FREE INDEED by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 6, 1896

“FREE INDEED.”

By H. A. St. John

BY H. A. ST. JOHN.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36. Just before this Jesus had said, “The truth shall make you free.” There is no practical difference in these two utterances, as Jesus himself is “the Truth.” John 14:6. Jesus is the agent, while the truth is the instrument. The truth came through him.

The liberty, or freedom, of which Christ here speaks, is not what is commonly called religious liberty, or freedom, but something infinitely greater, and higher, and better. Earthly governments, or our fellow-men, may protect us in religious liberty, or liberty to exercise unmolested our religion, but Jesus only can give a man that freedom of which he speaks. Earthly governments may take away religious liberty, but they can not deprive us of soul liberty, or true freedom, or freedom indeed. This no man or set of men can either give or take away.

A person may be free indeed, have the highest kind of real freedom, and at the same time be in chains, in prison, in banishment, or in the lion’s den, deprived of both civil and religious liberty. He who hears the sayings of Christ, and does them, is free indeed. He whom Christ makes free from sin is free indeed. He who abides in the truth,—abides in Christ,—is free indeed. Any other kind of freedom or liberty is only formal, not real. To be free indeed is to be an Israelite indeed, and to be children of the New Jerusalem, which is above, which is free. Reader, seek for this highest freedom, and this highest home of the free.