The Truth Shall Set You Free

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Reformation Day T John 8:31-36

INI

It’s fitting that we began the celebration of our Reformation service with a baptism, isn’t it? What greater place to SEE the grace of God poured out. This isn’t a grace that they’ve earned – it’s a grace freely given by God – even to the most lowly. It was a promise spoken by God upon them at the font. He spoke His Name on them, adopting them into the divine family, through which every divine gift and blessing becomes theirs. His Word of truth was poured out to claim them for Himself.

This is how grace works – no amount of good works could achieve the blessings freely received in the font. It’s all gift – because the Words and promises of God are powerful.

It’s always beautiful to witness a baptism – because it reminds every one of us gathered here where a life of following Jesus begins – and thus, where discipleship flows from.

In our Gospel lesson, Jesus shows where all our lives revolve around. Jesus says, “If you abide in my Word, you are truly My disciples.” To abide means to dwell in – like a house. Or to remain in – like it’s a place of refuge and safety. Or to live in – as if it’s something you take with you throughout your day.

This promise isn’t something you work towards – something exclusive to the hyper-spiritual. It’s the shape of a baptized Christian’s life. This is what we witnessed this morning – Christ has called the Franco children to abide in Christ’s Word. The Word of God joined the water, and by the work of the Holy Spirit, the new life of faith began.

In that way, many misunderstand baptism. It’s not a one-time event of God’s grace. It’s the entrance into a lifetime of abiding in God’s grace through the Word placed on them.

That’s why the baptismal font was moved to the back of the church. The first thing you encounter once you come into the church is the baptismal font. You pass by it on your way in – serving as a reminder that YOUR baptismal water is the very foundation of God’s promise made to you. Before we even hear the invocation, or sing a hymn, or receive the Supper, the font is the first Word you encounter when you walk in. You might even say that the font is the first sermon of the day. And it preaches: Christ has claimed YOU through the Word given to YOU in this water. And through that word, you abide in Him!

         But abiding in Christ’s Word is more than remembering a moment of time – it’s a continual living in this promise. Paul writes in our epistle lesson – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And how often do we prove that true? We drift. We forget. That’s living a life of unrighteousness, meaning we don’t reflect the goodness, truth, and love which come from God. Too often, we treat God’s Word as something that must adapt to us, instead of us being shaped by it.

         But thanks be to God that our failures can’t make God’s promises flee from us. For the Word which called you in your baptismal waters calls you back – time and time again – through repentance and faith. Through confession and absolution, we hear God’s voice again, calling us to die to the old sinful Adam that lives within us, and to rise to new life in Christ each day.

         So, we know that we are made disciples by abiding in God’s Word and promise. Next, Jesus says “and you will know the truth.” Now, when we hear that word ‘truth’, we normally think of information or facts. Something that can be discussed and debated to achieve a true reflection of reality. In our minds, truth is something that’s provable. But Jesus doesn’t seem to use that word truth in such a way – especially here in John’s Gospel.

         The truth Jesus speaks of isn’t an idea. It’s a person. Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” So, Jesus isn’t just saying that you will know true things about the world if you listen to His Word. He’s saying that by abiding in the Word, you will know Him. You will trust Him. You will confess Him with your lips and believe in your heart that He is who He says He is. He is the perfectly obedient Son of the Heavenly Father. He is the righteousness of God that’s been made manifest in the world apart from the Law that we’ve failed to keep. And by knowing Him, you will have the next thing Jesus promises: freedom.

         He says “and the truth will set you free.”  This is what Reformation is all about. It’s not about the discovery of truth, but discovering that Truth is a person – a Savior – who makes sinners righteous before a holy God. Not because of any merit or worthiness in us poor sinners. But only because of the grace and mercy of God.

         Knowing this Truth sets you free. He gives you new life. Paul says in Romans 8:2 “The law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ from the law of sin and death.” To know Christ is to be made alive. You’ve been freed from the fear of death – both spiritual and earthly death – because Christ’s resurrection frees you to live a life clothed by the blood of Jesus. His garments of righteousness become yours. His inheritance becomes yours. His Father becomes yours. So you are no longer your own. You’ve been bought with the Holy blood of Jesus.

         It’s a blessing that your spiritual freedom isn’t conditional upon you, or how well you live it out. It’s all dependent on Christ, and how He lived it out. And how He’s freely given it to you as a gift. You have freedom from sin and death, and living according to this promise is a fruit of this freedom.

         And how should we use this freedom? Should I continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means! You’re free! Don’t submit yourself back to the yoke of slavery to sin! It’s as Paul says in Galatians 5:13 – “You were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, that is to say, as a license to engage in guilt-free sin. That would be an abuse of God’s mercy. But through love, serve one another.”

         When we hear that word freedom, we think of it as freedom of choice, or freedom from tyranny, or freedom from someone else telling us what to do. But this Christian word for freedom reflects the greatest freedom we could have – freedom from the curse of the Law. Freedom from the impossible task of proving to God that you’re enough. God’s love for you isn’t based on YOUR accomplishments, but Jesus’ accomplishments.

         But to know the goodness of this freedom, we must come face to face with what we’ve been freed from. The Law is God’s Word. And Paul says that when the Law speaks, every mouth is stopped. The Law reveals to us what we are – hostile sinners to God’s will. And it silences any self-made effort and excuse that we could make to justify our actions before a holy God.

         But then God speaks another word – the Gospel. Paul speaks of it in Romans 3:21 – “but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteous of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” This sort of righteousness is something we could never achieve through the observance of the Law. It’s something that can only be passively received through faith in Christ. And this faith clings to Christ – His blood, His cross, His promises in holy baptism, holy absolution, and the Holy Supper – through these things, God’s powerful Word makes us righteous in His sight.

         Luther says it beautifully – “The Law says, ‘Do this’, and it is never done. Grace says, ‘Believe in this’, and everything is already done.” That’s the freedom that the Truth gives you. You’re not bound to your failures or your performance. You are bound to Christ.

         So, what does all this mean for you?

         It means that every time you walk in this sanctuary and are met by the baptismal font – God’s Word is reminding you whose you are. Christ reminds you of your freedom, brought through His own obedience to God’s Law. And to abide in this Word means that you live daily in these promises. To know the Truth is to know what Christ has won it for you. And to be set free is to live as one who’s justified.

         So, as we celebrate the Reformation, we rejoice that God’s Word still does what it says – it calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies God’s people by the work of Christ alone. It’s as Jesus Himself said – “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

INI

Pastor Joshua Ralston