Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’!" They answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-36 (RSV)

This short passage of Scripture used to elude me. Being trained in the Reformation tradition, I was used to the ideas of guilt and forgiveness, of rebellious alienation and reconciliation. But it took some time for the third major wa…