John 8:31–47 - 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
What does today’s passage say?
In today's passage, Jesus tells some Jews who had started to follow Him that being His true follower means staying faithful to His teachings. Those who do this will know God's truth, which brings real freedom (vv. 31-32). The Jews protest that they have never been slaves, but Jesus explains that anyone who keeps sinning is actually a slave to sin. Only the Son of God can bring genuine freedom from this bondage (vv. 33-36). Jesus points out that His opponents act like their father the devil, not Abraham or God as they claim. Unlike them, Jesus speaks God's truth, but they reject it because they follow Satan, who has been a liar from the start. Their inability to accept Jesus' words proves they do not belong to God (vv. 37-47).
How can I apply John 8:31-47 to my life?
Life hits different when Jesus gets real with us about what following Him actually means. Today, He confronts people who claimed to believe in Him - people who probably thought they had their spiritual life figured out. Their response reveals something we all struggle with: the gap between saying we believe and living like we believe. Sometimes we settle into comfortable patterns. We check the religious boxes - church on Sunday, a quick prayer here and there, maybe even some Bible reading when life is not too busy. But Jesus cuts straight through that surface-level faith. He challenges us to look deeper, to face the truth about whether His Word really directs our everyday choices and changes who we are from the inside out. This conversation Jesus has pulls back the curtain on what authentic faith looks like. He talks about a freedom that breaks sin's chains, a truth that transforms lives, and a relationship that goes way beyond religious routines. He also exposes the ongoing war between God's truth and Satan's lies - a battle that plays out in all the small choices we make every single day. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
1. Be a True Disciple of Christ by Living Out His Word Daily (vv. 31-32): Jesus sets a clear standard that true discipleship involves more than surface-level belief. True disciples stand firm in their dedication to following His teachings through everyday choices and actions. Living as Christ's disciple means allowing His Word to shape every aspect of our lives - our thoughts, words, decisions, and relationships. When we study Scripture, we must go beyond basic head knowledge to let biblical truth transform our character and conduct. The Holy Spirit uses God's Word to break chains of sinful habits, heal broken mindsets, and produce genuine spiritual growth. Each morning presents fresh opportunities to put Jesus first by choosing His ways over our own desires and cultural pressures. This involves practical steps like starting our day in prayer and Bible reading, measuring our choices against scriptural principles, and surrounding ourselves with other believers who encourage godly living. As we consistently yield to Christ's lordship, our lives begin displaying the authentic freedom and spiritual fruit that marks a genuine follower of Jesus (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46-49; James 1:22-25).
Food for thought: In what areas of my life do I need to realign my actions with God's Word that I claim to believe? What specific spiritual disciplines will help me continually abide in and obey Christ's teachings this week?
2. Let Jesus Set You Free from Sin (vv. 33-36): Jesus explains that everyone who lives in sin exists as a slave to that sin. Breaking free starts with a painful admission - we are stuck, and our own efforts at liberation have failed miserably. The idea of giving Jesus control makes us squirm. Our instinct fights it. We have swallowed the cultural lie that freedom means doing whatever we want, whenever we want. But that path? It just leads to heavier chains. Sin sneaks up on us. One small compromise leads to another until we wake up one day completely trapped. That is why Jesus left heaven's perfection for earth's mess. He chose a criminal's death to break our chains. When He rose from that tomb, He proved His power over both sin's eternal curse and its daily control. The moment we trust Jesus, everything changes. He does not just wipe our slate clean - He actually moves in, bringing His Spirit's power to fight our battles. But living in freedom takes serious effort. Some days we will have to choose God's way a hundred times, even when our feelings beg us to fall back into comfortable old patterns. Real freedom changes how we see ourselves. Those old labels - failure, addict, broken - get replaced by our true identity: God's beloved child. Jesus keeps working, exposing lies we have believed for years. The journey gets messy. Long-standing habits and addictions put up a fierce fight nut Jesus never leaves, not even for a second. The same power that put breath back in His dead body now lives in us, making lasting change possible. God also brings others into our fight - battle-tested believers who know what it is like to struggle. They pray hard, speak truth with love, and help us up when we fall. Each small victory proves Jesus's power to transform lives from the inside out (Romans 6:15-18; Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17).
