“The Truth Will Set You Free”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen. Just outside Washington, D.C., in the suburb of Langley, Virginia, is
the headquarters of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. In the
lobby of the CIA headquarters building there is a pink granite cornerstone
inscribed with the words: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free.” Those words are a quote from today’s Gospel Reading for Reformation
Sunday, from the eighth chapter of John. Jesus declares: “If you continue
in my Word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.” The mission of the CIA is of course to find out EARTHLY truth, which
helps maintain our nation’s POLITICAL freedom. So, the quote from the
Bible on their cornerstone is out of context. For, the truth Jesus is
really talking about is not earthly truth, but SPIRITUAL truth. And the
freedom Jesus is talking about is not political freedom, but SPIRITUAL freedom.
Jesus tells us THE one and only way to know spiritual truth, and have spiritual
freedom: “If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples; and you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” A recent Gallup Poll asked Americans: “Is it better to learn from
teachings of an organized religion, or is it better to develop your own
religious beliefs independently?” 76% answered it is better to develop
independent religious beliefs. So, it’s not surprising that in the same
poll the exact same percentage—76%—said that being active in a church is not an
important part of being a sincere religious person. Gallup concluded that
we are becoming a nation of “believers, not belongers.” People who claim
to be sincere believers, but neglect or even reject belonging to and attending a
Bible-believing church. We also reflect those same distorted values. For, we often do not
make church attendance the top priority in our lives; we do not gladly hear and
learn the Word of God. Year after year we neglect worship, Sunday School,
Bible class; our own Bible reading, devotions, and prayers. WE think we
can be sincere religious people without remaining in God’s Word. “If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples; and you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But, the opposite is
also true: Even though you may consider yourself a sincere religious person, if
you do NOT continue in his Word, you are not truly his disciple, you do not know
the truth, and you are not free, but a slave to sin. The Word of God tells us the ugly truth that we are all sinners:
“Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the moment my mother
conceived me;” “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” “There is
no one who is righteous; No, not even one;” “Everyone who sins is a slave to
sin.” The ugly truth is, we each deserve punishment for our sin. The
punishment? Eternal death and damnation: “For the wages of sin is death.” Martin Luther knew well this ugly truth. He knew well that he was
a sinner deserving damnation. That’s why he became a monk. It’s
called the “Dark Ages” because the church in those days had largely forgotten
God’s Word. In the twisted teachings of the medieval church we see what
happens when humans turn away from God’s Word and instead “develop independent
religious beliefs.” The church Luther grew up in falsely taught that people could make up
for their sins themselves and earn God’s favor and forgiveness with their own
good works. That’s what Luther was trying so desperately to do. But,
even though he became a monk, even though he tried his best to live a humble,
holy life, even though he devoted himself to prayers and fasting, he could not
find peace, he could not find freedom from the ugly truth that he was a slave to
sin. He knew his own good works would never be enough, because God demands
absolute perfection, something no human can ever achieve. And so Luther sank deep into despair and depression, afraid of God’s
wrath, fearing the punishment he knew he deserved. In one of his hymns he
says, “My fears increased till sheer despair left only death to be my share . .
. daily deeper still I fell, my life became a living hell.” But, one day, Martin Luther was set free: Set free from fear, set free
from despair and depression, set free from trying to earn his own salvation.
That day Martin Luther came to know the wonderful truth of the Gospel. He
was reading that part of the book of Romans in today’s Epistle Reading, when he
came to understand the Good News the church in those days had forgotten: That
God himself forgives us and set us free from sin through his Son, Jesus Christ. Paul writes: “No one will be declared righteous in [God’s] sight by
observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But
now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been revealed . . . This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. .
. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his
blood. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the
law.” Jesus Christ gave his life as a ransom for you, a “sacrifice of
atonement,” to pay for you the punishment your sin deserves, to earn your
forgiveness and freedom. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and died a
sacrificial death to take away the sins of the world—including yours!
Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and all who trust in him shall follow him into
eternal life. Your sins are all forgiven; that is the wonderful truth of
the Gospel. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. The Holy Spirit works saving faith in your heart through the Word and
Sacraments. In Holy Baptism, your sins were washed away, you were given
the gift of faith, you were made a believing child of God. In Holy
Communion, you receive Christ’s body and blood, heavenly food for your soul, to
nourish your faith. In God’s Holy Word Jesus gives you comforting promises: “I tell
you the truth,” he says, “whoever hears my word and believes . . . has eternal
life;” “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you
rest;” “Surely I am with you always even to the end of the age;” “I am the
Good Shepherd; I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, and I lay down my life for
the sheep;” Because I live, you also shall live;” “And I will raise you up
at the last day;” “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life;’ “I am the Resurrection
and the life; whoever believes in me, even though he dies, yet shall he live.” “If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples; and you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Saving faith comes
through the Sacraments and the Word of God. Do not despise God’s Word, but
gladly hear and learn it. Continue in his Word. Come each Sunday to
worship; read the Bible and have devotions with your Portals of Prayer; bring
your family faithfully to Sunday School and Bible class. Continue in his
Word! Then you are truly his disciple, and you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free—forever! Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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