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Commentaries
English
John
  
33They answered him, "We are the descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free?’ "34Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin.35The slave does not continue in the house for ever.36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."


The Jews were perplexed; their forefathers had lived two hundred years under Pharaoh’s bondage in Egypt, and they considered themselves liberated by God’s might, since He had brought them out of that bondage (Exodus 20:2). So Jesus’ words vexed them when he denied that they were freed.
Jesus had to deflate the pride of those who had begun to believe in him. He showed them that they were slaves of sin, and captives of Satan. If we fail to realize the dead weight of our bondage, we shall not long for salvation. He who knows himself to be incapable of overcoming his sins, is the one who will ask God to save him. Here we see the reason why so many people do not seek Jesus; it is that they think themselves not needing his salvation.
Jesus declares forcibly, "Whoever sins, becomes sin’s slave. Many a young man begins his life with lies, sloth, and trivia. They played about with sin and wallowed in it in imagination; eventually they resolved to go for it and planned their path with deceit. They tried some vice and repeated it, until it became a habit for them. When they sensed the filth and viciousness and heard the rebukes of their consciences, the time had passed; they were now slaves of their sins. They were driven to commit a crime reluctantly. At that they would curse the hour they had begun to listen to their evil thoughts. Men have become wicked, even though they conceal the ugly truth behind masks of false piety and courtesy. Every man without Christ is a slave of his lusts. Satan toys with their nerves, as a storm does with a dry leaf.
Then God’s Son utters his royal word, "At present I am with you and know your bonds. I am able and ready to free you and wipe away your sins. I have not come for a superficial reform of the world, nor to discipline you with a harsher law. No, I aim to free you from the power of sin and the might of death and the rights claimed by Satan. I will recreate you, revive you, so that the power of God in you may be an antidote to sin. Doubtless, Satan will tempt you in a thousand ways. You will stumble, but not as slaves, but as children holding the earnest of your new rights."
"You are redeemed for ever, paid by my blood, bought in the market of sin. You are special to God. He offered you liberty, for you to be free children. Freed from sin, I transport you to fellowship with God, for service and thanksgiving voluntarily. I am the one liberator, who rescues you from the prison of guilt to the realm of God. I am God’s Son, holding authority to free all who listen to my voice."

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we worship and praise you, for you are the omnipotent Savior, who on the cross freed us finally from Satan’s tyranny. You have forgiven all our transgressions. You cleanse us so as not to remain slaves of bitterness and hatred, but to serve God as sons freed and rejoicing.
Question
How can we be liberated truly?