John 8: 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 17: 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Introduction:
What is the name of the gospel you have received? What brand of the gospel of Christ was preached to you and that you are holding unto?
According to the scripture, the true gospel of Christ is the gospel of love, love flowing from the Creator to a deformed, deranged, debased, and doomed creature, called man.
John 3: 14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave him only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The gospel of Christ Jesus is the gospel of truth, the truth that sets a person in the right path to eternal life of peace.
John 14: 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The gospel of Christ Jesus is the gospel of Telling people the truth about their present situation and their possible future fate and destination. Hear the Truth spoken through prophet Micah,
Micah 3: 8. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
This truth is meant to set people free from pain, sorrow and trouble that their sin is sure to bring upon them and the inevitable eternal sorrowful death. The truth is meant to convict, change or transform people. Truth is light and always will impart understanding and wisdom, joy and peace. Truth gives abundant life.
Romans 6: 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 10: 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
** Have you encountered the Truth? What is the Truth?
John 18: 37. Pilate, therefore, said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
So, Truth is the quality of having no fault at all and being free from sins. The truth is that which puts lies and deceptions to shame. Truth is patient, irrepressible, unchanging, time-tested and proven, Truth is ever victorious and ever righteous. Truth is pure and durable.
2 Corinthians 13: 8. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
Jesus Christ is the Truth personified. He is the pure word and true word of God. This word can not lie because this word is God.
Numbers 23: 19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
John 1: 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1: 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 14: 30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
Hebrews 4: 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
So, have you truly encountered the Truth. Have you been confronted with the truth about who you really are? Have you been called by the name heaven knows you by? Have your secret sins been brought out into the open? Have you ever spoken the truth in your heart to yourself?
Psalm 15: 1. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Biblical Examples of People that Encountered the Truth and the irrecoverable transformation that followed:
Note: When you truly encounter the truth, you truly encounter God.
** Adam & Eve
When God shows up, truth surfaces or shows up and your sins, errors and faults are revealed.
Genesis 3: 8. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
God called the man and asked, where are you (we can’t find you where we put you, where are you in your relationship with God, where are you in your divine, spiritual and marital commitments, where are you). God is looking for you. Truth is searching for you, but you are all covered up with lies and self deception, you have built a high fence in your heart against the truth, you have erected a stronghold in your heart that no truth can bring down. Where are you Adam.
*When he finally answered, he kept away his sin, but started telling God the consequences of his sin.
*The truth diagnosed the the cause of the problems and the consequences.
** Jacob
Genesis 32: 6. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 24. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
What is your name? What name does your spouse call you, what name does your child call you. Your colleagues at work. What name does God call you. What name do you call yourself?
You are not Esau, even the name Jacob is not good for you. You shall be called Israel. A prince, the head and leader of God’s people.
Today, God want to rename you. Today is your day of encounter with the Truth.
Luke 19: 41. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42. Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
NB:
The Truth Cycle
Information (The Scriptures ))—> Observation (Meditation on the scriptures)—> Revelation (Light, new and applicable understanding) —> Implications —> Application (practically using and applying the new understanding) —> Transformation (Changed by the Truth)