Knowing the Truth – A Journey to Freedom

Knowing the Truth – A Journey to Freedom:

The Bible tells us in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This profound statement reveals a powerful principle: truth is the key to liberation. But what exactly is truth, and how do we come to know it? Is truth empirical, arrived at by academic or scientific inquiry? Is truth theological based on doctrines and understandings from the Bible, whereupon we base our worldview? Jesus spoke of these things, and His “take” on truth might surprise you. 

DON’T CONFUSE THE TRUTH WITH THE FACTS

Truth is not simply a collection of facts. Facts can inform, but only truth can set us free. Truth is a living entity, unchanging and eternal. It is found in the person of Jesus Christ, who declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” In other words, “TRUTH IS A PERSON – HIS NAME IS JESUS.” Doctrine can be true, but JESUS in His person is our truth. Doctrine doesn’t save us, and doctrine didn’t die for us on the Cross and rise on the third day. There is no power in doctrine to redeem; such is only realized and substantiated in the person of Christ. 

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, testifies of Jesus and guides us into all truth. Jesus said in John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but¹ whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” He illuminates the Scriptures, revealing their deeper meaning and intent. This living truth sets us free from the ever-shifting sands of human opinion and the limitations of worldly knowledge.

DEVIATING FROM TRUTH IS DEVIATING FROM THE PERSON OF JESUS

However, the path to truth is not always easy. We can err, resist, and even turn away from the truth. The downward spiral begins with error, a deviation from the path of truth. In Matthew 22:29, Jesus said, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” If left uncorrected, this error can lead to resistance, where we actively oppose the truth. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:8, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” Finally, we may turn away from the truth altogether, embracing fables and falsehoods. 2 Timothy 4:4 warns, “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

DON’T BE SEDUCED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH

In writing to the Corinthian church, Paul expressed his concern that they would be seduced away from the SIMPLICITY of who Jesus is:

[2Co 11:3 KJV] 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

When Satan tempted Eve and consequently Adam, he began with a theological discussion: “hath God said…?” Truth as a set of facts can only find lodging in our mind, and Paul taught that the natural mind is inherently an enemy of God, bound by a carnal, worldly perspective. Jesus in His person doesn’t live in our minds, He lives in our hearts, in our human spirits. He lives there not as a set of religious tenets of faith but as the living lord and Son of God who was born, died, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. Any truth that obscures this or fails to emphasize the living Christ is unhelpful in the least and misleading at the worst. How can we prevent this downward spiral? The Bible provides the antidote:

• Study the Word: Immersing ourselves in the Scriptures allows us to be approved by God, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
• Minister in Meekness: We should gently instruct those who oppose themselves, pointing them to Jesus and offering them the opportunity to repent and acknowledge the Truth that is in Christ. 2 Timothy 2:25 guides us, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”
• Learn with Discernment: We must seek knowledge with the intent of arriving at the truth, not simply accumulating information. 2 Timothy 3:7 describes those who “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The truth that Jesus personifies is precious and liberating. It sets us free from the bondage of sin, fear, and error. It empowers us to live a life of purpose and meaning, walking in the light of God’s love and grace. Galatians 5:1 reminds us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” What sets us free? Doctrinal understanding? Often, doctrine becomes a ponderous thing adding to the burdensomeness of our faith when Jesus said He was all about “yoke easy and burden light”.

Let us pursue the truth with diligence and humility, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. As we come to know the truth, we will experience the freedom that Jesus promised, a freedom that transcends the limitations of this world and leads us into the fullness of life in Him.