Jesus as Our Truth

If you have your Bibles, I invite you to open them to Genesis chapter 3. And as you're turning there, I want to remind us of where we've been in our 'Know the Way' series. Two weeks ago, we looked at Jeremiah chapter 6, verse 16, where God calls His people to 'stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ This passage challenged us to consider: Are we truly seeking God's way or are we determined to forge our own path? And this matters deeply because the way we choose determines the life we live. It's not just about getting from point A to point B—,it’s about who we become along the journey.

I want to ask you a question as we begin, but don't answer too quickly: Where do you look for truth in your life? Now take a moment to think about it. What makes something true? When you need to know what's real, what's right, what matters—where do you turn? Just this week around the dinner table we were having this discussion about schools around our area and one of our kids made a comment that this one school in our area has nothing but teachers with no college education. And so, Alicia and I asked, is that even possible? Because from Alicia and I’d perspectives we know that you just can’t get a teaching position without a degree. Yes, we have paraprofessionals, but to be a certified teacher, there are requirements by the state and the school. So we asked our kids, how do you know this to be true? And their answer,…. my friend told me. And isn't that telling about how we often determine truth? We hear something that sounds plausible—maybe even something that confirms what we already think or feel—and we accept it as truth without investigating further. Our source of truth becomes whatever feels right or whatever someone we trust has told us. This happens with our kids, but let's be honest—as adults, we can do the same thing. We read something online, hear it from a trusted friend, see it on our preferred news channel, and we accept it as truth without really examining the source or testing its reliability. And in our world today, determining what's true has become increasingly complicated. We're bombarded with information from countless sources. Social media.. nothings really official until we see it on Facebook.. right? news outlets, trusted friends, family, coworkers—all offering their version of reality. And more and more, our culture tells us that truth is subjective—that what's true for you might not be true for me. And So think about this… Trying to find truth has been a dilemma since Eden?

Look with me to Genesis 3, verses 1-5. Here's where it all began: Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden’?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’" "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.’ Now, Look at what's happening here! Eve has to figure out who to believe. Does she trust what God said, or does she go with what this serpent is suggesting? If you remember, its the same with Jeremiah and Israel in Chapter 6… Do you hear what the Lord says? Do you stand and look and ask which way is the good way? Then take it? Or do you answer like Israel? No we won’t. What we notice in the very beginning, right before the fall of mankind, Eve is at this crossroads. And the serpent—he's crafty, right? He starts with this innocent-sounding question: "Did God really say...?" Then he flat-out contradicts God: "You won't die!" And finally, he dangles this promise: "You'll be like God, knowing good and evil. He's basically telling Eve, "Hey, don't let God tell you what's true. You figure it out for yourself. You be the boss of your own life. You live your truth. You’re here, in this moment, living your life.. What feels good in this moment, that must be true. And isn't that exactly what we hear everywhere today? "You do you." "Follow your heart." "Live your truth." It sounds so good, doesn't it? It’s freeing. Feels Authentic…. If I can feel it, it must be true. And so, this question isn’t just a simple question, that would allow us to jump in without truly thinking about it… where are you looking or truth?

This is the same question the disciples were facing that night when Jesus was telling them He was leaving. Their world was about to be turned upside down. Everything they thought they knew was about to be challenged. And in that moment of confusion and fear, they needed to know where to look for truth. And what was Jesus's answer?

Well, lets go back to where we left off two weeks ago in John 14… and look at verse 6. Jesus told them, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

Now, here is what’s interesting… Jesus is not just claiming to know the truth or speak the truth—in this moment, look at what he is claiming…. to BE the truth. Jesus is saying, 'When everything is shifting and changing around you, I remain constant. When you don't know what to believe or who to trust, you can believe Me and trust Me. When you’re at a crossroads, stand, look, ask for the good way, and walk in it. Right, at every crossroads in life there’s opportunity to choose.

Here's what's so powerful about this: In the garden, Eve chose to be her own authority. She decided she would determine what was true based on what she could see and understand. And that decision led to separation from God. This is the moment sin is injected into the human soul, and heart. Every moment of suffering in human history can be traced back to this fundamental problem: we've rejected God's truth and appointed ourselves as the authority. And I’ll say it again, is that not the center of our sin. That I appoint my truth over God’s truth. This is what sin actually is at its core. It's not just breaking rules or missing the mark. It's saying, 'I know better than God. I'll decide what's true for me.' It's putting ourselves in God's place. And what's the result? Look around. Look at our world—divided, confused, hurting. Look at our own lives—our anxieties, our fears, our broken relationships. When we try to create our own truth, we end up lost and disconnected from the source of life itself.

