CONTEXT MATTERS!

It is often said in the body of Christ, and even in the secular world, that “knowing the truth will set you free.” Secularly it is often used to say, “knowledge will set you free” for educational purposes, while in the church, for the sake of believers to study and know the Scripture, to be set free from falsehoods, but is that the original meaning in the context of Jesus when He said it? Let’s take a deeper look, and the truth about it will unfold.
 
John 8:30-32 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
 
Note that this was said by Jesus to those who believed in Him, and that He said it with a requirement. First He said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” Followed with “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” So this was not said for unbelievers. This was said for those who “believe” and “abide in His word and are His disciples indeed” – not for those who don’t. This is specifically an intrinsic part of what Jesus was saying. Consider the very next verses of the conversation.
 
John 8:33-36 “They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’”
 
Those that responded to Jesus in vs. 33, lied when they said that they had never been in bondage to anyone. Not only had their forefathers been in bondage in Egypt and Babylon, but even as they spoke, they were not free as they were under the dominion of Rome. And in fact, they were not free spiritually or physically.
 
Jesus’ answer to their lying response and their question of how they could be made free, specifically had to do with being in bondage to sin. He replied, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” Jesus was sent from the Father to set us free from the bondage of sin. We still sin as believers, but sinning is no longer the way of life. The old way of sin led to eternal death and the new life in obedience to God, leads to righteousness and eternal life. Just as Paul wrote in Romans 6:16, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
 
Jesus also said in verse 36, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” If we come to believe and know the Son, He makes us free indeed. Sin will no longer be our master. We become free from the bondage of sin (and the devil) when Jesus becomes our personal Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Truth He was referring to, just as in John 14:6, when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
 
Going back to verse 32, “And you shall “know” the truth and the truth shall make you free,” the “know” referred to is much more than intellectual knowledge. Jesus was not speaking about education. He was speaking about deliverance from the bondage of sin, that is found in Him and Him alone. The original word used, “ginōskō” (Strong's G1097), is a Greek verb meaning "to know," frequently implying an active, relational, or experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual awareness. Used over 200 times in the New Testament, it denotes learning, perceiving, understanding, or recognizing, often in the context of intimate, personal knowledge. And in verse 31, when it says, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” The language tense of “abide” is “continual.” So this knowing of the truth, is in knowing Jesus Christ. And in an active, relational way of personal experience. This is not a one-time experience, it is a continual relationship.
 
There is truly an illumination that comes from knowing various truths in life and these illuminations can be quite revelatory, especially the illuminations found in God’s Word, and that we apply to our lives, but we must know that the truth of John 8:32 and John 8:36, is about Jesus Christ.
 
In conclusion, if we believe in the Lord and if we abide (continually) in His Word, then we are His disciples indeed. And as we come into an intimate personal relationship with Jesus as the Truth, we are truly made free from sin and the bondage of it.