HOLDING ON TO TRUTH - TRUTH ON TRIAL
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: TRUTH ON TRIAL
Main Scripture: John 18:28-40; Isaiah 59:14-15
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Pastor Ryan launched our Biblical Worldview series on the subject of Truth. In this message, we learned what truth is and how it has been on trial or questioned since the beginning of human existence. Pastor Ryan closed the message by warning us to look out for those who would try to sway us from the truth, God’s Word. We were challenged to know and then hold firmly to the truth!
Notes:
Truth On Trial
I think we all would agree that we prefer the truth over lies.
Truth is the moral virtue of honesty and purity of falsehood. Truth is also an objective reality and fact. Truth is absolute, certain, definite, pure from imperfections.
What do we do though when we live in a world that denies, ignores, talk away, water down, or erase an absolute truth that guides and defines how we ought to think and live? Or when the world claims the truth is wrong and whatever you want to be true is right?
What we need to do is find out what is true and then hold on to it with our dear lives. Or we have the option to be confused and lost in a world of lies.
What is Truth? John 18:28-40 Read
What is truth? That’s a question that has reverberated for centuries. Jesus said, "I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true."
Wow! God descended down to earth in Christ to give us the truth. Jesus was sinless, good, and just, making Him the perfect witness to take the stand and testify to the truth (Notice Pilate said he was not guilty).
It doesn’t appear that Pilate wanted to wait for the answer. Pilate didn’t recognize or know it at the time, but the truth was standing right in front of Him. Truth isn’t just a thought or idea, it’s embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.
Christianity believes:
Jesus is Truth. God is Truth.
John 14:6-11 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
Jesus was the truth embodied in human flesh.
A more indirect claim that God is truth is found in Hebrews 6:18, which says “it is impossible for God to lie.” The moral attribute of God implies He is truth.
The Holy Spirit is Truth.
John 16:13 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.
The Word (The Bible) is Truth.
John 17:17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
“The Christian reasons that if humans are made in the image of God, to seek for truth apart from God’s guidance is to admit failure from the outset. Without reliance on God’s revelation, we cannot hope to fit life into its proper framework.” -Morris Inch, A Case for Christianity
Christians believe God, Jesus, The Word, and the Holy Spirit to be absolute truth. This means THE Truth is the measuring rod, standard, and guide to help us know what is true and what is false.
Truth on Trial
We’re not surprised by the attack on truth and the attempts to discredit it. This has been happening since the beginning of human life.
Truth has been questioned and attacked since the Garden of Eden - Genesis 3:1-7
Truth is outlawed and attacked where sin and evil are celebrated.
Isaiah 59:14-15 Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. 15 Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.
Truth is suppressed by wickedness. (Suppress: Hinder, oppose, don’t accept)
Romans 1:18-20 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
The world argues that truth is relative or subjective (changes) to each individual, that you can’t have one absolute truth that defines what is true. The phrases, “Live your truth" or "Your truth is not my truth,” comes to mind. This worldview poses a few problems. Firstly, "your truth" eventually contradicts with the truths of people around you. This places insecurity about what is actually true and is essentially what is causing doubts or conflicts. Secondly, "your truth" or their truth can eventually bring pain and suffering to one another. Hitler believed his truth was justified. The rest of the world deemed his truth false and acted accordingly. How? We made a judgment call based on the absolute truth that all people deserve to live, no matter their ethnicity.
The value of having absolute truth is twofold: Absolute truth accurately defines what is moral, civil, and just. Secondly, absolute truth guides our actions accordingly.
Application
2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT: For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
2 Timothy 1:13-14 NLT: Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
Philippians 2:16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
Our truth comes from God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible is the most read book in the world and it’s also the most scrutinized.
Why does the world try to dismiss the truth of the Bible? Because it's an inconvenient truth that exposes and confronts our sinful desires and challenges us to follow God’s desires instead. But if the world would be open and humble enough to see why the truth confronts our sinful hearts, it would find out that the truth leads us to an eternal life that satisfies.
Next week we’ll start answering what is the Bible and what is a Biblical worldview. We’ll build a foundation, a framework, or lenses to see life with a Biblical worldview. Then we’ll need to be able to prove the Bible is reliable and irrefutable if we are going to build our lives upon it, around it, and share it with others.
Close:
When Pilate asked, What is Truth? He did not appear to care for or want the answer. I encourage you to ask questions but be willing to earnestly seek and consider the evidence presented.
Discussion:
What was a big takeaway for you from this sermon?
Which scripture spoke to you and why?
What is the value of having absolute truth?
How has truth been on trial (questioned) in our world?
How do we live and apply this message to our lives?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!