Today Pastor A preached about true freedom that is only found in Jesus. This freedom is not limited to any particular person, whether male or female, rich or poor, white or black. Jesus bore God’s just wrath against our sin, which Jesus bore on our behalf, so that by his death, we might receive true life and freedom in him. While this is available to all, it is appropriated or applied to the lives of those who repent of their sins and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. With this in mind, let’s turn our attention to a discussion between Jesus and some Jewish people who “believed in him.”

1. Are You Truly Free? (John 8:31–33) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, “You will become free.”

1. How do we give evidence that we are “truly [Jesus’] disciples” (v. 31)? See also v. 37.
2. What does it mean to “abide [or remain] in [Jesus’] word” (v. 31)? You may want to check out John 15:1–17 to see how Jesus uses the word “abide/remain” there.
3. How do we “know the truth” (v. 32)?
4. What is the result of knowing “the truth” (v. 32)?
5. How have some people (maybe even you) used this passage? How has looking at it closer helped you understand what kind of freedom Jesus promises?

2. Whose Your Father? (John 8:34–38) Jesus answered them, “Truth, 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 free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

1. What is the freedom Jesus promises (v. 32)? Free from what or whom? Make sure you look at the context, vv. 33–35.
2. What are you doing with your freedom from sin?
3. Who is it that sets you free from sin (v. 36)?
4. If we do not give evidence that we are Jesus’ disciples, and belong to his Father, whose disciples or whose children do we show ourselves to be (vv. 38–41, 44)?
5. John writes that Jesus was speaking to “the Jews who had believed in him” (v. 31). These same people questioned him (v. 33). Jesus called these persons sons of the devil himself, because they lived like him (v. 44). These people also wished to kill Jesus (v. 59). How then should we understand the kind or type of belief they had in Jesus? Was it saving faith? Was it faith/belief in what Jesus could do? Is there any evidence in the passage that helps you answer these questions?

Application
1. Take time this week to think about why you follow Jesus. Is it because of what we perceive he can give us, or is it, first and foremost, because he loved us and gave himself for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him? Another way to ask this is: Why do you want to go to heaven? Is it to be free from sickness and to see all your friends and family who died before you, or is it that Jesus is there and you get him, the treasure of your soul?
2. Pray as a small group that we would show ourselves to be his disciples. This means it is necessary for us to abide in his word. Ask each other next time you come together or see one another what God has been teaching you in his word.
3. Take some time to explore the implications of our freedom from sin in Jesus. Pastor A gave several implications: (1) Freedom from guilt and shame [Rom 3:21–26; 5:1–5]; (2) Freedom from condemnation [Rom 8:1–11]; (3) Freedom from life of meaninglessness [John 10:10]; (4) Freedom from the fear of hell and the devil [John 14; Rev 20:7–10]; (5) Freedom from the wrath of God [Rom 5:6–11; Thess 5:1–11]; (6) Freedom from the power of sin [Rom 6:1–14]; and (7) Freedom to personally come to God through his Son [Heb 4:14–16].

Further Study
1. You may want to read John Piper, Desiring God. This book expresses how Jesus is the Christian’s greatest treasure and the joy found in loving him.