The Truth Will Set You Free

Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

Growing up, I believe that most of us were taught to tell the truth. We were taught that lying was bad and that we should always be honest. As kids, we probably didn’t pay as much attention to this lesson as we should have. But, as adults, I hope you have learned by now that honesty really is the best policy. (Because, believe me, it really is the best policy!)

I think we have all heard the statement, “the truth will set you free”, but have you ever wondered what that statement was actually about? If you are NOT a child of God, you may have figured that it just went along with the “honesty is the best policy” teaching. And, while they do go together, there is a much more important and profound principle behind this statement. This is actually scripture; a Bible verse found in John chapter 8, verse 32. It says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Do you know what the “truth” is? If not, please allow me to enlighten you. Jesus is the Truth. In the Bible, we learn that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. (See John 14:6) So, if you take John 8:32 and replace the word “truth” with “Jesus”, you get: Then you will know Jesus, and Jesus will set you free.  

Jesus offers us freedom from the bondage of sin. It is a spiritual freedom. As humans, we are slaves to the sin in our lives. And, while we will always sin in this life, we do NOT have to be chained to it for eternity. When we believe in Jesus, He releases us from the yoke of sin.

When we become saved, that is when we believe in Jesus Christ and invite Him to live in our hearts, we become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new one has come!”

​Once we start a relationship with God, we are fundamentally changed. We realize that our lives are no longer worldly, but are spiritual.  And, while we will still sin, our hearts are changed and we become aware of our sinful nature, and therefore, we strive to sin less.

Each day that spend time with God, we grow as Christians. And, as we grow in Christ, we see the world differently. We start to see the world through the eyes of Christ. We start to care more for our fellow human beings. We start to become more kind and caring in general. And, we want others to come to know God, like we know Him. We start to realize that we have a purpose in life. And, that purpose is share the love of Jesus Christ.

So, the truth is, only Jesus can save us. And, once you know this “truth”, once you know Jesus, He will set you free!  The truth is that God loved us so much that He sent His son to die on the cross for OUR sins. (See John 3:16) I believe that that is the most powerful truth in the world! And, once you know this truth, you are truly set free!