Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – John 8:31-32
We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. – Ephesian 4:14-16
Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.- Proverbs 4:24
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Spoken by Jesus, John 8:31-32 signifies that accepting his teaching and gospel message frees individuals from the bondage of sin and spiritual ignorance. This phrase appears in a discussion where Jesus explains to those who believed in him that true discipleship involves abiding in his word. In this reading, “the truth” refers specifically to Jesus himself, his teachings, and the gospel. As verse 31 explains; our freedom hangs on continuing in his word. (His teachings and lived example.)
Like Proverbs 4:24, our Bibles contain over 150 verses on lying. In a world of shifting, relativistic, and deliberately misdirecting viewpoints, biblical truth remains anchored in the unchanging loving and just nature of God and the person of Jesus Christ, who declared Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Walking in truth means prioritizing God’s Word over worldly opinions and living out that faith with integrity. As Jesus says in John 13:17, (If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them), we can only receive the full blessings of these truths if we live faithfully in his example, not simply by memorizing and quoting his teachings.
For we Christians, then, Truth is a knowable and followable person, not just a concept. For us, truth is not merely an abstract doctrine but is found instead in the character and actions of Jesus. While modern culture often defines truth by personal feelings (“MY truth”) or by majority consensus (polling data); we must challenge our thoughts and the statements and actions of others with the teachings and example of Jesus, and be open to the ongoing promptings and revelations of the Holy Spirit. (As our UCC sisters and brothers say, “God is still speaking.” – John 16:13) Following the truth requires us to “walk” in it, meaning our daily actions should reflect God’s Word as revealed in Christ Jesus. We are in a daily battle to choose God’s truth over the lies of the world and the many enemies of the truth. Jesus asks that in the face of this constant onslaught, we remember Him.
Following Jesus’ example, when necessary, we must be willing to speak truth to power. Proverbs 31:8–9 states, “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
The truth can be challenging, but as Jesus promised, it is what sets us free. It holds us accountable and transforms us from the inside out. Ephesians 4:14-16 teaches that we must insist on it from one another; and expect others to hold us to the same accountability. In Matthew 7:5, Jesus insists that we start with rigorous self-examination before we seek to correct others, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) Let us, therefore, be a community that seeks, speaks, and lives out the truth in love, standing firm when it is uncomfortable and holding fast to divine truth made knowable in and through Jesus.
Peace,
Pastor Layne