What Is Truth?Sample

Freedom!

To know Jesus is to know Truth. Truth that is real, relational, unchanging, and life-giving because it is entirely wrapped up in Jesus Himself, our source. We have discussed how comforting it is to know that truth is not arbitrary or indeterminable, but rather dependable and knowable; it’s a relationship that we can center our lives around every single day. But not only does this bring us the relief of stability, truth also carries freedom with it wherever it goes.

It’s super important to get this, because, like Adam and Eve back in Genesis 3, we may be tempted with the lie that truth, as defined by God and our relationship with Him, is actually restrictive and oppressive. When Adam and Eve chose to believe the serpent, they were agreeing with him that God was keeping something from them. We clearly see that’s not the case, and that God wanted to guard His kids from being cut off from Him—from experiencing the confusion and death that come when we are separated from the source of order and life. But that lie is nonetheless potent. 

Lies imprison us. They lock us in a cycle of cover-ups, addictions, shame, and isolation. Truth has the opposite effect. It’s not restrictive or oppressive; it’s actually freeing.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

Did you catch that? Knowing the truth sets us free! This freedom results from our close proximity to and trust in Jesus (the Truth). See, walking in truth is not just adhering to a list of rules; it’s enjoying a relationship with the Savior, with the liberator of captives Himself. When preaching in the synagogue early on in His ministry, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah: 

“‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free ...’” Luke 4:18 NIV

Jesus goes on to say plainly that this description of the Messiah is His biography—this is who He is and what He came to do: set people free. 

So don’t buy into the ancient lie that tempts you to reject truth because it’s holding you back. It’s not. Truth has a face and it’s Jesus’. The One who came to release us from even our self-made prisons.

Challenge: Identify a lie that is holding you back from experiencing life as God intended. It may be something really tiny that is subtly affecting your relationships. It may be something much bigger that you have been dealing with for a long time. Write it down and search Jesus’ Word for the truth that sets you free. Commit to memorizing the verse God shows you so you can remind yourself anytime you are tempted to buy into that lie again.