John 8:32, Romans 3:23, Romans 7:14-24, Matthew 28:19-20,1 John 1:9, Ephesians 3:16, Hebrews 5:9, Matthew 11:28-30
Summary: One of Jesus’ better-known statements is recorded for us in John 8:32. Some see this as political freedom, but it goes much further, for it describes Jesus Himself and the power to set us free from the oppression of sin.
When we think of the concept of freedom, we here in America refer to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that guarantee us freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to address our grievances, the right to bear arms, the freedom to assemble peacefully, and the right to legal defense and a speedy trial in a court of law. It also puts a limit on federal powers and sets the description and function of the three branches of government. We see that these rights, however, are being taken away from us due to our ignorance of what the Constitution states and the need to feel “secure” over the need to be free from oppression.
We are witnessing incidents where the petitions of truckers and ordinary citizens are being treated as terrorism by paranoid and power-hungry officials who are now taking away access to basic necessities in an attempt to silence opposition and instill a fear of confrontation of authority. This totalitarianism is bearing bitter fruit that other nations may and will use as a means of ushering in the world government system as prophesied in the book of Revelation.
We are accustomed to seeing freedom in political terms, especially when we go to the polls to vote, hoping that a change in parties and personalities will fix wrongs and somehow “set things right” for the country. That concept has been shattered by what has happened in the past couple of years and a growing suspicion of vote tampering and fraud that now has brought about chaos and the theft of a basic right we have taken for granted. I see a slow but steady transformation of America from the powerhouse of the world into a shell of its former self and will go the way of all nations that embrace evil and turn their back on the protection and blessings given to them by God.
America is NOT in Bible prophecy, despite the best efforts to say otherwise. The real focus of Bible prophecy is the land of Israel and the Jewish people, how God will deal with them and all who come against them. This is founded on the person and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will bring Israel their freedom, not from their Roman oppressors and pagan government, as presented in the Scriptures, but will give all people true freedom from the bondage of sin and its oppression through His work of redemption by means of the cross and the resurrection that will come (John 11:25). This is the heart of John 8:32.
It is Jesus’ teaching about freedom from sin which throws His foes off their frame of thought. They still thought of political freedom and the chance to re-establish the nation of Roman-occupied Judea into an independent land under a descendant of the beloved King David, who had benevolently ruled Israel a thousand years before. They say something that makes no sense in light of their situation, telling Jesus that they have never been in bondage to anyone. Did they conveniently forget that they had been under the iron grip of nations such as Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and now Rome?
Jesus explained to them the content of His statement in John 8:34-36: “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (NKJV).
He was teaching them about the slavery of sin and how He offers freedom from its bondage. Bondage to sin means that we are all guilty of it (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8), and no one is exempt or excused (Romans 1:18-20). It does not matter if we had only committed one sin; that is enough to condemn us (James 2:10-11). Sin has power over us, enslaving us and keeping us under its grasp. Apart from the intervention of the LORD, we do not have the power to overcome nor rid ourselves of it (Romans 5:6-11; Ephesians 2:8-9).
The truth is not found in our minds or strength, but freedom and absolute truth come from the Lord Jesus Himself (John 8:31-32). The blood of Christ that was poured out at the cross was sufficient to free us from the guilt and power of sin by His mercy, grace, and will (Matthew 26:28; Romans 8:1-2, 12-13; Ephesians 1:7). When we call upon Him for salvation (Acts 4:12, 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:15, 2:5), we then belong to Him as His disciples with the goal of becoming more like Him and less of us (Romans 6:3-4, 6; Galatians 2:20).
Jesus Christ is not part of a religious cafeteria where we pick and choose what we prefer. He is not on the same level as Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, Krishna, Mary, the saints, any unbiblical “pontiff” in Rome, any nation, political party, philosophy, or ideology. He does not go along to get along, and if He is and was just another means by which we go to heaven, then the suffering He endured on the cross on Our behalf was unnecessary, futile, and a waste of time, blood, and effort on His part (1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-19). As God in the flesh (John 1:1-4), He and He alone, as the sinless, spotless Son of God, could ever take the burden of sin upon Himself in our place.
Get this through your head. You cannot save yourself, and the Sovereign Lord God Almighty makes that abundantly clear in the Scriptures (Isaiah 52:12-53:12). The redemptive work of Jesus Christ destroys any sense of pride, arrogance, and self-effort we might think we possess in order to enter God’s heaven. Salvation is of the LORD. He alone has the right, power, and authority to make it happen.
I hope I have made this clear. If you decide to reject the freedom and truth that Jesus offers to you this day (Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 6:2), then you remain a slave to sin and at your demise will go to the place reserved for the devil and his angels — a place of terror that is without hope, love, compassion, or empathy. You will regret for eternity the opportunity that you had to embrace true freedom, peace, and grace (Matthew 25:41; Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31 Revelation 20:11-15). Don’t ignore, scoff at, or walk away from this precious gift of freedom that is only in Jesus Christ. All you have to do is ask.
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Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.
In 2018 he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous.
He can be contacted at: donaldwhitchard@gmail.com for inquiries, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. His website is: www.realitycityreverend.com . A copy of his resume is also available upon request.