for evermore. Death cannot stop it. The grave cannot even hold their bodies for more than a little season. Those whom Christ makes free are free to all eternity.
Let us never rest till we have some personal experience of this freedom ourselves. Without it all other freedom is a worthless privilege. Free speech, free laws, political freedom, commercial freedom, national freedom, — all these cannot smooth down a dying pillow, or disarm death of his sting, or fill our consciences with peace. Nothing can do that but the freedom which Christ alone bestows. He gives it freely to all who seek it humbly. Then let us never rest till it is our own.
Notes. John VIII. 31—36.
81.— [Then Jesus said.. .Jews. ..believed.. .him.'] It is clear, I think, from the tone of the conversation that runs from this verse uninterruptedly to the end of the chapter, that this "believ- ing " was not faith of the heart. These Jews only " believed " that our Lord was One sent from heaven, and deserved atten- tion. But they were the same Jews to whom He says by and by, "Ye are of your father the devil."
[If ye continue... my word. ..disciples indeed.] This sentence does not mean that these Jews had really begun to receive Christ's word into their hearts. Such a sense would be contra- dictory to the context. It must mean : " If you take up a firm stand on that Gospel and Word of Truth which I have come to proclaim, and go on sticking firmly to it in your hearts and lives, not merely convinced and wishing, but actually following Me, then you are truly My disciples."— The word rendered " in- deed " is more literally, "truly." The converse throws light on our Lord's meaning: "You are not truly disciples, unless you continue steadfast in My doctrine."
Our Lord teaches the great principle, that steady continuance is the only real and safe proof of discipleship. No persever- ance, no grace ! No continuance in the word, no real faith and conversion ! This is one of the meeting-points between Calvin- ist and Arminian. He that has true grace will not fall away. He that falls away has no true grace, and must not flatter him- self he is a disciple.
Let us note, that it is not the "word continuing in us," but " our continuing in the word," which makes us true disciples. The distinction is very important. The word " might continue in us," and not be seen. If we " continue in the word," our
john, chap. vm. 105
lives will show it. In John xv. 7, we have both expressions together: " If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you."
$2. — [And ye shall know the truth.'] The expression, " the truth." here cannot, I think, mean the Personal Truth, the Messiah. It must be the whole doctrinal truth concerning Myself, My nature, My mission, and My Gospel. Steady continuance in My service shall lead to clear knowledge. It is a parallel saying to the sentence, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." (vii. 17.) Honest obedience and steady perse- verance in acting up to our light, and doing what we learn, are one grand secret of obtaining more knowledge.
Chrysostom however thinks that our Lord means by " truth," Himself. " Ye shall know Me, for I am the truth." So also Augustine, Theophylact, Euthymius, and Lampe.
[The truth shall make you free.] This freedom can only mean spiritual freedom, — freedom from the guilt, burden, and domin- ion of sin, — freedom from the heavy yoke of Pharisaism, under which many Jews were labouring and heavy laden. (Matt. xi. 28.) " The Gospel I preach, and its good news, shall deliver you from spiritual bondage, and make you feel like men set at liberty."
I think these words must have been spoken with special ref- erence to the bondage and spiritual slavery in which the Jewr were kept by their principal teachers, when our Lord came among them.' In the synagogue at Nazareth He had said, that He came " to preach deliverance to the captives." (Luke iv. 18.) This, however, is the first place in the Gospels where He openly declares that His Gospel will give men freedom.
Until truth comes into a man's heart, he never really knows what it is to feel true spiritual liberty.
Augustine says, " To Christ let us all flee. Against sin let us call on God to interpose as our Liberator. Let us ask to be taken on sale, that we may be redeemed by His blood."
53. — [They answered, We be Abraham's seed.] Here we see the usual pride of carnal descent coming out in the Jewish mind. It is just what John the Baptist told them when he preached, "Think not to say that we have Abraham to our father." (Matt. iii. 19.)
[And to ere never in bondage to any man.] This is the blind- ness of pride in its strongest form. The seed of Abraham were in bondage to the Egyptians and Babylonians for many years, to say nothing of the frequent bondages to Philistines, and other nations, as recorded in the book of Judges. Even now, while they spoke, they were in subjection to the Romans. The power of self-deception in unconverted man is infinite. These Jews were not more unreasonable than many now-a-days, who say, " We are not dead in sin, — we have grace, we have faith,