This following statement might be a shocking one: “The Truth does not set people free!”

Allow that to sink in.

The Truth is freely available, yet not everyone enjoys the freedom truth brings. This is because it is not truth that sets us free but the Truth we know that sets us free.

In John 8:31-2 we witness a conversation where Jesus said to the Jews who believed on him, “If you continue [stay] [MF1] in my word, you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

There is sequence in the text: continuing in the Word, getting to know the truth and then there’s freedom.

Practical example:

While Israel were slaves in Egypt, enduring hardship, they cried out to God but didn’t know what was happening behind the scenes. The truth was that God was working on their freedom, including with a reluctant Moses.  It was only when Moses and Aaron told them about God’s plan that they knew their freedom was at hand (Exodus 4:27-31) and that gave them hope.

The lack of knowledge is a destroyer

There’s a 1576 saying [hence the language]: “So long as I know it not, it hurteth mee not.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The sad reality is that ignorance destroys people.  The Word says in Hosea 4:6a “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, …”

Practical example:

How many people are destroyed because they don’t know that: “God so loved the world that He his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”?

To Know

There’s a difference between knowing and knowing about something. To know is to have an intimate relationship with the information at hand. Pharmacists know medicine and structural engineers know building design – not vice versa. It’s not surface-level-knowledge.

In Scripture “Adam knew his wife, and she conceived” (Genesis 4:1) and “Elkanah knew Hannah his wife” and she also conceived (1Samuel 1:19-20). After intimate relationship there was conception.  The physical is an example of the spiritual. 

If we truly desire spiritual fruit to show up in our lives, we need an intimate relationship with the Word so that the seed of the Word may be conceived in our hearts.

Practical example:

Look how beautifully the young Mary demonstrates this to us when she said to the angel Gabriel “Let it be to me according to your word” when he announced Christ’s birth to her (Luke 1:26-38).

Note the sequence: the Word of God, knowledge, conception and Fruit.

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