So this brings us to another crucial question: Who is the authority in your life? Let me put it another way—who do you really listen to when you have to make a decision? When you're trying to figure out what's right and what's wrong, where do you turn? Jesus makes this incredible claim in Matthew 28:18. He says, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’ Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus says all authority? Think about what that means for a minute. The same Jesus who says 'I am the truth' is also saying 'I have complete authority over everything.' Over every nation, every leader, every situation—and yes, over your life and my life. I remember, our first time we lived in Colorado, and I came home one Wednesday afternoon with my office packed into a cardboard box, and I walked through the door, Alicia just broke down crying and she sat down knowing that I had just been laid off.. Can you imagine our anxious hearts? God, What now? Will we become homeless? Will me need to move back east? Did you not hear our prayers for safety and security? Do you not see our struggles? Ya know… one thing I learned through all of our struggles and uncertainties in our marriage is that, We cannot avoid uncertainty in this life, but we can respond to it in a Christ-honoring way. And that's where Jesus's authority and truth intersect with our everyday lives. When Jesus says 'I am the truth' and 'All authority has been given to me,' He's offering us a foundation that doesn't shift when our circumstances do. Think about what Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Right, the book of wisdom… look at what it says, God says, 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.’ This doesn't mean God will make our paths easy or problem-free. But it does mean He'll make them straight—leading us where we need to go, even when the journey is difficult. But it does mean, he leads us.

So let me ask you, church—who has authority in your life? If Jesus isn’t the authority, then you are. Let that sink in… who’s the authority in your life… you are. You’re choosing your path. If Jesus isn’t the authority, then you are. And if you’re the one calling the shots, the one navigating your own way, where is that taking you? Where has it gotten you so far? Can I just share with you why Jesus is the answer to this question? Because you and I can say, 'Jesus is the antidote. Jesus is the answer.' But do we believe it deep enough that when life gets hard, when things fall apart, when temptation hits, our very souls cry out, 'Help!'? Think about the Psalms. Think about David. Over and over again, his plea is, 'Help! Help me, Lord! Help me in this moment! 'But I want you to notice something. David isn’t obsessed with the source of his problem; he’s fixated on the Source of his solution. He’s not dwelling on the battle; he’s anchoring himself in the One who fights for him. Listen to Psalm 25:1-3:

In you, Lord my God,I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.I put my trust. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Psalm 25:1-3

What is David asking for? Yes protection. We all cry for that… but his cries go deeper than that… something much more deeper than just protection. When he prays, “do not let me be put to shame” and declares by faith that “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,” he is asking God to protect the glory of his name in protecting him. He believes that God's reputation is tied to the outcome of his life. That’s not a self-centered prayer. That’s a God-centered cry. David’s saying, 'God, my life is wrapped up in Your reputation. If I’m trusting You and You don’t come through, it’s not just my name that’s on the line—it’s Yours.' That’s not a self-centered prayer. That’s a God-centered cry. That’s what happens when Jesus is the authority. You stop focusing on the problem, and you start anchoring yourself in the One who holds the solution. You stop worrying about your own reputation, and you start caring more about the reputation of the One who saved you. And that’s the heart of abiding. That’s what it means to truly trust. To surrender. To say, 'Jesus, You lead. I follow. Your name, Your reputation, Your glory—that’s what matters most.’

Here it is. You turn to Jesus’ authority. You stop fighting for control. You stop wrestling to be the king of your own life. You lay it down. You acknowledge that He is Lord—not just with your lips but with your life. You say, 'Jesus, You have the authority. You are the way, the truth, and the life. Not me. Not my ideas. Not my plans. You.' And you trust Him. You trust Him when it doesn’t make sense. When everything in you wants to grab the reins and steer your own way—you trust Him. You trust Him when life is falling apart. When the diagnosis is bad. When the bills are piling up. When the marriage feels like it’s hanging by a thread. You trust that His ways are higher than your ways, that His thoughts are higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). You trust that He is working all things together for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28). But hear me, church—trusting doesn’t mean the pain vanishes. Trusting doesn’t mean the storm suddenly stops. It means you’re anchored in the One who holds you steady in the midst of it all. It means you’re leaning into His authority, even when the ground beneath you is shaking. And that’s what abiding looks like. That’s what surrender looks like. It’s saying, 'Jesus, You lead. I follow. Your reputation, not mine. Your glory, not mine. Your will, not mine.’ So, where are you struggling to surrender? Where are you still holding on to control? Where are you still saying, 'God, I trust You… but let me handle this one part’? Because the call is not partial surrender. The call is complete surrender. The call is to let go. To trust that Jesus is not just able to lead—you trust that He is good as He leads.

