What does John have to say about the real truth and its acceptance by the people of his time. We begin at verse twelve of chapter eight. In this verse, Jesus speaks out and says that He is the light of the world. This claim is challenged by the Pharisees. John 8: 13 ... Your testimony alone is not [true] valid. Jesus then suggests that their question is mute because they do not completely understand where He is coming from! John 8: 14 Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is still [true] valid. He questions their limited human standards and rests His appeal upon the authority of God the Father. John 8: 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment will be [true] sound; because I am not alone.This fact, in and of itself, if accepted, is the basis for a lawful testimony. But the acceptance of this true witness will be the problem evident in the entire passage. John 8: 17 In your own law it is written that the testimony of two men is [true] valid. If this law is legitimate, then they have to accept Jesus' testimony. The very same law that they use to question his testimony can only be understood if His hearers can appreciate the relationship of that law to His special witness in fulfilling the very implications of the law itself.15 We see in verse twenty- seven that this was not understood by very many of the group listening to Jesus. However, there were in the crowd some people who comprehended and understood. To them, Jesus gave a promise. John 8: 31 If you [truly] earnestly remain in my teaching, then you will indeed be my disciples.
There is some confusion over exactly what this means. One of my students once asked me to clarify a question on Queen Guinevere, of Camelot fame. He didn't catch what I meant by Guinevere being more in love with love than she was in love with King Arthur. yes, she loved the King, she also loved the court and the devoted knights. But, when it finally came down to the nitty gritty, she wasn't exactly certain she really loved Arthur! She loved being in love more than she loved him.
Now, let us transfer this notion back to our issue of faith. The tragedy of the Pharisees is that they did not place their faith in Jesus Christ. Instead they put their faith in faith ahead of the proper object of faith: Jesus Christ. Looking at verse thirty-one, we see one of the keys to understanding a real faith relationship with Jesus Christ. And what is it, it is really very simple for those who are called by the Father. That key to those called by Him is to make Jesus Christ the object of faith and to do all that He requires. John 8: 32 You shall know the [truth] correct doctrine and that truth will make you free.
In those words there is a great promises of faith, a saving faith. If those who hear Him, believe His words; then they will know of his love and they shall be free indeed. When Jesus speaks, He tells the truth, from His truth, there can reasonably be stated the correct doctrine that He saves! And those who believe that truth, can have a saving faith.
In Judaism, the truth was the law, and the study of the law made a man free. As this passage develops, the object of faith moves from the law to the Christ. This saving truth described here as correct doctrine is to be perceived only through the work of the Spirit as John 16: 13 describes its coming. This saving truth is Jesus Himself, who John says is of God in John 1: 2, and is the fulfillment and revelation of God's eternal purposes as described in John 14: 6. This revelation is not a means to an end, it is itself the way and the goal. This revelation of truth is a divine occurrence. It is and was a real event. Just as aletheia is the object of ginoskein; so too can truth also be known in and through Jesus Christ.16 John 8:34 I tell you and it is true, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John Calvin reports that it would appear that Christ is saying no more than the philosophers. And how much the world want so believe that and thus reduce Christ to just one voice among many. yet, Calvin points out a deeper and more hidden meaning.17 The philosophers think that any man by his own choice becomes slave or free. however, Jesus is not speaking of an evil that men bring upon themselves, but of the fallen state of human nature! Jesus here declares that all who are not freed from slavery by Him are slaves indeed!
During the American Civil War, when the Union Armies advanced, the only slaves that truly were free, were those who were fortunate to live in areas conquered and occupied by the Federal Government. So it is with spiritual bondage, if we would be free, we must be freed by, in and through Jesus Christ only. However, some slaves unfortunately remain enslaved.
John 8:40 Even now you determine to murder me, when I tell you the truth.aletheia here implies the "real state of affairs". Jesus is beginning to reveal to these Sons of Abraham that they are really children of the Devil! In verse forty-two, He says that if they were really God's children, they would love him as the revealed truth from the Father. However, they will not listen and need stronger words in verse forty-four. Who is their father? it should be evident even to them. it is the devil, who is very very far from the truth.
John 8: 44 He has never stood for the truth, for there is no truth in him at all.The antithesis between divine and anti-divine reality is noted here. There is a real division between the children of God and the children of the Devil. And that division can be realized in a person's reaction to the truth of Jesus Christ.
John 8: 45 But as for me, I speak the truth, that is why you do not believe me!The Pharisees real condition is revealed here. They cannot comprehend the plain truth. It is this reason why I chose the words for the difficult passage in verse twenty-six. "Why do I bother to talk to you?" Even though He and we must witnesses to the glory of our Father, it should be evident from scripture and experience that not everyone can or will comprehend the good news revealed in Jesus Christ.
John 8: 46 If I speak the truth, why don't you believe me?A twofold question with a twofold answer. While aletheia here has a formal sense of "speaking the truth" it also means "bringing the revelation in words. This same twofold sense is also to be found in John 5: 33-34 and 18: 37 where salvation and truth are served.18 The aletheia here is the self-revealing divine reality. In the same sense there is reference in First John 4:6 to the criterion for knowing whether something is of God or of anti-godly power. That is the hearing or non-hearing of the Word proclaimed.
Some teach that any and all can come to Christ whenever they will. The popular phrase is "whosoever will, may come!" That misconception belittles the true faith by substituting something different from what the Scriptures really teach. The correct doctrine here revealed by Christ insists that it is only by God's free grace that we become His sons with all the rights and privileges of being His. Even though we are illegitimate, just as the Pharisees were, God is willing to adopt us into His family and make us His own both now and forever as we see in verse fifty-one
John 8: 51 I tell you and it is true, whoever keeps my word, will never see death.Earlier in verse forty-seven, Jesus informs us that a child of God listens to the words of God. Who can hear, who can obey? Paul answers our question in Ephesians 1:5 "He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." But, unlike the Pharisees, we have to realize who it is that is speaking to us.
John 8: 58 I tell you and it is true, before Abraham ever was, I AM.All through the chapter, there have been subtle hints for hearts quickened by the Spirit. The words I AM are not strange to our ears in this whole section. We see here that some of the Jews had ignored Him and His claims. They wanted a direct answer. Who is this man? In this verse Jesus gives them a precise answer. I AM.
And what is the worldly reaction? Look, there in verse fifty-nine. They would stone Him, they would kill Him, they would eventually crucify Him. And to their utter shame, they would not believe the truth. In fact, Jesus knew their minds well, as early as verse forty. here they would finish their thoughts if they were allowed. But as the Gospel record, not just yet! There is still God's complete purpose to be worked out.
And what is that purpose? Paul writes well in Ephesians 2:5 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Faith in the truth of Christ is not something that merits the favor of God. The totality of salvation resides completely in the Savior! We must be certain of this: It is not faith that saves but faith in Jesus Christ. Strictly speaking, it is not even faith in Christ that saves. But it is Christ that saves through faith!19
And you shall know the correct doctrine and that truth will make you free.Unfortunately people do not change. Some, like the Pharisees always claim that their fathers came over on the Mayflower, fought in the Revolution, or came west over the mountains through the Cumberland Gap. yet we have known from this chapter that the correct pedigree did not guarantee anything absolutely worthwhile for the "sons" of Abraham! True Sonship on our part depends upon knowing who Jesus is, acknowledging His word and accepting what His truth can indeed do for us. If we know His doctrine, then we will be free by His grace.
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