Are You Made Free or Set Free? And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 This verse is often misquoted by substituting set for make: …the truth shall set you free. The English Standard Version translates it this way. On the surface, this doesn’t sound like a big deal. The underlying Greek could be translated set free. So what is the problem? Most old westerns explain it very well. When one of the local bank robbers was put in jail, his fellow gang members would blaze into town, blow up the jail and set him free. Now, he certainly was free from his prison but was he really “free?” No. In the eyes of the law he was still a guilty man and eventually he was usually recaptured to serve his sentence. Now, if there was a man in jail and the sheriff came in with a judge’s order that said he was innocent and should be [...]

Joshua chapter three records the journey of the children of Israel up to the Jordan River. God speaks to them through His servant Joshua to sanctify themselves because the Lord will do wonders among them. God had commanded them to cross over the river, yet the river overflows its banks during the harvest season. The path is obstructed, the way unsurpassable, the situation impossible. For at least one night the children of Israel are camped with no way to move forward. Many thoughts could have gone through their minds, many doubts, many fears, and questions. God had told them based upon that which He would do, they would know that He was among them. God would surely keep His promise and bring them into the promised land and most assuredly give them victory over their enemies, even when the odds were against them, yet here they are in their tents on this side of the river, with only a promise. What should the children of [...]