We must know the Truth
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Introduction
Introduction
We live in a world of truth and lies. Lies torment, they hold us down in shackles. Lies come from the devil, he is the father of lies. Many people are suffering because of lies. Many people are dying because of lies.
What do I man? Many people suffer because of the lies like:
Money makes you happy. Sex is just casual. Material things matter more than people. Killing people will get you into paradise. You deserve to be happy. Its your life and you can do what you want it.
These are all lies, and they all cause pain suffering, sorrow and death. They tie you down in chains and the only thing that can set you free is the truth.
Thats wht tonights sermon is called: We must know the truth:
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
To find out about truth we will look at the second letter of John, a letter that is all about truth and its application.
1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
The word truth is used 4 times in just the few opening verses. Now what truth are we talking about? There are many things that are true but are not particularly impactful. It is true that 60 seconds make 1 minute and its true that sound travels at 343 m/s and its also true that the force of gravity is 10 ms/s.
All these things are true and important in their own sake but none of them were so important that God himself had to break into creation from eternally and tell us about it, write to us about it and make it the issue that would result in mans eternal rejoicing or mans eternal punishment.
Whats is this truth?
Jesus testified of this truth.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Word testifies of this truth.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
and the holy Spirit testified of this truth:
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
In fact all of heaven testifies and agrees on this truth:
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
What. Is. The. Truth?
The Truth is that Jesus Christ is God in the Flesh
The Truth is that Jesus Christ is God in the Flesh
30 I and my Father are one.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The entire Christian faith stands on this doctrine. It is what seperats us from all the rest:
Mormons believe that Jesus was the result of the father having intercouse with Mary and Jesus as “a” god.
JW believe that Jesus is a created creature and the brother of Satan.
Islam believes that Jesus was just a prophet.
Even catholic do not believe that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and the church. They pray to Mary and other Saints as mediators.
Is was this claim that Jesus is God that cause Jesus himself to be hated of the religious leadres.
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
and ultimatly to be crucified:
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
This is the Truth that God wanted to know.
Implications:
Implications:
Because Jesus is God....
1: God is knowable, personal and wants us to come to know Him.
1: God is knowable, personal and wants us to come to know Him.
This disproves the religion of agnosticism, which says that God, if he exists, is unknowable. It also disproves Buddism and any other form on Pantheism, that says God is a “force”, it disproves pluralism like Hinduism which says that are are many Gods...
God is not a force, or a distant cosmic grandfather. He is a personal being that desires each us to come to know Him, so much so that He himself came into this world in the form of a human child.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2: God is not a respecter of persons
2: God is not a respecter of persons
Jesus always associated, visited, ministered and touch the ordinary people. He never dwelled with the religion eletes in their temples or with kings in their palases. Jesus fellowshipped with the common man.
This is powerful and humbling. It means that God is not interested in your social standing, economic standing, or religious standing. He does not care if you are a slave or free, a man or a woman, a child or an adult. Anyone can come to know God personally and experience his grace.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
3: God is focused both on the multitude as well as the individual.
3: God is focused both on the multitude as well as the individual.
In Jesus we see his concern for the crowds. He was concerned that they were hungry, and that they were weary, he was concerned for the people of Israel and longed to comnfort them.
But Jesus was alo fully devoted to the individual and cared for the needs of the person. God is working on a huge scale of redemption, but at the same time, Jesus shows that God is great enopugh to do a huge work and deal with a single persons needs at the same time.
For me the gretest example is at the cross. Humanityies redemption, but also Marys well being.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
4: His Death counted.
4: His Death counted.
Man cannot die for man. It is a case of the blind leading the blind.
1: The death of Jesus purchased us.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
2: The death of Jesus was on our behalf.
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
3: The death of Jesus defines God love for us.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
4: The death of Jesus reconciles us to God.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: