Welcome Valley Bible Studies

Lesson 39: John 8:31-38

John 8:31-38
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Background Information
This lesson continues an important narrative from John 8. In previous lessons we’ve seen how Jesus has stated that He came from God and people must either believe in Him or die in their sins. In verse 30, just before this lesson, we read: “As he spake these words, many believed on him.” Now, Jesus addresses at least some of those who have begun to believe on Him. Their reaction isn’t exactly what we might expect. Apparently their belief never became the deep faith of the heart.

We do well to consider the freedom Jesus offers to each of us. It isn’t a wild freedom to do whatever we wish. Rather, it is freedom from the sinful nature that drives the unbeliever to separate himself or herself from God. This freedom from sin is also a freedom from the rigid laws of the Old Testament that sought to control people whose sinful natures were still intact. That isn’t to say that the principles found in those laws are no longer valid. Rather, it shows that we now have a new nature that seeks to please God rather than the law-controlled nature that obeys God out of fear. That new nature enables us to please God in ways that the law never could.

Related Scriptures
Romans 6:20-23
Romans 7:1-6
Romans 8:1-4
Galatians 5:13-18
Galatians 5:25
Philippians 3:4-9

Questions

1.  What did Jesus say was the mark of one who was truly His disciple (follower)?
2. What did Jesus say His followers would know?
3. What would the truth make them?
4. What did Jesus say they would they be free from?
5. How does freedom from sin relate to the Old Testament laws that taught us the meaning of sin?
6. Did those to whom Jesus spoke appreciate what Jesus said?
7. What claim did they have toward spiritual freedom?
8. In spite of their heritage, were they truly free?
9. What did their rebellious attitude say about the sincerity of their faith in Jesus?
10. It is common for Christian people to struggle between the desires of their flesh and the new life/freedom they have in Christ. What solution do the verses from   Galatians 5 offer to those facing this struggle?

This study is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.