Bible Study Set vs. Make?

[Josef]

John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

This is one of most misquoted verses in all of Scripture. How many have you heard it misquoted as "set you free?" Knowing the truth does not just set you free. It makes you free. This will change your life once you understand it.
Being set free is one-time act. Once free, you could be captured again. This begs the question: "Are you truely free?" Thus, your freedom is only temporary.
Now let's focus on the truth and let it make us free. The word make means to construct or create. Believers refer to salvation as "putting on the new man," or "becoming a new creation in Christ." This verse is where those cliches originate. Being made free implies a permanent condition; as it is now a part of your spiritual DNA. In Acts 16, we find Paul and Silas in prison physically, yet they were still free. They were praying and singing and expressing the joy in their hearts. So much so that their guard becomes a believer.
So what can we learn from this"set vs.make" differentiation?"
Assurance!
I have been made free. I no longer question my salvation. Do I still sin? Yes. Am I perfect? Of course Yes--I mean no. (Sorry old guy joke there I could not resist.) I have to ask for forgiveness and make amends just the same as all believers. The needs to ask for forgiveness, to make amends, my assurance of salvation. So it is not out of arrogance that I proclaim this:
I know the truth, and have been made free.
What about you?
I welcome your comments. May God
bless,
Taz

 

[WIP]

This is one of most misquoted verses in all of Scripture. How many have you heard it misquoted as "set you free?"

Just a quick check of some of the more common translations that I am aware of and ESV, NIV, TLB, NASB all translate it as "set you free."

What makes you think it is incorrect? To be honest, it sounds to me like your splitting hairs with regard to the difference.

 

[for_his_glory]

Once you are set free, you have been made freed.

It's like a prisoner that is set free from prison as they are now made free from being held in prison.

Like WIP said it depends on what translation you read. If you are made free then you have been set free. It's like God's grace that pardons our sins and His mercy loves us as we are made Spiritually new again (Spiritual inner man) and set free from the bondage of sin (fleshly man).

 

[Josef]

Hey All, Thanks for responding. I once thought the same as you wip and for_his_glory.
Let's use the prisoner as the example: Of course a prisoner can be set free. But they are never completely free. They will always be regarded differently by society. The time served will always be on their permanent record.
Bring made free, on the other hand, would be like getting pardoned, There is no longer a record to be judged.
So from my point of view, I believe "make you free" is a difference in perspective. I would rather be made free than set free. There is a certain permanence in the word "make" that the word"set" does not convey to me. Maybe I am splitting hairs. I apologize if that is all that came across in the post. I just wanted to show the difference and how the understanding can change by changing the words. Sorry if I caused any angst. May God bless,
Taz

 

[WIP]

Hey All, Thanks for responding. I once thought the same as you wip and for_his_glory.
Let's use the prisoner as the example: Of course a prisoner can be set free. But they are never completely free. They will always be regarded differently by society. The time served will always be on their permanent record.
Bring made free, on the other hand, would be like getting pardoned, There is no longer a record to be judged.
So from my point of view, I believe "make you free" is a difference in perspective. I would rather be made free than set free. There is a certain permanence in the word "make" that the word"set" does not convey to me. Maybe I am splitting hairs. I apologize if that is all that came across in the post. I just wanted to show the difference and how the understanding can change by changing the words. Sorry if I caused any angst. May God bless,
Taz

But Jesus also followed it up with this.

"Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
John 8:34-36 NKJV

 

[for_his_glory]

Hey All, Thanks for responding. I once thought the same as you wip and for_his_glory.
Let's use the prisoner as the example: Of course a prisoner can be set free. But they are never completely free. They will always be regarded differently by society. The time served will always be on their permanent record.
Bring made free, on the other hand, would be like getting pardoned, There is no longer a record to be judged.
So from my point of view, I believe "make you free" is a difference in perspective. I would rather be made free than set free. There is a certain permanence in the word "make" that the word"set" does not convey to me. Maybe I am splitting hairs. I apologize if that is all that came across in the post. I just wanted to show the difference and how the understanding can change by changing the words. Sorry if I caused any angst. May God bless,
Taz

It's not so much spiting hairs, but seeing things in a different perspective.

Made free of sin as by the blood of Jesus I have been set free from the bondage of sin and no more a slave to it.