IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN
John 8:31-36
Many of us have some serious secrets. We have things in our history, and background that we want to just keep hidden. We don’t want no one to know about the time we did this or did that or when we acted like this or like that. Or the time we went somewhere we were not supposed to or with the wrong person at the wrong time. We have many things that we just want to keep in the closet. Everyone has at least one skeleton in the closet - some of our skeletons still have meat on them. And I submit to someone there are some things that we should keep in the closet - It’s your business and you and God know things about ourselves that should remain there. We need to confess the wrong and the sin in our lives with a repentant heart and allow God to cleanse us as is recorded in 1 John 1:9. Our Testimonies don’t need to be going so deep. To much information. Because we often hear them going into test-te-lying and not testifying. BUT there are some things that shouldn’t be hidden. AND….. IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN…..
We understand truth to mean consistency and sincere in action, character and utterance. The facts or the real things. Old English placed the word ’faithful’ to truth. Truth is described in the Greek as AL-AT-THI-A (aletheia); from the Greek word AL-AYTH-YOO-O (aletheuo) meaning to be true in doctrine and profession.
John the beloved of Jesus this gospel writer was right with Jesus for some 3-1/2 years. He was often called the closest disciple. John the apostle works hard to prove Who Jesus is: John records in John 1:1 that Jesus was is and will be God. And in John 1:14 the Apostle says Jesus is the Word of God who became flesh, "the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John goes on further to say in John 8:40, All Jesus said was true, because He told the truth which Jesus heard from God Himself. Jesus promised His disciples that He would send "the Spirit of truth" in John 14:17, John 15:26 and John 16:13. Then you find in these holy writings the Apostle recording that dynamic statement Jesus makes in John 14:6 - I am the way THE TRUTH and the life no one come to the Father but by me! The Apostle John further reports Jesus promising to be a Helper who would abide in Christians forever in John 14:16. Then in John 16:13 Jesus promises to guide Christians into all truth. IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!
When we get to this passage here in John 8:31 Jesus was talking to Jews in the temple near the treasury and people were gathered around, disciples of His and the other folks. He speaks now to those who believe in Him.
A. Jesus states; "If you abide in my words" which
would point us to
i. Staying faithful to Jesus Christ and
God’s Word
ii. Standing on the truth of His word. Being
a defending of the truth of Who Jesus is.
-All cults start out with mess with Who
Jesus really is.
iii. We are His disciples and Followers so we
should act more like Him
B. The Jesus says: "You shall know the truth."
Truth is a fundamental moral and personal quality of God.
i. We should knowing truth, then doing
something with it.
-James 1:22 says, Let’s not just be
hearers, of the word, but also doers
ii. The truth is things changes, people
change, situations change -
Do you remember how at 12:01 in the year 1999 so many people prophesized the end of the world or at least a major world catastrophe. But look now the only things that changed was 12:00 -1999 became 12:01 - 2000
But God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Because of His perfect nature and will, God has to speak and act in TRUTH; He cannot lie.
iii. And the Gospel Message will never change
C. Jesus goes further to say; "Truth will set you free."
God is truth; the Spirit is truth; and Jesus is
truth. JESUS IS THE TRUTH
i. Having Jesus as our foundation we have a
sound foundation of truth
ii. If we are saved - Jesus saved us - and
God loves me - and nothing can snatch us
out of His hand. And that is a sound
solid foundation of truth.
iii. Get confidence, get liberty- get the
Truth in your life and - GET FREE
JESUS WILL SET YOU FREE -
Matthew 11:28-30 says; "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (NKJV)" Take Jesus on and we will get some freedom, peace and some rest
D. John 8:33 makes us consider some of us are; "in bondage" - And some of us are in bondage and don’t know it or don’t want it known!
i. We are in bondage to our addictions,
people, places, and things
ii. We are in bondage to our bad attitudes.
iii. We are in bondage to our past - but we
don’t have to live in our past
BUT IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN - We have freedom in Christ
We can get free - Jesus died for your sins, past, present and future.
E. John 8:34 says; "Sin especially hidden sin makes us slaves."
i. We have to repent of some current
behaviors - We should take some time out
to look over our lives allow the
revealing
power of the Holy Spirit to show us
where we need to repent
ii. Some of us need to repent of some
current beliefs when are not godly
iii. Many of us need to repent of our wicked
ways, iniquities, continued willful sin - REPENT
BUT IF THE TRUTH BE KNOW,
BUT SOME OF US DON’T WANT TO REPENT
F. John 8:35 - Commands us are we Slaves or a sons.
i. Slaves do not inherit kingdoms - but
sons (and daughters) do
ii. Slaves only can go so far
iii. Slaves to sin are controlled by an evil
master and someone needs to know
IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN the Devil does not like you!
G. John 8:36 finally, helps us with the statement; "If the Truth be known," we need a real relationship with the Truth. ’Who is the TRUTH?’ -Jesus! Real freedom comes from a relationship with the Son - Jesus
i. If you want some freedom
ii. Breath of fresh air
iii. Jesus makes us free and we are free in
deed!
iv. He closes the door to where the
skeletons of our life are and we get a
new life in Him - the Truth
