The truth will set you free

 

Now, how many times have we heard it said that the truth will set you free? And how many times have you said, “the truth will set you free”? Countless times, I’m sure.

Just as we say, “money is the root of all evil” but have omitted the first part of 1 Timothy 6:10, “the love of”, in the same way, we quote only the latter part of John 8:32. The verse in its entirety is written, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

The truth, if you do not know it, will not set you free; knowing the truth will set you free.

You need to know the truth and only then will you be set free. But what is the truth you need to know? And what will knowing this truth set you free from?

It is the truth regarding salvation; knowing the truth regarding your salvation will set you free from the penalty of sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV).

In Jesus you are set free from the bondage of the old cycle and the old spiritual influences of sin.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:20-22 ESV) 

There are too many Christians today who hardly apprehend the full extent of salvation because they believe that they must continue to pursue the salvation that they have already received.

Is it that they are under the impression that the finished work of Jesus Christ is not finished?

But it’s easy to be led to believe that as true, as when we look at ourselves, we don’t measure up and that’s because everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard (ref. Romans 3:23).

That’s why it’s so important to know the truth and not just believe what you are told even if what you are being told comes from behind a pulpit.

Stop believing or letting others convince you that you need to finish the work of the cross to be in right standing with God, instead grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity (2 Peter 3:18 ESV).

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have been saved through His sacrificial death and you are not condemned, you are forgiven; you were saved when you openly confessed that “Jesus is Lord” and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead (see Romans 10:9).

Beloved, you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save [yourself]; it was a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8 ERV).

The truth is, you cannot save yourself (see v 9), Jesus Christ has saved you; He has set you free and whom Jesus has set free is free indeed (ref. John 8:36).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The truth will set you free” ©2026 June 1, 2026