The Truth
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5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Thesis:
The NT represents truth as reality, building on the OT concepts of faithfulness and reliability. Jesus Christ is shown as “the Truth” and the apostles present the gospel as “truth”.
Introduction:
We are daily confronted by the truth, and make decisions that activate truth for us or against us all the time.
A better life for so many, lies in the acceptance of the truth in those lives.
We ignore reality at our peril.
Ignoring and rejecting God is to refuse the abundant life, (this is humanities choose).
Your Free Will does not eliminate God, nor does it relieve you of the truth, (in fact we our indebted to God for choice).
Many do not see their destruction, because they do not deal in reality.
The Good News of Jesus the Christ is the Truth all men must face.
It will determine the presence of abundant life or not, (a quality life or not).
[Truth has an opposite…]
Truth as opposed to falsehood and lies
Truth as opposed to falsehood and lies
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
See also Jn 3:33; Jn 4:37; Jn 18:23; Jn 19:35; Ac 7:1; Ac 21:24; Ac 24:8; Ac 26:25; Ro 1:18; Ro 9:1; 1 Co 15:54; 2 Co 7:14; Ga 4:16; Tt 1:13; 2 Pe 2:22; 1 Jn 2:4; 2 Jn 1–2
Paul in teaching about the New Life in Jesus informs the Ephesians that they must change leaving falsehood behind.
An important reason for that is that Truth is Reality...
Truth as reality
Truth as reality
24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
See also Jn 1:9; Jn 4:23; Jn 17:3; Eph 4:24; 1 Th 1:9; 1 Ti 1:2; 1 Ti 6:19; Tt 1:2; Tt 3:2; Heb 8:2; Heb 12:8; 1 Pe 5:12; 1 Jn 2:5; 1 Jn 2:8; 1 Jn 5:20; Re 19:9
Spiritual things are more real than physical things.
Our reality is based in the spiritual realm.
Jesus wants us to base our reality on Him, because He is the truth.
We must develop trust in Jesus as Truth...
Truth as trustworthy affirmations
Truth as trustworthy affirmations
47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
See also Mt 6:2; Mt 10:23; Mt 16:28; Mt 19:23; Mt 23:36; Mt 26:13; Mk 9:41; Mk 11:23; Lk 12:44; Lk 21:3; Jn 1:51; Jn 5:24–25; Jn 8:34; Jn 10:7; Jn 16:7; Php 1:15; 1 Ti 3:9
Eternal life is the reward for those who live by the truth.
The one who follows Jesus as the way and the truth will not be disappointed..
Truth as faithfulness and reliability
Truth as faithfulness and reliability
The quality of truth
The quality of truth
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
See also Jn 1:17; Jn 3:21; Jn 4:24; Jn 17:17; Ro 2:20; 1 Co 5:8; 1 Co 13:6; 2 Co 13:8; Eph 5:9; Eph 6:14; 3 Jn 12
Life will take on a greater quality when you choose to live according to the truth and stop pursuing falsehoods and lies and alternate realities.
Truthful living is the highest form of living for mankind.
We are lifted up to the character of God...
Truth as an aspect of the character of God
Truth as an aspect of the character of God
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
See also Ps 51:4; Ro 3:7; Ro 15:8; 1 Jn 5:20; Re 3:7; Re 3:14; Re 6:10; Re 15:3; Re 16:7; Re 19:2; Re 19:11
Our reality is not dependent on how many people believe in God.
No matter what, He is true if everyone is a liar.
It is the quality of human existence that changes when we do not live according to the truth.
God’s existence or His omnipotence is not affected by our disbelief.
We must come to the truth, God cannot bend to the subjective ideals and beliefs of humankind...
Truth as a human quality
Truth as a human quality
Ac 11:23; 1 Jn 1:8
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
See also Jn 3:21; Jn 7:18; Ac 14:22; Eph 4:15; Php 1:18; Re 2:13
God’s word is revealed for all mankind to see.
It is mankind who reveals daily where he stands in relation to the truth...
Jesus Christ as truth
Jesus Christ as truth
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
See also Jn 1:14; Jn 15:1; Jn 18:37–38; 1 Jn 5:20
We also see that the Spirit is truth...
The Spirit of God as truth
The Spirit of God as truth
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
See also Jn 14:16–17; Jn 15:26; 1 Jn 4:6; 1 Jn 5:6
The Word that the Spirit revealed trough faithful men, the Gospel, is also the truth we ought to adopt and live by...
The gospel and the Christian faith as truth
The gospel and the Christian faith as truth
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
See also Jn 8:31–32; Ac 20:30; 2 Co 4:2; Ga 2:5; Col 1:5; 1 Ti 2:3–4; 1 Ti 4:6; 2 Ti 2:18; 2 Ti 4:4; Tt 1:1; Jas 5:19; 2 Pe 2:2; 1 Jn 3:19
Man most remain faithful to this truth when proclaiming it and when living by it.
Conclusion:
Truth is reality
Truth is faithful and reliable
Jesus epitomizes truth
The Spirit of God have revealed the truth as a faithful testimony and Good News for mankind.
Invitation: