"JESUS went on to say to the Jews who believed in HIM, 'You will be MY true disciples, if you keep MY word. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered HIM, 'We are the descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone. What do you mean by saying: You will be free?'
JESUS answered them, 'Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave. But the slave doesn't stay in the house forever; the son stays forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will really be free.
I know that you are the descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill ME because MY word finds no place in you. For MY part, I speak of what I have seen in MY FATHER's presence, but you do what you have learned from your father.'
They answered HIM, 'Our father is Abraham.' Then JESUS said, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would do as Abraham did. But now you want to kill ME, the one who tells you the truth--the truth that I have learned from GOD. That is not what Abraham did; what you are doing are the works of your father.'
The Jews said to HIM, 'We are not illegitimate children; we have one FATHER, GOD.' JESUS replied, If GOD were your FATHER you would love ME, for I came forth from GOD, and I AM here. And I didn't come by MY own decision, but it was HE HIMSELF who sent ME." - John 8:31-42
(JESUS comes to them as a witness to the truth; and HIS presence alone obliges all to examine themselves. The truth JESUS speaks of is not a doctrine that HIS followers should impose by force. Propagandists with arguments and biblical quotations are not needed, but witnesses who speak from their experience. JESUS says: The truth will set you free, and: the Son makes you free. Our truth consists in living in accordance with our vocation as children of GOD.
The believer who knows he is loved by GOD and consequently endeavors to be authentic is already in the truth, even if he retains some prejudices common to his milieu, or is unconsciously guided by some lies or illusions in his way of living.
JESUS also speaks of freedom. Truth and freedom go together. Many individuals and people have not spared themselves in an effort to break their chains. Once liberated they quickly fall into other forms of subjugation, because the root of all slavery lies within everyone.)
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