Who Is Free? (1)
“If you abide in My word, you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
Free – Which man is free – the one who exercises liberty to act as he wishes or the one who submits to moral precepts? The question is not trivial so be careful how you answer it. Our culture and the prevailing opinion of the world at large answers with the first alternative. The “free” man is the man who has the liberty to live as he pleases. The “free” man is the man who is not restrained by rules and regulations, by government or convention, by community or commitments. The truly “free” man is Rousseau’s noble savage, acting in accordance with his own desires. This image lies behind much of our political debate and is crucial to the proclamation of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as inalienable rights. Every man wants to be “free.”
But the Bible has a different answer.
“To the superficial observer it seems that men who do not obey the law are freer than law-abiding men, because they can follow their own inclinations. In reality, however, such men are subject to the most cruel bondage; they are slaves to their own instincts, impulses and desires. The first step toward emancipation from the tyranny of animal inclination in man is, therefore, a voluntary submission to the moral law. The constraint of law is the beginning of human freedom, or in Rabbinic phraseology, ‘None is free, except he who acts in accord with the law.’”[1]
Who is free? The man who submits to Torah, says the Scripture. A man is a slave to his own impulses and desires insofar as he has not yet submitted to God’s instructions. If Yeshua came to set us free, then He came to bring us into submission to Torah. There is no other way to understand His rabbinic perspective. For this reason, Watchman Nee’s analysis of the fundamental conflict of Scripture is exactly on target. The big issue isn’t sin. It isn’t grace or love or the blood. Those are all important, but when it comes to issue number one, they pale in comparison. The biggest issue is authority! The biggest issue is who’s in charge. As long as I believe that the objective of my life is my own liberty, I will be a slave to myself, easily manipulated by my current assessment of what is good for me. I will be a child of Havvah’s deception, imagining that determining my own good is a sign of divinity. But the Bible confronts me with a much harsher reality. Liberty is not the same as freedom!
From the moment of our creation, the goal of being human is freedom through submission. Where we have not submitted to the instructions of YHWH, we are deluded slaves of liberty. The truth will make us free because the truth is found in abiding in His words. Do you want to be free? Do what He says. Do you want liberty? Do whatever you like.
Topical Index: free, liberty, eleutheroo, John 8:32
[1] Isidor Grunfeld, The Jewish Dietary Laws, Vol. 1, p. 11.
Liberty is not license. Sit a child in front of a piano and have him play “whatever” and “however” he or she determines. What a cacophony of noise results. Drive your car down down the highway at whatever speed and whatever direction makes you feel good. Pay no attention to nor give any heed to stop signs, warning signs, red lights, turn signals, or lane markers. Pedal to the medal when, where, how and why- and weave wildly all over the road killing anything that might block the pathway. Forget the road, why not drive across several yards on your way to work. Work? I don’t want to go to work, I’d much rather… License? “Carl has gone wild”- Yes. Man without G-d is nothing but a wild beast. Tooth and fang- survival of the fattest, er.. fittest. Is this the pathway of life? License?- “if it feels good do it?” No. Not at all.
We are (all) going to serve something or Someone. YHWH has built this into the fabric of the Universe. As Bob Dylan said (in truth) – “You Gotta Serve Somebody.” Please read Romans chapter 6.. “Choose you this day (today) who you will serve..-as for me and my house..we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24.15)
Hi Carl… I wrote some words of encouragement to you as you head back to work.
But, I wrote them on yesterday’s blog, Nov. 30th “History Repeats Itself”, thinking I was on today’s blog. That’s what I get for being a day behind. So…be sure to go back and read them!!
Let us know how your first day back went.
Judi 🙂
Hi Carl, well stated. Thanks
Skip, this is quite remarkable in that it reframes the picture of our freedom in Christ. This is one of the most life-changing teachings once one gets it. This teaching properly understood should cause us to look directly at this major issue of submission with wide-eyed wonder and grateful hearts.
Right on, Skip!
🙂
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.” (John 18.38)
“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. (Luke 23.3)
“There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.'” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:18-22)
Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. Because you have known me, you will also know my Father; from now on, you do know Him — in fact, you have seen Him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us.” Yeshua replied to him, “Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, `Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me? What I am telling you, I am not saying on my own initiative; the Father living in me is doing his own works. Trust me, that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me. (John 14.6-11)
Pilate (a practiced politician), asked one of the top questions in all of scripture (inspired perhaps?)- “What is truth?” Oh, how we need to see this. “Truth” is not a precept, it is a Person. (Amen Skip?) Truth is not a concept, it is Christ. Could the words proceeding from the mouth of YHWH in human flesh, speaking with the tongue of a man be any more direct? “I AM the truth.” “I AM” – Hashem. “I AM”- YHWH. Yeshua- the Incarnate Word of G-d, King of kings, and LORD of lords. In three languages “it was written” above His head for all the world to see. (and this shall be a sign unto you?) “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip told him, “Come and see!” (John 1.47)
And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2.11)
-“When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.” (Matthew 28.11)
True perspective…