This article is part of a yearlong series exploring one foundational biblical word each month. This month, we are focusing on LIBERTY. Throughout Scripture, the words liberty and freedom are often used interchangeably, and this week we turn our attention to the freedom that only Jesus Christ can give. Subscribe to the Sunday Morning Newsletter and catch up on the entire series at amac.us/faith.
My dad was a man of few words. As a kid, I sometimes wished he talked more. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that when he did speak, I knew it was worth listening. One lesson, in particular, has stayed with me my entire life.
“Never lie to me,” he would say. In fact, he felt so strongly about honesty that he’d add, “I’d rather you spit in my face than lie to me.” I’ve never forgotten those words. Looking back, I realize my father understood something I didn’t fully appreciate at the time: lies are far more destructive than we realize.
Scripture takes that truth even further, showing us that lies don’t merely deceive us – they enslave us.
The First Lie
The battle between truth and deception began in the Garden of Eden. Satan didn’t tempt Eve with sex, drugs, or rock ‘n’ roll. Instead, he tempted her with something far more subtle and dangerous – he twisted the truth with a single question: “Did God actually say…?” (Genesis 3:1, ESV). Once Eve began to question God’s Word, the serpent offered another lie: that God was holding out on her and that disobeying Him would lead to greater freedom, wisdom, and a better life.
The serpent promised freedom but delivered slavery.
Sin entered the world, fellowship with God was broken, and humanity has lived under the weight of deception ever since. The enemy’s strategy hasn’t changed. He still whispers that happiness can be found apart from God, telling us that sin will satisfy, that God’s commands are too restrictive, and that we know better than our Creator.
Every temptation ultimately asks the same question the serpent asked in the garden: Will you trust God’s truth, or will you believe a lie?
Jesus came to answer that question. Centuries later, He made one of the most powerful promises in all of Scripture: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32, ESV).
When His listeners insisted they had never been slaves, Jesus revealed the deeper reality: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34, 36, ESV).
Jesus wasn’t referring to political freedom. He was exposing the spiritual slavery that began in the Garden – the bondage of sin and the deception that accompanies it. Then He pointed to the only One who could break those chains: Himself. The freedom He offers is not merely freedom from something, but freedom to walk in the truth and become the men and women God created us to be.
Truth or Lies
Why does truth set us free? Because truth is not just an abstract idea; it is the very nature of God Himself. Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, ESV), and later prayed to the Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17, ESV). In contrast, Jesus described the devil as a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
Every day, those two voices compete for our attention. One leads to freedom, while the other leads to slavery.
We live in a world saturated with deception. Advertising tells us possessions will satisfy us, entertainment normalizes what God calls sin, and social media often amplifies false narratives and destructive ideologies. And again, it’s not just these external voices blurring the line between opinion and truth. Our own hearts and minds betray us with repeated lies born from fear, shame, or painful experiences.
Every spiritual bondage begins by believing a lie. Anxiety says, “God won’t take care of you.” Fear says, “You’re all alone.” And shame says, “You’ll never change.” Meanwhile, temptation claims this one sin won’t hurt, and pride whispers that you don’t really need God. Every one of those statements is a lie… truly, the battle for freedom is won or lost right in the mind. For this reason, the Apostle Paul reminds us that our spiritual battle is fought in the realm of truth, calling believers to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV).
Walking in Freedom
The good news is that we don’t have to remain captive. Freedom begins when we expose those lies to the light of God’s Word. Whenever we recognize a lie, we need to compare it with Scripture. If it doesn’t agree with what God has said, we reject it. We confess where we’ve believed it, replace it with God’s truth, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds.
This isn’t a one-time event; it’s lifelong work. Little by little, lies lose their grip. Fear gives way to faith, shame gives way to grace, and confusion gives way to peace as spiritual strongholds crumble. That is what real freedom looks like.
Throughout this month we’ve celebrated the blessing of political liberty, but every lesson points us back to an even greater reality: the deepest freedom any person can experience is the freedom found in Jesus Christ.
Every day we choose which voice we will believe. The father of lies still whispers the same deception he spoke in the Garden: “Did God actually say?” Yet Jesus still speaks the same promise He declared two thousand years ago: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32, ESV). The choice is ours. Will we believe the father of lies… or the God of truth? Lies enslave, truth sets us free, and “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36, ESV).
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being the God of truth. In a world filled with deception, help me to recognize the lies that seek to draw me away from You and replace them with the truth of Your Word. Renew my mind through the power of Your Holy Spirit, and teach me to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ.
Thank You for the freedom Jesus purchased for me through His death and resurrection. Help me to trust Your voice above every other voice and boldly walk in the liberty You have given me through Christ.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Scripture Readings
Monday – Genesis 3:1–7
The first lie and humanity’s fall into bondage.
Tuesday – John 8:31–36
Jesus declares that the truth sets us free.
Wednesday – John 14:6; John 17:17
Jesus is the Truth, and God’s Word is truth.
Thursday – 2 Corinthians 10:3–5
Taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
Friday – Romans 12:1–2
Being transformed through the renewing of our minds.
Saturday – Ephesians 6:10–18
Putting on the whole armor of God to stand against the enemy’s lies.
Jonathan Griffin is the Director of Advertising & Partner Development at AMAC and a former pastor with a passion for biblical teaching. He lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with his wife and their two pups, Hank and Kirby.