You’ve got to take that step of faith and say, 'Jesus, I trust that Your righteousness is enough. I trust that Your blood covers me. I trust that Your life is now my life. That You became sin so that I could become the righteousness of God.' That’s what 2 Corinthians 5:21 is all about: 'God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ Listen, church—you and I do not become righteous in ourselves. We only become righteous in Christ. But let’s not move too quickly past this. Because before you can truly trust in His righteousness, you’ve got to confront your own unrighteousness. You’ve got to come face to face with the ways you’ve asserted your authority over God’s. The ways you’ve elevated your thoughts above His. The ways you’ve believed you know better than God what is best for your life. And that right there—that’s the core of our sin. That’s unrighteousness. And until you lay that down, you can’t pick up the righteousness of Christ. Let’s sit in this truth for a moment. Jesus didn’t just die for your sins. He became sin for you. He took on the fullness of your guilt, your shame, your unrighteousness—He bore it all on that cross. And in exchange, He clothes you in His righteousness. Not a borrowed righteousness, but a righteousness that is now your own because of what He has done. And a righteousness He puts within you because He is in you.

This is why Romans 8:1 is so crucial to understand…. Paul is declaring.. , 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ In Christ. Those two words show up again and again in Paul’s letters. In Christ, you are abiding. In Christ, you are desiring. In Christ, you are pursuing. This is more than a Sunday-morning tradition. This is truth and life being offered to you. Because when God looks at you, He no longer sees the sinner. He sees the righteousness of His Son. He sees the perfection of Jesus. And that means you don’t have to strive to prove yourself worthy. You don’t have to work to earn God’s approval. You already have it—in Christ. But don’t stop there. Because trust without action is empty. You’ve got to follow His Word. You’ve got to open this Book and let it shape your life. You don’t just glance at it and walk away.’ You dive into it. You meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). You let it be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105).

Look with me real quick to the gospel of John, and watch this. In John 8, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, and He’s being very direct. Starting in verse 21, He says, 'I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.' Did you catch that? Jesus is telling them, 'You’re gonna look for me, but you’re not gonna find me. You’re gonna die in your sin.' It’s a hard word. It’s a confrontational word. But why is Jesus saying this? Because they’re trusting in their own righteousness. They’re banking on their religious traditions. Their Sunday morning routines. They’re convinced they’re good without God—missing the very One who can save them. Jesus is saying, 'You’re refusing to believe in me, and because of that, you’re going to die in your sin.’ There’s no abiding in Christ like Paul talks about in Romans. There’s no following. There’s just self-reliance and empty religion. And church, listen—how many of us are guilty of the same thing? How many of us are content with knowing about Jesus but not actually knowing Him? How many of us are clinging to a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5)? Jesus isn’t looking for people who know how to play church. He’s looking for people who know how to be the church—people who aren’t just nodding along but actually walking in His truth, abiding in His Word, living under His authority.

And then, in verse 24, Jesus says, 'If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.' That’s heavy. Jesus isn’t saying, 'Try harder.' He isn’t saying, 'Do more religious stuff.' He’s saying, 'If you don’t believe that I am who I say I am, you’re still in your sins. Still lost. Still blind.’ But watch this. Watch the shift that happens in verse 30. 'Even as he spoke, many believed in him.' 'Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

Did you catch that? Even as He spoke, many believed in Him. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. Look at what He says next, starting in verse 31: 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.”’ First there’s faith in him..you relive in him, and because you are saved, there’s what? There Freedom. That’s the promise. But it’s not just about believing in Jesus. It’s about holding to His teaching. Continuing in His word. Not just agreeing with it. Not just nodding along. But abiding in it. Grasp it. Love it. Desire it. Live it. Because trust without action is empty. Faith without action is hollow. Ir as James puts it… its dead.

