A Reasonable Conclusion
“If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 NASB
Therefore – Don’t we love this verse! I hear it all the time. “Jesus set me free.” “I’m free because Jesus died for me.” The great mantra of the Western world is “Freedom!” Of course, none of us bother to ask what freedom meant in the biblical context. We just assume that being able to do what I wish to do is the desired state of human existence. Freedom becomes a synonym for lack of restraint or hindrance. With this in mind, we imagine that “Jesus” came so that we might never again be under anyone’s thumb.
There’s just one problem. Or maybe two. The first problem is that freedom in the Bible means nothing like unrestrained or complete liberty. More about that later. The second problem is that this verse is far too often quoted without the “therefore.” The addition of the little word oun implies that the statement about being free follows from a previous discussion and it is on the basis of that previous discussion that the terms must be defined.
What is the previous discussion? It is a conversation between Yeshua and other Jews about the relationship between obedience and sin. Yeshua tells these Jews that if they became His disciples, they would accept His teaching and would continue to express in their lives what He taught to them. Then they would be free. They misunderstand Him, thinking that He is speaking about physical slavery, so they object, claiming that they have never been enslaved by any man. Yeshua corrects them. They are in fact slaves to their own behavior, in this case, to the yetzer ha’ra. He notes that whatever a man practices continually is the master of that man. So we see that the conversation is not about restraint of physical liberty at all. It is about the power of the yetzer ha’ra to dictate how men live. At this point, Yeshua tells the audience that He has the ability to release them from this power. In other words, the entire discussion is not about doing whatever we wish to do. It is about being freed from the power of the evil inclination.
And accomplished how is this? (Think Hebrew verb first, like Yoda). By keeping His instructions – by following His commandments – by living according to Torah, just as he did. “If you continue in my word,” says Yeshua. What does that mean? Well, for starters it means doing everything He tells us to do, namely, the list of New Testament commandments (which, by the way, assume and endorse the Old Testament commandments). In biblical terms there is no such thing as unrestrained, uninhibited liberty or freedom. But there is release from guilt and release from the dominance of the yetzer ha’ra. This kind of release is a trade. We trade guilt and corruption for Torah obedience, and in the process we discover that life lived God’s way is a blessing. Continuing in His word becomes orderly alignment with the grain of the universe. It isn’t freedom to do whatever I wish. It is the power to serve as I was designed.
Why are we free indeed? Because only when we are under the protection of Torah are we able to be who we really are. And that is biblical freedom.
Topical Index: free, freedom, John 8:36, therefore, oun, Torah
Just a footnote from Cyndee who does my proofreading. She said, ” John 8:36: It’s a good thing I own a hard copy of the 1963 NASB since Bible Gateway AND Blue Letter Bible AND BibleCC ALL quote this verse as ‘so if’! So much for trusting online translations. I guess even the 1995 NASB version has translation bias that the general reader won’t pick up on.”
A Reasonable Conclusion?- “Bring him to Me” “It is the LORD” “Not I, but Christ.” “He must increase, but I must decrease” “Christ in you, the hope of glory” “Every word of G-d is pure..” “The Law (Torah, Teaching,Instruction) of the LORD is perfect..”- You have heard it said, “but I say unto you..”
“Whatever He says unto you- do it..” Listen and obey. Shema. Shema the Savior (who is) Christ the LORD. Christ-Annointed-Messiah.
What do the scriptures say? -should ever be at the forefront of all our thoughts. “It is written” should be engraved upon our palms, along with a cross to remind us the (now) Living Word, (the Messiah) and the written word- the word of G-d are inseparable.
“For the word of G-d is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4.12) Not only do we read G-d’s Book- this Book has a pulse..- for it is G-d-breathed (inspired).
Looking for Torah? Start with Genesis 1.1 and continue.. Read the Book. “It’s in there..” Is there a command to obey? lol!- We will not lack for something to do. “Search the scriptures..” – Are You talking to me? (Yes- “saith the LORD”).
Open G-d’s (inspired) Word anywhere.. (do the lucky dip!)- place your finger upon some “random” words and repeat “thus saith the LORD”. Congratulations!- you just completed the school of prophecy. The “word of G-d says” and “thus saith the LORD” are synonymous. G-d’s Word (our bible) is alive, active and authoritative..- but this is not at all – “all”.
For the scriptures are not (only) about something, they are pointing (all of us) to Someone. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24.27) The Bible, (all of it- “it’s all good”) is our Him-Book. The gospel (good news) according to Genesis. The gospel (good news) according to Revelation. G-d’s Book is full of “good news”.
What is this “good news?” Do you know? Do you know Him? – “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him..but some doubted..” (Matthew 28.17) – Why? Some of them (some of us) recognized and realized- this is the Messiah. This is the Incarnated, Breathing, Sweating, Walking,Talking, Singing, Praying, Eating, Fasting, Sleeping, (now) Living Word of G-d, Yeshua HaMashiach, G-d in human flesh. G-d humbled Himself and became a man. (Go ahead and Selah..) Be amazed. Wonder for awhile.. the angels in heaven are right there with you..- themselves wondering at this.. The Creator became the created. G-d became a man, the second Adam. – But wait…- there’s more! (always more..)
G-d, born in a barn. Totally unexpected, totally surprising- total humility displayed. (G-d’s glory is displayed in His humility.) His strength is made perfect in our weakness, for when we are weak, then He is strong.. Look at the history of Israel and see through the ages, who has been chosen..(Esau or Jacob?) David was rejected by his own family and not even considered “worthy” by his own. Christ also was rejected by “His own..” – Not considered “worthy..”
And what about today? Things haven’t changed much -even over the centuries.. He still, among many, is considered to be “worthless..”. The worthless Christ. One man’s Treasure is another man’s trash and one man’s ‘trash’ is another man’s Treasure.. –
“When they saw Him..- they worshiped Him..- but some doubted..” -Is He worthy? Liberty is not license. We are not free to do as we wish, we are free to do as we ought. We have traded one master (self) for Another Master,the Savior. Friends, – “It is the LORD..” We are (all) under His ownership- He “owns” us, by right of creation and by right of Calvary. We have been “bought with a price.” (This is why I am ‘bought1’!) All my towels say “His.” Romans 6,7 and 8 are written and waiting for someone, -anyone to “shema.”
well, well, mr. carl – you have done it again:
And what about today? Things haven’t changed much -even over the centuries.. He still, among many, is considered to be “worthless..”. The worthless Christ.
One man’s Treasure is another man’s trash and one man’s ‘trash’ is another man’s Treasure.. – 4 SURE… ♥
“When they saw Him..- they worshiped Him..- but some doubted..” -Is He worthy?
Liberty is not license. We are not free to do as we wish, we are free to do as we ought. We have traded one master (self) for Another Master,the Savior. Friends, – “It is the LORD..” We are (all) under His ownership- He “owns” us, by right of creation and by right of Calvary. We have been “bought with a price.”
(This is why I am ‘bought1′!)
All my towels say “His.” WHAT A GREAT REVELATION 4 YOU – I BET THEY REALLY DIDN’T START OUT SAYING “His” for what really meant “HIS” – but maybe because the other towels say, “Hers” but GOD spoke HIS revelation to you through those towels – don’t you love it when HE reveals HIMSELF to you in the little details of life – way before you ever thought about HIM in that way… ♥ GOD HE LOVES US SO MUCH – HE IS WAS THERE IN THE BEFORE & THE AFTER… HE IS THERE (now & forever more)… ♥ jan
Romans 6,7 and 8 are written and waiting for someone, -anyone to “shema.””