Jesus is the Truth that Sanctifies
John 14:1-10
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
Last week: Hope candle: Jesus is the way, we have hope for life!!
Faith Candle. The point of Jesus coming is so you might believe in Him. This sermon is about what that means.
John 17:
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
- What is Truth?
- Can there be confident truth?
Pilate asks this question of Jesus.
I had a teacher in high school lament that Jesus didn’t answer him. I was amazed that he didn’t know that the Bible is full of answers to this question.
- Truth about what?
How to live in a manner that is pleasing to God and good for us and those around us now and in the future.
Is God there?
Does it matter if He isn’t gonna show up all the time?
Why is God invisible?
Will God judge my lack of concern about Him?
How then should I live?
Francis Schaeffer wrote three books that cover this issue:
- The God who is There
- He is There and is not Silent
- How Shall We then Live?
Jesus is not teaching us about science, but where the Bible references those types of things, it comes from the correct perspective. But all the information is shared in context to the people that it is communicated to. So, we can’t expect the creation story to be a modern scientific explanation when it wouldn’t mean anything to the people that it was written to. Does that mean it isn’t true? We need to be careful here. What does the text intend to convey? Creation, is it an event or a process. What is the Big Bang? And event or a process. Everything has a process and yet there is a beginning. And there is a progression from the gathering of matter to the creation of plants then animals. The order seems legit to me. But it’s not a scientific explanation, so the sun is created on day four. Why? I think it’s an Egyptian apologetic about the sun God not being superior.
- Truth about man and God
Created in the image of God.
Respect the image of God in man.
Purposes in the Garden are foundational
Sin makes life much more difficult.
God’s expectations have not changed.
God’s word explains the way to live.
God forgives those who trust Him for life.
- The Sources of Truth
- God and His Word
Has God spoken? Think about how important this issue is. The Christian claim is that the Bible is God’s Word. If it is not, then we have no claim to truth. It’s why Systematic Theology starts with why we should believe that the Bible is truth from God. It’s a long subject.
The short way around is this: I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. What does Jesus say about truth? Jesus’ words in John 17: 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Matt 5: 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Law and the prophets ARE the Old Testament.
Genesis 1: 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
God’s Word is an expression of His will. The phrase appears throughout creation. All matter exists as an expression of God’s will. God is the artist, creation is His artwork. All life exists as an expression of God’s will.
- The Holy Spirit and The Bible
II Peter 1: 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
II Tim 3: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed (spirit=breath) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- Jesus and the Bible
John 1:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 14:6 I am the truth
John 8: 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Apostolic Authority to Write Scripture
Matt 16: 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
III. The Purpose of Truth
- The truth is meant to sanctify
John 17: 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Romans 12:2 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
II Tim 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- When does truth sanctify?
When it is followed.
It must be known and understood. The Spirit will help us here.
We must believe by following.
Ephesians 4: 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Will you believe that Jesus is the truth?
John 8: 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Perfectly? Do not think in terms of how little you can do! There are no perfect Bible characters except for Jesus.
Recognize your weaknesses and fight against them. (die to them)
Keep asking seeking and knocking.
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