R.A. Torrey emphasizes that Jesus is the source of true freedom, urging believers to recognize their need for Him to escape the bondage of sin. He discusses the importance of genuine faith that leads to true discipleship, highlighting that merely believing in Jesus is not enough; one must abide in His Word to know the truth and be set free. Torrey contrasts the children of God with the children of the devil, illustrating that true followers of Christ will love Him and hear His words, while those who reject Him are enslaved by sin. The sermon calls for self-examination regarding one's relationship with Jesus and the necessity of accepting His teachings to experience true liberation.

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS 1. Questioning About Jesus and Believing on Jesus, vv. 25–30 In the verses immediately preceding this lesson what had our Lord said a man must do unless he wished to die in his sins? What question did that lead His hearers to ask? Is that an important question? (20:31.) What was there, then, out of the way in their asking it? Ought we to be asking it today? Is there any excuse today for any one in this land not knowing who He is? Why didn’t these questioners know who He was? Why is it in most cases today that men are in the dark or in uncertainty as to who He is? Concerning whom did these questioners wish to judge? Who did our Lord tell them would do the judging? How will the tables be turned some day upon those who are judging concerning Him? What things did He speak unto the world? (John 3:34; 7:16; 17:8.) If then we reject His teaching whose teaching are we rejecting? Did Christ’s hearers understand of whom He was talking? Why not? (2 Cor. 4:3, 4.) When should they know who He was? Where then are the true character and deity of our Lord, and His unreserved surrender to the will of the Father, most clearly revealed? What illustrations have we of those who recognized Him as what He really was after He was “lifted up”? (Matt. 27:5, 54; Acts 2:41; 4:4.) What thought more comforting even than that God had sent Him did our Lord have to sustain Him (v. 29)? In what great crisis and trial of His life was He sustained by this thought? (John 16:32.) What other servant of God comforted himself with this thought? (2 Tim. 4:17.) Who else have a right to comfort themselves with the same thought? (Heb. 13:5, 6.) Why was it that the Father was with our Lord and had not left Him alone? If we want Him to be with us and hear us, what must we do? (1 John 3:22.) Why is He not with some of us? How much of the time did our Lord do the things that pleased the Father? (4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 14:31; 15:10; 17:4.) What was the effect of these words? Do they make you believe on Him? 2. True Discipleship and True Freedom, vv. 31–36 What two important changes are made in v. 31 in the R. V.? Why does John say: “Jesus therefore said, etc.”? Had these Jews “believed on” our Lord? (See R. V.) What did He wish this dawning faith to develop into? Did it in all of them (v. 37, R. V.–v. 44)? Did that faith save them? What kind of faith is it that saves? (Ro. 10:10.) How does the real heart-faith manifest itself? (John 1:12; 2 Tim. 1:12.) What did our Lord say that these men who “believed Him” but did not as yet “believe on” Him must do if they would be “truly” His disciples? What then is the atmosphere in which the true disciple lives, and the soil in which his life roots itself? Is the necessity of continuing in the Word and the life which grows from the Word much dwelt upon in the N. T.? How can we continue? (Acts 26:22; Heb. 10:38, 39; 1 John 2:24.) If we do not continue what does it prove? (1 John 2:19.) What two further promises does our Lord make to those who abide in His word (32)? If any one then wishes to know the truth what should he do? If he wishes to be free what should he do? What three things flow from simply abiding in His word? Does He say that they shall know “a truth” or “some truths”? How much of “the truth”? (John 16:13, R. V.) What had He indicated to these Jews that they were? Did they like this (v. 33)? Do men like it today when you tell them that they are slaves? Did the Jews admit it? How could they deny their bondage? How can men out of Christ deny it today? How did our Lord show them that with all their boasted liberty they were slaves? Is that as true in America as in Judea? Who is a slave (v. 34)? What are the fetters with which the sinner is bound? (Prov. 5:22; Acts 8:23.) Who alone can give freedom from this awful slavery of sin (v. 36)? What kind of freedom? To whom will He give it (vv. 31, 32)? Why can He make free indeed (v. 35)? (Heb. 7:25.) 