And that’s where Jeremiah 6:16 comes in. Remember? It’s the same call: Stand. Look. Ask. Then what? Walk. It’s not just hearing. It’s walking. It’s not just saying, 'I believe.’ It’s living it out, every single day. That’s what it means to abide. That’s what it means to be truly free.

And church, I need you to hear this… This world is desperate for people who are not just playing church but living under the authority of Jesus, trusting in His righteousness, walking in obedience to His Word. This world is crying out for something real. People are drowning in a sea of confusion, searching for truth, grasping for an identity that isn’t real, reaching for life. And what are we doing, church? We’re trying to be comfortable! We show up Sunday after Sunday, sitting in chairs, singing songs—but how many of us are walking right back out those doors unchanged? How many of us are content with a faith that stirs our emotions but doesn’t transform our lives? How many of us have a form of godliness but deny its power? (2 Timothy 3:5). Listen! Listen to me! The world doesn’t need more people who know how to play church. The world needs people who know how to be the church. People who say, 'Jesus, You are my authority. Your righteousness is my covering. Your Word is my compass.' People who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and cannot keep silent about it! And that’s the call today, church. That’s the urgency! The world is waiting. Your neighbors are waiting. Your co-workers are waiting. Your children are waiting. Your spouse is waiting. And God Almighty has placed the Spirit of His Son inside of you to shine forth His glory. But listen to me—you can’t show the truth if you’re not living in it. You can’t lead people to freedom if you’re still shackled by the same chain as the world is. You can’t offer the world hope if you’re drowning in your own confusion, living a life of compromise and complacency. So what are you going to do, church? What are you going to do with what you’ve heard today? Will you keep going through the motions? Will you keep playing church? Will you keep chasing empty pleasures, empty promises, empty pursuits? Or are you going to rise up as a church of Christ? A community of Christ. Will you step out, by faith? Will you walk in the truth of God’s Word? Because when you do, when you surrender to His authority, trust in His righteousness, and follow His Word, your life becomes a beacon of truth—a blazing light in a dark and desperate world that says, you’re truth is whatever makes you feel better.

So, here’s the call, church—repent, believe, and follow! Now listen,. As Peter comes up… The call has been made clear. Jesus has laid it out. '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) So the question is—will you hold to it? Will you cling to His Word like your life depends on it? Because it does. Will you walk in that truth? Will you let it set you free? See, the world doesn’t need another Sunday morning Christian. It’s got plenty of those kinds of playing playing church. The world doesn’t need people who can quote the Word but don’t live the Word. The world needs disciples. Followers. People who are so captivated by Jesus that they can’t help but shine His light wherever they go.

, I want to ask you this: Where are you? Are you standing at the crossroads, looking, asking, but not walking? Are you holding onto your sin, your pride, your own way, while the Savior is calling you to come and be free? You see next week we’re going to talk about life, but there is no life unless you handle the truth and authority issue in you life today. Today is the day to step out. Today is the day to say, 'Jesus, I’m done playing church. I’m done going through the motions. I’m done with empty religion. I want to follow You. I want to walk in Your truth. I want to be set free.’ And if that’s you, don’t leave this place the same. If you’re here today and you’re ready to step out of the shadows, if you’re tired of playing church and you’re ready to be the church, this is your moment. Come. Don’t wait. Don’t worry about who’s watching. Don’t worry about what they might think. Just come. If you need to surrender something to Jesus, come. If you need to repent of sin, come. If you need to lay down your pride, your fear, your doubt—come. This is the place where chains break, where lives are changed, where freedom is found. Let’s pray, and as we do, if that’s you, come forward and let God meet you right here, right now. This is your moment. Don’t let it pass by.

Father, we come before You now, hearts open, hands lifted, surrendering everything. We confess our complacency, our empty religion, our going through the motions. Forgive us, Lord. Break every chain. Tear down every wall. Open our eyes to see You, Jesus—the One who sets us free. We don’t want to leave this place the same. We don’t want to keep playing church. We want to be the church. We want to walk in Your truth, abide in Your Word, and shine Your light in a dark and desperate world. Holy Spirit, move in this place. Draw every heart that’s been holding back. Give courage to those who need to step forward, to lay down their sin, their fear, their pride. Pour out Your grace. Pour out Your mercy. Transform us, Lord. Make us more like You. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. And we thank You for the freedom that only comes from You. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. *