8:31
We were told in 8:30 that “many believed in Him”. However, in John’s gospel saying someone believed actually means very little! Jesus now clarifies the matter, testing if they really believe. In fact the issue seems to be discipleship rather than belief. John’s gospel was written later than the others (at least according to most scholars) and maybe “belief” had acquired some of the rather nebulous concept that it has today. So John is stressing the seriousness of belief, and what truly believing means. So Jesus said “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples”. Jesus was not interested in a mere intellectual assent, nor a mere emotional response. True faith involves actions.
8:32
This demand for discipleship, holding to Jesus’ teaching, is not given as a test of authenticity. It is given for our benefit. For we will only know the truth when we do as Jesus says, and only then will the truth set us free. A truth unacted upon does not benefit us much. This is also why it is foolishness to seek to water down the gospel! The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Rom 1:17). A watered down gospel is about as effective as a homeopathic cure.
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