel that you protect yourself from people, or do yous allow a graceful love to menstruum through you at any given moment?

The second fashion we can make an aligning to alive out a life of truth and freedom is just by seeking God. We tin start doing this by assuasive ourselves grace from our own mistakes, resting in the truth of who we are through Christ. Nosotros are forgiven. We take been extended the precious gift of grace. To become closer to God, we must outset allow this truth to be one within u.s.a.. From there, we can absorb His word more fruitfully. As we become anchored in our identity with the Father, then we can finally abandon that onetime stance of viewing others as threats. Later on all, feeling and so threatened shines light on how we attempt to take upwards our ain lordship. Fright is born out of punishment, and perfect dearest has cast all of it out (1 John 4:18). It is our decision to leave information technology at that place. You lot can read more verses about fearfulness here.

Today, imagine someone showing you the grace you so desperately seek. Or imagine someone showing you kindness despite anything you have washed. Let that heal you, even if merely for a moment. Practise this more and more each day as yous begin to break off the chains of fearfulness. Receiving God'due south grace, and so extending it beyond ourselves is precisely what Jesus intended to teach us when He said "the truth will set up you gratis." Y'all are gratuitous indeed.

Kyle Blevins  is the sole contributor to the blog, REDIRECTED, which focuses on rediscovering purpose through dearest. His broken life reached a turning betoken afterward being surrounded by positive people who believed he was capable of more. His passion is connecting with and encouraging those looking for a new commencement in life and in Christ. You can follow his blog at iamredirected.com.

Photo credit: Unsplash/KalVisuals