The Truth will set you Free

“You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate

So what is truth?

First we are told that Jesus is the truth

John 14:6 NLT

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Jesus is truth....but how was truth given to us?

John 8:31–32 NLT

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:

Ephesians 4:21 NLT

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,

John 17:17 NLT

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

So Jesus’s “truth” is in his teachings.

So Jesus’s “truth” was in his teachings.

There is another part that is truth (explain trinity)

1 John 5:6 NLT

And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.

Before Jesus left the earth physically, he promised to still be with us through the Holy Spirit

John 14:15–18 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:

Summary:

Jesus is truth

Presents it in his teachings

Provides the Holy Spirit which will lead us into his truth

John 16 NLT

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:13 NLT

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

John

John 16

16:13....When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.

(remembering reading scripture without knowing Christ)

How does The Truth set us free?

The Teacher’s Commentary 112: John 7–9—Light and Darkness

To “know” the truth is not to intellectually comprehend, but to experience. To know the “truth” is not to focus on a body of knowledge, but to live in touch with reality as God knows reality. To “hold to” Jesus’ teachings is not a reference to doctrinal purity, but to a commitment to put Jesus’ teachings into daily practice. To be “free” is not to live selfishly, doing whatever one wants whenever one wants, but to live a disciplined and godly life which releases us from our bondage to sin so that the choices we make lead to what helps us rather than to what hurts. All this can be found if we are only willing to really be the disciples of Jesus.

To “know” the truth is not to intellectually comprehend, but to experience.

To know the “truth” is not to focus on a body of knowledge, but to live in touch with reality as God knows reality.

To “hold to” Jesus’ teachings is not a reference to doctrinal purity, but to a commitment to put Jesus’ teachings into daily practice.

To be “free” is not to live selfishly, doing whatever one wants whenever one wants, but to live a disciplined and godly life which releases us from our bondage to sin so that the choices we make lead to what helps us rather than to what hurts. All this can be found if we are only willing to really be the disciples of Jesus.

Knowledge of our sinfulness does not necessarily mean we will get free of it

Ecclesiastes 1:18 NLT

The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John Word and Phrase Study

Eccl. 1:18

Any measure of inner penetration on the part of the truth produces a corresponding measure of freedom

a) By illuminating sin within us

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Our inner most thoughts and desires is where the real us lives

We spend a lot time and energy suppressing what the bible calls desires of your sinful nature,

: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy,

The teachings of Jesus show us how to:

Jealousies unhealthy thoughts & attitudes

The teachings of Jesus show us how to:

Forgive patience integrity

Handle relationships To live a Godly life

Shows us where we are not living that way

Handle our finances

Love generosity selflessness

God does not want to expose these things to make us hate ourselves

God wants to identify areas where he can improve and perfect us

(Holy Spirit check-up)

By illuminating sin within us

How does The Truth set us free?

b) Holy Spirit actually gives us power over sin

Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The interpretation of St. John’s gospel (p. 631). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.

Evidenced by AA

The simple confession of wrong doing and expressing need

Millions have been set free from life destroying behaviors by simply following biblical principles

See your brokenness (sin)

Express your desire and need for change to God

Lead a life of confession, repentance, humility and grace

Romans 8:1–2 NLT

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Romans 8:12–14 NLT

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

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