3. Children of God and Children of the Devil, vv. 37–47 What was our Lord’s answer to their claim to be “Abraham’s seed”? How did they show that though they were “Abraham’s seed” they were not “Abraham’s children” (vv. 37, 39, 40)? (Ro. 9:7.) Why did they who once “believed Him” (v. 31, R. V.) now wish to kill Him (v. 37, R. V.)? If one sees the truth and then refuses to let the Word have “free course” in him what is the inevitable result? What class of men most bitterly hate Christ? Where had our Lord learned the truth He spoke (v. 38)? Where had they learned the deeds they wrought? Whom did these Jews claim for their father (vv. 39, 41)? Whom did they really have for their father (v. 44)? Are there any today who claim God for their Father who really have the Devil for their father? What is the mark of a true child of Abraham (v. 39)? (Ro. 4:12, 16; Gal. 3:7, 29.) What is the first mark of a true child of God? (Matt. 5:45; Eph. 5:1.) What did our Lord say they would surely do if they were God’s children (v. 42)? Why would a child of God surely love Him? If then one does not love our Lord is he a child of God? What is he (v. 44)? Why had not these Jews understood what He said (v. 43)? Are there any today who are incapable of hearing Christ’s word? (1 Cor. 2:14.) Who is to blame for that? (John 3:19; 5:44.) How can “any man” become capable of hearing and understanding Christ’s word? (John 7:17, R. V.) What are the two chief characteristics of the Devil (v. 44)? What then are the two clearest marks of a child of the Devil? (1 John 3:15, 12.) How did the Devil get into the awful position in which he now is (v. 44, R. V.)? How had these children of his got into the awful position in which they were (v. 37)? What will be the result if we refuse to accept and “stand in the truth”? What was the principal reason why these Jews refused to believe our Lord (v. 45)? What is the principal reason why men refuse to believe Him and the Bible today? (2 Thess. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.) Is it anything against the Bible that men who love sin and error don’t believe it? What did our Lord challenge them to do? Could any of them do it? Why not? (14:30; 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22.) What mark of a child of God is given in v. 47? (10:26, 27; 17:8.) Why did the Jews not hear them (v. 47)? Why do men today not hear them? What must one do to be born of God? (1:12.) CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS 1. Jesus (1). His nature: A man, 40; Son of man, 38; Son of God, 38, 42. (2). His character: Sinless, 46. (3). What He did: Nothing of Himself, but as the Father taught Him, 38; always the things that pleased His heavenly Father, 29; made free indeed, 36. (4). His relation to the Father: Born of Him, 38, 42; sent by Him, 26; sustained by Him, 29. (5). His relation to Satan: Hated by him, 42–44. (6). His relation to man: Hated by him, 37, 40; crucified by him, 28. (7). As a preacher: Taught of God, 40, 26, 28; declared to the world the truth He had heard from God, 26; told the truth, 40; preached with great plainness, 44; His preaching rejected, 45. 2. The Word Abiding in the Word makes true disciples, 31; begets knowledge of the truth, 32; brings freedom from sin’s power, 32; unbelief in the Word the result of hatred of the truth, 45; the Word listened to by all God’s children, despised by those who are not God’s children, 47. 3. Satan His personality, fall, character—a liar, father of lies, original murderer, 44; hated Christ and wished to destroy Him, 38, 44. 4. Children of God Marks by which they can be known—act like God, 39; love our Lord, 42; hear God’s words, 47. 5. Children of the Devil (1). Who they are: All haters, liars, 44; who reject the truth, 45; who do not love Christ, 42. (2). Steps in their downward career: Believe Jesus but do not believe on Him, 31, R. V.; refuse to let the truth have free course in them, their dawning faith transformed to murderous hate, 37. (3). What they do: Will to do the lusts of their father, 44, R. V.; reject those who speak the truth, 45; hate our Lord even unto death, 40. (4). What they will not do: Acknowledge their real condition, 33; hear God’s Word, 47. (5). What they cannot do: Hear and understand the word of Christ, 43.