The Power of Truth
Power of Christianity • Sermon • Submitted
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· 821 viewsThere is power in the truth when presented in love
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The Perspective of Truth
The Perspective of Truth
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”
When we look into the passage we find a Rich young man who runs up to Jesus and asks a very important question. How can I get into heaven? Jesus takes the time first to set the perspective. The rich young man said “Good Teacher” and Jesus was quick to correct this young man. Jesus immediately placed this perspective back where it should be. The young man approached Jesus with what would be considered in his time a subjective truth. That truth is calling Jesus a “Good Teacher”. Now we know that Jesus was the Son of God and the fullness of God in human form and Jesus understands the heart of this man. Jesus understands that He must first put the perspective of truth in place in order to continue with assisting this young man. The Objective truth was presented by Jesus in his statement that there is no one good except for God.
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
The matter of Truth as it concerns our God is Objective. It does not bend and adjust based on opinion, social status, or popular belief. We find ourselves in a world of many “truths” that are subjective truths. What is a subjective truth and what is objective truth? Subjective truth is a matter of truth that is based on ones perspective. Objective truth is a truth that is a matter of fact and does not change. The first thing we see is that Jesus gets to the heart of the business moving from subjective truth and letting this young man know that the truth Christ will present to him is objective truth.
Subjective truth will tell you that it is all based on your perspective. Take for instance that the sinking of the Titanic was an awful event for every one on board, but a miracle for the lobsters in the kitchen.
Objective truth however is a constant. When we deal with the scriptures we are dealing with objective truth. The truth has never changed and will never change.
It is important as we become vessels for the Truth of the Word of God that we correct those who would turn the Bible into subjective truth. Jesus did this when he answered the Young man and reminded him that no one was Good except God alone.
Today it is more important than ever for us to ensure the proper perspective when we are approaching the Scripture and realizing that the Scriptures are not democrat or republican, libertarian or Green party in nature but they are Holy in nature and are not dependent on your perspective. If your perspective is at odds with Scripture it is not the Scripture that needs to change. In a society that wants to make everyone feel good about themselves we are often times challenged to share the truth. This leads us into the Presentation of Truth
The Presentation of Truth
The Presentation of Truth
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
The way Jesus presented the truth was in love. As believers it is challenging presenting the truth for a number of reasons. First you may be challenged because you do not want to hurt someones feelings. Have you ever bent the truth or not told the whole truth so you don't hurt someones feelings? Really no one? Alright you are going to make me say it aren't you.”Honey does this dress make me look fat?”, how about “Did you like my new meatloaf recipe” yes dear I liked the anchovies meatloaf you made, it had a very earthy flavor. We are sometimes challenged because we don't want to hurt someones feelings. By the way if I’m ever asked by my wife any of those questions I have an app on my watch that will call my phone and it comes up as work, i’m just kidding I generally will do anything I can to change the topic. The next challenge is that when we are the ones presenting the truth we must live the truth. I believe this is the larger challenge for us because we do not want to look like hypocrites.
And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
We all must understand that living the Truth is equally important as telling the truth and the reason that many people hesitate to answer with truth is because we don't want to be hypocrites. This speaks to a larger issue with the heart though and that is that we don't want to change those aspects that cause us to be hypocrites. We cannot be lights in our world until we submit completely to the authority of Christ in our lives and all of our lives. We will all continue to struggle with sin until the Lord calls us home but there should never be a desire to live in sin. So many times we don't present the truth because of the challenges of hypocrisy or the fear of hurting ones feelings. We must also look at the flip side and that is those who have no problem telling you the truth and their motives are not honoring to the Lord. Look what the scripture said again
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
It says that Jesus loved him and said to him. Jesus presented the truth in Love to the man. There are those who tell everyone the truth but their hearts are not doing it out of love towards the ones they present the truth to. They do it out of a sense of entitlement and self righteousness. What does the bible say about this?
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
You see the truth must be presented in love and humbleness. Jesus had every right to puff himself up, He was God on Earth. But Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords humbled himself and presented the truth in love. The presentation is many times just as important as the truth being told. If it is not in love and to point towards Christ it should be re-evaluated.
The Purpose of truth
The Purpose of truth
Why was the truth presented? Jesus presented the truth because He understands that the truth has the ability to set the captive free.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The purpose of truth is to set the captive free. Both the captive but also you. Notice that Jesus did not chase the young man down the road and try to convince him. Jesus presented the truth in love with the correct perspective for the purpose of setting this man free.
And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.
Jesus understood the power of truth and He knew how it could change the rich young rulers life but Jesus did not force a conversion. We must understand that it is God who changes ones heart. Many times we fight so hard to convert someone that we are willing to set aside the Truth in our lives to try and save their soul. A wise man told me not too long ago that if you can convince someone into a way of thinking someone else can convince them out of it. This is so very true when it comes to presenting the Truth to those around us. We must present Truth in the correct perspective out of love for the freedom that it can give them. We must then leave the heart work to God. Presenting the truth in love for the right purposes sets you free. You are free from the need to have anyone agree with you, you are free from arguments and idol talk that does not profit the kingdom. You simply need to live the truth and present the truth then let God do His heart work.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.
The truth has the power to change the Heart and to set the captive free but it must be presented in Love with the proper perspective and for the correct purpose. I challenge each and every person as I challenge myself to have a heart that seeks the Lords will and not my own. A life that resembles Christ and while not perfect is more marked by my desire to Honor God than to live in sin. A way of presenting truth in love and with compassion but unwavering and in perspective of the perfection of our God. There is no time to use Scripture for political gains anymore we live in a world with an expiration date and our time needs to be used presenting the truth in love pointing every person we meet towards Christ, trusting that God will complete the good work that He started.