Food for thought: What specific sins or negative thought patterns do I need Jesus to free me from today? How can I live differently knowing that Jesus has given me freedom as God's child?
3. Choose God's Truth Over Satan's Deceptions (vv. 37-47): Jesus exposes the stark difference between those who follow God's truth and those who fall for Satan's lies. Satan strikes hard at our beliefs - sometimes with obvious attacks, other times through subtle twists that barely catch our attention. His strategy has not changed since Eden. He plants questions about what God really meant. "Did God actually say that?" becomes "That verse does not apply anymore." One small doubt leads to bigger ones until we find ourselves far from God's path. Satan's lies show up everywhere - in casual conversations, on our favorite shows, through social media posts that sound wise but twist Scripture. These false messages can shake our faith, especially when they come wrapped in partially true packages. God wants us to spot these attacks and fight back. This takes more than just knowing Scripture - it means living it out even when everything around us pushes the other way. Sometimes standing for truth costs us relationships or opportunities. People might call us old-fashioned or judgmental for holding to biblical standards. Satan also works overtime to make us question our identity in Christ. Bad choices from our past, current struggles, or others' criticism can make us wonder if we really belong to God. But we win these battles by taking action. We need to shut down voices that oppose God's Word - even popular ones. When doubts hit, we speak truth out loud, lean on solid biblical teaching, and connect with believers who have fought similar battles. Some days the fight feels overwhelming. That is exactly when we need to double down on God's truth, refusing to give ground to enemy lies. Each choice to believe God over culture's messages builds stronger spiritual muscles. The battle happens right where we live - in our daily decisions about what we let into our minds and hearts (1 John 4:1-6; Ephesians 6:10-17; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Food for thought: What lies from Satan have I started believing about God, myself, or my circumstances? How can I actively fill my mind with God's truth this week instead of the world's messages?
Living as Jesus' true disciple involves three vital actions that work together. First, we must move beyond surface knowledge to apply His Word in real-life situations. This takes root when we actively choose His teaching over our own preferences in daily decisions. Second, we experience genuine freedom as we let Jesus break sin's power in our lives. This freedom differs completely from the world's definition - it brings power to live God's way instead of license to do whatever we want. Third, we guard against Satan's deceptions by filling our minds with biblical truth and recognizing false messages that surround us. The amazing reality is that Jesus gives us everything we need for this journey. His Spirit lives within us, His Word guides us, and His people walk beside us. Following Jesus means letting His truth transform us from the inside out. The results show up in changed habits, new priorities, and different responses to life's challenges. God's power works through our ordinary days to produce extraordinary change as we walk in obedience to His Word.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would strip away the layers of comfortable Christianity I have wrapped myself in. My heart often settles for going through the motions when You call me to so much more. Some days the gap between what I say I believe and how I actually live feels huge. Break through my excuses and show me where sin still has a foothold in my life.
Thank You for the incredible price Jesus paid to set me free. I know that real freedom comes with a cost - dying to my own ways and choosing Yours instead. I pray that You would give me the strength and courage to make those hard choices, especially on days when following You means standing alone.
Lord, Satan's lies bombard me from every direction. Sometimes they sound so reasonable that I barely notice how far they pull me from Your truth. I pray that You would make me rock-solid in Your Word. When doubts creep in or the world's messages start to sound better than Yours, push me back to Scripture. Help me build deeper relationships with other believers who will tell me the truth even when it hurts.
Your Holy Spirit lives in me - that still amazes me. I pray that I would choose to use His power at every opportunity to change me from a surface-level believer into a real disciple who follows closely after You. Make I pray that You would make Your Word come alive in my everyday choices.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
John 8:31-32 - 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
With His Blessings,
Pastor Corby
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