The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 518

,s effected by the truth. (a) The truth is the efficient means of spiritnal freedom. It is based on and produced by the great facts of redemption. (b) The truth is tho efficient incentive to spiritual freedom. 'fhe revelation of sin, in its enormity, debasing effects, and ultimate consequences, and the revelation of God's loving, costly, and eel [- sacrificing provisions for sinners, are calculated to inspire the captive soul to struggle for and accept the offered liberty. (c) The truth experimentally known brings the fact of spiritual freedom to the consciousness. No sooner the facts of redemption, such as justification, forgiveness, and reconciliation by faith, are experimentally known than the soul begins to realize in itself the blessings of spiritual freedom. Christ lives in the disciple's consciousness, and he feels that he is a subject of the spiritual empire and a free-born citizen of the new Jerusalem. LESSONS. 1. The weakest faith has the sympathy and care of Jesus. The faith of these Jews was very weak and icperfect, hence this address to them. He despised not the day of small things-" A bruised reed shall he not break," etc. 2. The weakest faith by continuance in Christ's Word will reach perfection. "If ye abide," etc. The quality of faith at first is more important than quantity; quantity will follow. Spiritual millionaires co=enced with a very little capital The apostles properly addressed as, "Ye of little faith." Lean sheep thrive in green pastures. It is surprising how a weak faith is improved and strencrthened in the society and under the tuition of Jesus. 3. The weakest faith by abidi~g in Christ's Word shall enJoy the rir,hest Uessings. We say-Know all first, and then believe. But t~e Christian order ~s ra~her-~elieve first, and then know. The little knowledge reqUll'ed to precede faith 1s nothing to that which follows. It leads to true discipleship, and to the highest knowledge-the know- ledge of the truth. It opens the door of the temple of redemptive truth, and thus opens the portals of eterne.l freedom. Ignorance is captivity, knowledge is liberty. Let the scientific facts of the world be known, and men will be intellectually free; let the Divine facts of redemption be experimentally realized, and men shall walk in the glorious liberty of the sons of God.-B. T. Vers. 33-36.-Truefreedom. I. TRUE FREEDOM ll,'VOLVEB THAT OF THE SOUL. 1. A man may be physically free with011,t being free indeed. 2. A man may be socially free with011,t being free indeed. He may be in the full enjoyment of social and political privileges and yet e. captive. 3 . .A man may be mentally free without being free indeed. His intellect may be sound and grasping, his mental vision clear and far-reaching, and still be a prisoner. 4. True freedom involves that of the s011,l. For: (1) The s011,l is the highest part of man-that which makes him e. moral being and immortal, and connects him immediately with God and his government, and with spiritual existence generally. (2) His highest nature must be free ere he can be free indeed. He may be physically bound and be really free, but if the soul, the spiritual nature, be in bondage, it affects his whole being. II. TRUE FBEEDOl\l INVOLVES THAT OF THE SOUL FBOl\l SIN. 1. Sin makes the soul captive to the Divine Law. Sin is a transgression of Divine Law, and must be punished. "'fhe wages of sin is de11,th." The sinful soul is under the just condemnation of the Le.wand the displeasure of the Lawgiver, a prisoner of the Law nnd justice. 2. Sin makes the soul captive to itself. "Whosoever committeth sin," etc. In the decrree a man is under the control of sin, he is its slave. Sin enslaves the soul. (1) It dims its spiritual vision. Cannot see into the invisible and eternal. (2) It vitiates its spiritual taste. Cannot relish spiritual food. (3) It cramps and destroys its spiritual aspirations and capacities. Its wings are clipped by sin so that it cannot and will not fly aloft into its native air, (4) It debars the sov.lfrom its spiritual rights and privileges. The peace and f~iendship of God, and the society of the good and pure. 3. .All souls by nature a,:e,in the bondage qf sin. (1) Some an, unconscious of it, like these Jews-a sad condition. (2) Some are conscious of it-e. more hopeful state. (3) Whether conscious or unconscious of it, the/act remains. The soul by nature is the slave of sin and in the bondage ofnorruption. 4. In order to be truly free, the soul must be liberated. from sin. A state of wilful sin is a state of willing captivity, and deliverance from it is essential to true freedom. III. 'l'RUE FREEDOM OF THE SOUL FROM BIN IS EFFECTED BY CHRillT. 1. He can liberate the soul from sin. (1) He has power to pardon ,in. Without this the soul  304 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S'l'. JOHN. [en. vm. 1-o!J, -------------~-------------- cnnnot be rnailo free.. The sense of past guilt must be effaced, and A way of eseapo rnu~t be openeil. Tins hns been done by Christ in his self-sacrificing nnd vicnrioue life nnd death. In him Divine forgiveness is a glorious fact, and" he has power on earth" <>tc. (2) He bee power to separate the soul j,·om sin. This is done by the creation ~f a new hie-spiritual and Divine life. Christ by faith lives in the soul so that the J,eliever is mnde like Christ, the Son of God, and between him and sin the~ is nn cver- wi_d~ning _gulf. He is in a new world-the world of love and pul'ity, tho world of spmtunl Joy and freedom. (3) Christ alon~ has JJower to do this. He alone is freo from sin, and he alone can maka the soul free from it. He alone is divinely com- mi8sioncd to do this; he is the only spiritual Liberator of the human race. 2. Tl1e Ji·eedcm effected by Christ is most real. (1) It is ~tfected by the highest a11thority. By the eternal Son. From him there is no court of a~pe.'ll; his decision is final. "If ?oo- be for us," etc. ; "If the Son shall make you free,' etc. (2) The freedom is effected '.n the most satisfactory manner. If God is satisfied and man willingly consents, this 1s enough. No consideration nor apology is duo to Satan; he is a tyrant, a usurper, :md a thief, and has no right to the property. Let the Divine government be satisfied in the soul's freedom, and it is real. In Christ this is gloriously the case. "God is just, and Justifier," etc. (3) The freedom is most thorough and comprehensive. It is spiritual, the freedom of the soul from all evil and its admission to all good, "from the kin.,.dom of darkness into the king<lom," etc. It involves the restoration of the soul into its original state and right, and is no more in harmony with God's will than with the soul's true nature and aspirations, and is well calculated to promote its highest develop- ment and eternal happiness. (4) This freedom is permanent. No freedom that is temporary is true. The servants of sin are only tolerated; they must be excluded from the Father's house and its privileges sooner or later. But the freedom effected by Christ is that of sonship. All made free by Christ become the sons of God, and like Christ are entitled to remain in the house for ever. Their freedom is as permanent as the soul, as the existence of the great Liberator, and between them and captivity there will e,cr be a progressively holy nature and the infinite power of the eternal Son. LESSONS. 1. The importance of having rigl,t views offreedom. False views on this subject are so prevalent ; we are so prone to make mistakes on this. They are so dangerous. 2. The ,·mportance of having right views of the enslaving infl'IJ,llnce of sin. Without this we cannot obtain true liberty. So important is this that Christ calls special attention to it : "Verily, verily," etc. 3. The importance of obtaining true freedom. Man is so prone to be satisfied with false freedom, to be self-deceived. True freedom is the only one worth having. 4. The importance of being made free by Ghrist. He alone can make us free. 5. The duty of gratitude to him. He is the great Liberator of humanity. 'l.'hose who are made free indeed should be indeed thankful. A view of Christ as the Liberator will make heaven all ablaze with grntitude-ought to make l'.arth.-n. T.