Truth is one complex whole. - Unknown
Have you ever heard the saying, "the truth shall make you free?" Did you know it is a direct quote of Jesus in John 8:32? I have heard these words repeated so many time that they almost sound like a cliche. Many times people use these words when they want to say something they know the other person is not going to like. It is as if they believe they can use Jesus' words to cover the harshness of their own. If it is true I can say it because truth always makes us free. Yet this is not the intention of Jesus' famous words.
When Jesus said this He was speaking of himself. He was telling the crowd that day that ultimate truth could only be found in him and in his teachings. We know this because immediately before this He told them that they could only truly be His disciples if they continued in His word (John 8:31).
Truth today is considered to be speculative. We live in a global environment where people are exposed to more information about the world at large than ever before. Yet that information comes at a price. The media, the writers in hollywood and many others have an objective. That objective is to make the lines of truth disappear and get us to accept every other teaching out there as equal (or even superior to) the teachings of Jesus. For a Christian, this simply can't be.
Jesus claimed to have ultimate truth. We must either accept this or reject it. As C.S. Lewis said, either He was telling the truth about Himself as being the Son of God, He was a deceiver, or He was insane. Let's look at the evidence. His teachings are not the teachings of a mad man. They are some of the most awe inspiring, wisest words ever written. Neither or they the teachings of someone who was purposefully out to hurt others. The concepts he taught like forgiveness and turning the other cheek are not the writings of a conman.
That leaves only the first option; He was telling the truth. He really was and is the Son of God and in Him alone and His word can we find ultimate truth. It is that truth that will set us free. Truth is one complex whole and if we leave off any part of it we will not have it. Even a small lie makes a witness invalid in a court of law. How much more so should we apply these same rules in our spiritual lives. If you want philosophy there are many teachings in the world where one can find it. If you want a feel good religion, those are available as well. But if you want to know truth, there is only one source. As Jesus said, read the words of Moses and the prophets, for they testify of Him (John 5:39). He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to God any other way (John 14:6). He is the truth!
Truthfully,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
Have you ever heard the saying, "the truth shall make you free?" Did you know it is a direct quote of Jesus in John 8:32? I have heard these words repeated so many time that they almost sound like a cliche. Many times people use these words when they want to say something they know the other person is not going to like. It is as if they believe they can use Jesus' words to cover the harshness of their own. If it is true I can say it because truth always makes us free. Yet this is not the intention of Jesus' famous words.
When Jesus said this He was speaking of himself. He was telling the crowd that day that ultimate truth could only be found in him and in his teachings. We know this because immediately before this He told them that they could only truly be His disciples if they continued in His word (John 8:31).
Truth today is considered to be speculative. We live in a global environment where people are exposed to more information about the world at large than ever before. Yet that information comes at a price. The media, the writers in hollywood and many others have an objective. That objective is to make the lines of truth disappear and get us to accept every other teaching out there as equal (or even superior to) the teachings of Jesus. For a Christian, this simply can't be.
Jesus claimed to have ultimate truth. We must either accept this or reject it. As C.S. Lewis said, either He was telling the truth about Himself as being the Son of God, He was a deceiver, or He was insane. Let's look at the evidence. His teachings are not the teachings of a mad man. They are some of the most awe inspiring, wisest words ever written. Neither or they the teachings of someone who was purposefully out to hurt others. The concepts he taught like forgiveness and turning the other cheek are not the writings of a conman.
That leaves only the first option; He was telling the truth. He really was and is the Son of God and in Him alone and His word can we find ultimate truth. It is that truth that will set us free. Truth is one complex whole and if we leave off any part of it we will not have it. Even a small lie makes a witness invalid in a court of law. How much more so should we apply these same rules in our spiritual lives. If you want philosophy there are many teachings in the world where one can find it. If you want a feel good religion, those are available as well. But if you want to know truth, there is only one source. As Jesus said, read the words of Moses and the prophets, for they testify of Him (John 5:39). He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to God any other way (John 14:6). He is the truth!
Truthfully,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
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