Exposition of John, Chapter 8 · Verse 17
Ver. 30. As he ſpake thoſe words, many beleeved on him.
31. Then ſaid Jeſus to thoſe Jewes which beleeved on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my diſciples indeed.
32. And ye ſhall know the Truth, and the truth ſhall make you free.
In theſe verſes, John records that this his doctrine had ſucceſſe among many; And albeit it was but weak beginnings they had, (as appears by Chriſts doctrine to them) yet he exhorts them to perſeverance, and encourages them in that ſtudy, by promiſing. 1. That ſo they ſhall prove themſelves to be among the number of his real diſciples. 2. That they ſhall encreaſe in knowledge of the truth, and in feeling the power and efficacy thereof, 3. That they ſhall be made partakers of true Chriſtian liberty. Whence learn, 1. Oppoſition made to Chriſt will not hinder the ſucceſſe of his Goſpel, but even the contentions and debates occaſioned by malicious men, may do much good to many; for, as he ſpake theſe words, many beleeved on him. Even from amongſt the crew of oppoſers, he gathers followers. 2. As it is preaching which God hath appointed to be the mean of converſion; ſo in particular, when men conſider, either the danger of Chriſts forſaking and giving up with them, or his own true excellency, as they are revealed in the word; it may be a mean to excite them to lay hold on him; for, this ſucceſſe followed upon his ſpeaking theſe things, which may relate either generally to the whole preceding doctrine, wherein he leaves them to give an account to God of their deſpiſing of him; or particularly, to the laſt words, wherein he points out his conjunction with, and his being approven of the Father. 3. Chriſt is a tender cheriſher of weak beginners, and will rather take pai…s to encourage them, then weaken their hands; for, albeit they were weak, yet he calls it beleeving, and encourageth them to hold on. 4. Such as embrace Chriſt, do ſtand in great need of confirmation, and ſhould be ſeriouſly affected with that great undertaking wherein they engage, Therefore doth Ch…iſt ſo much excite them, and labour to ſet their joints aright: Albeit converſion be a very great work, yet confirmation of the converted is no ſmall work, and a notable fruit of the Miniſtry: Eph. 4.8, 9, 12, 13. 5. It is not enough that men do embrace Chriſt for a ſit only, but if they would reap the benefit of piety, they ought to perſevere; And albeit ſuch as do perſevere, may be kept a while without ſenſible feeling of the advantage of their courſe, yet, in due time, they ſhall finde it: Therefore doth he propound this condition to them, if ye continue, and upon performance of that, makes the promiſe 6. They who would perſevere indeed, ought to cleave cloſly to the doctrine of Chriſt, not only renouncing falſe doctrine, and giving obedience to his truth, but as faith is begotten by the Word, ſo it muſt be cheriſhed and fed by it, and they muſt embrace and cle…ve to Chriſt as he reveals himſelfe in the Word, though otherwiſe they do not ſenſibly finde his preſence; yea, a…d their ſenſe and fear and guilt may repreſent him otherwiſe then the Word ſaith of him; Therefore ſaith he unto them, Continue in my word. 7. It is the great priviledge of loſt ſinners, to be made diſciples to Chriſt, taught of him, and admitted to follow him and be in his company, as a pledge of their being with him for ever; Therefore it is held out as their encouragement and reward, ye are my diſciples. 8. As Chriſt hath ſome diſciples who are ſo in reality, and others who are ſuch but in ſhew only; So whatever external priviledges may follow on mens outward profeſſion and ſhew; Yet there is no true ground of ſolid comfort, but in being real diſciples; Therefore doth he encourage them with this, which only could yeeld true comfort, ye are my diſciples indeed, or, truly, and, in truth. 9. Albeit real converts be diſciples unto Chriſt from the firſt moment of their converſion; Yet that is oft times hid from them, till they give proofe of their ſincerity, by perſeverance, and then their faire advantages are intima…e unto them; Therefore ſaith he, If ye continue in my word, thou are ye my diſciples indeed. He ſaith not then ye ſhall be my diſciples, as if the reality of their ſtate depended upon their perſeverance, but, then are ye my diſciples, that is, ye prove and make the truth of it manifeſt by your perſeverance, and ye ſhall ſince the comfort of it your ſelves. 10. As all natural men, and counterfeit diſciples, are but ignorant of the truth of God, eſpecially of the power and life that is in it, and accompanieth it; So even ſound beginners may be for a time weak in theſe things; for, ſo is here ſuppoſed, that however they had ſome beginnings, yet they were yet to know the truth. 11. It is a very great advantage to get found and ſaving knowledge of the truths of the Goſpel, that ſo faith may cloſe with them, and men may be eſtabliſhed in them, and kept on truths ſide againſt all deluſions, and be made partakers of the ſweet refreſhments that flow therefrom; Therefore it is held out as a rich encouragement, ye ſhall know the truth. 12. Proficiency in knowledge and the effects thereof, is not only beleevers dutie, which they ſhould labour for, but it is Gods promi…e to work it, who ſhould be depended on for that effect; for, it is his promiſe to true diſciples, ye ſhall know the truth. 13. Whatever be the weakneſſe, ignorance, and wants, of weak beginners, and how little ſoever refreſhment they finde in the truths of the Goſpel; Yet by perſeverance and continuance, all this will be helped, and they will ſtill know more and more of the truth, and the conſolations thereof; for, If ye continue, ye ſhall know the truth, 14. Since the …all of Adam, there is no man but …e is b…n a ſpiritual ſlave without freedome, under the dominion and power of ſinne and Satan, and under the curſe of the Law; for, ſo is here imported, in that they need to be made free. 15. Such as do embrace Chriſt, and perſevere in obedience to his Word; albeit they be not looſed from that due ſubjection which, in their ſeveral ſtations, they owe to Superiours, 1 Cor 7.20, 21, 22. yet they are made partakers of true Chriſtian liberty, and are delivered not onelyonly from the bondage wherein they were held by nature, when they were ſlaves to ſinne and Satan, and under the condemning and curſing power of the Law; and from the external bondage of an yoke of Ceremonies, impoſed upon the Jewes, and of humane precepts in things indifferent in Gods worſhip: But alſo from that ſpirit of bondage which he lets out at firſt upon his own, in order to their future freedome. Rom 8.15. Therefore ſaith Chriſt, the truth ſhall make you free. And albeit beleevers, and they who continue in Chriſts Word, do not alwayes enjoy the poſſeſſion and uſe of this liberty, but may be under bondage, terrour, and fear; Yet that is not their allowance, but flows from their own we kneſſe, which apprehends all their bonds to be being on, when really they are freed from them: And therefore they ſhould complain of themſelves to God, and ſtrive for the uſe of what is their right, by walking familiarly with God, and chearfully and comfortably in his ſe…vice, and by making their liberty a Law, to binde themſelves more ſtrictly to his obedience. 16. This making them free is here attribute to the truth, whereas Chriſt onelyonly is the cauſe of our liberty, verſe 36. But theſe are not inconſiſtent; for, it is Chriſt indeed who purchaſeth and applyeth this liberty; Chriſt and this his purchaſe and offer, are h…ld out in the Word, to be laid h…ld on there by faith, and ſo the beleever comes to get the right, and application of it, and he living by faith, the Spirit of Adoption comes and ſeals up this liberty, Epheſ 1.13. Gal 4.6. So is this to be underſtood, the truth ſhall make you free.