Truth is
Intro: what causes unbelief?
1: Hypocrisy
a) dissimulate
b) to hide something by pretense
c) to wear a mask like a stage player
d) appear to be one thing and actually be something completely different
Point: Christians who confess Jesus with their lips but deny him with their lifestyles are the number one cause of atheism, faith without works is dead, and this is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.
2: Matt 23:27-28
a) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisee’s, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but within are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleaness.
b) V28 even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
c) Woooooooo weeeeee Jesus just laid it out there
d) What are you today folks
Point: that’s hypocrisy explained and taught by the master the Lord Jesus Christ. Smiling to your face and stabbing you in the back when you turn and walk away. You look good on the outside but in your heart it’s a different picture.
Body: why should we be true?
1: Eph 2:2-3
a) we walked by the way the world taught us
b) we knew and did what we learned
c) we have all been there
d) fulfilling our desires
e) chasing our dreams
Point: we are all sinners saved by grace, never should we think of ourselves more or higher than what we ought to. We should seem different than those in and of the world. We know and follow a different way, we have different desires and dreams, our ambition should be selfless not selfish.
2: Eph 4:20-27
a) we have learned Christ
b) Paul uses metaphors taken from garments
c) The principles, habits, and disposition of the soul must be changed
d) We have not learned so form Christ how to be carnal or worldly
Point: we have learned there is a difference, we’ve found true fulfillment, we’ve found the way the truth and the life, this is what we have learned from Christ. This is what he offers when we make the choice to surrender our lives to him. Paul makes the point we don’t walk as others walk, Eph 4:17-19 we walk the way Jesus has taught us to.
3: Deceitful lust
a) lust is a desire, craving for what is forbidden
b) it can drive you to do foolish things
c) it can control you
Sin promises happiness
But brings misery
Sin promises fulfillment
But leaves emptiness
Sin says I’m ok it’s no different we’re all the same
When God’s holy fire is applied sin cannot stay
4: v 21
a) the truth is in Jesus
b) it’s not enough to just cease to do evil, we must learn to do well
c) truth is Jesus
d) how do I fix this problem in my life? Answer: Jesus
Point: you take 2 balloons one with water and air the other with just air. Put a lighter to the bottom of the one with just air, it will pop and break into pieces, do the same with the water balloon moving the lighter in small circles on the bottom of the balloon it won’t pop, the balloon will hold because of what’s inside it. Truth is it’s no different with Jesus, he’ll hold on when everyone else let’s go, he’ll stand when everyone else has fallen, truth is he’ll stay when everyone else leaves…
Closing: B.C. /A.D.
1: How?
a) v 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind
b) spiritually transformed
c) take on a new mind
d) Romans 6:5-6
For if we have been planted together in likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Point: crucify the flesh daily, your choice to live your life your way our live for God through the help and power of the Holy Spirit. To believe the truth or be deceived by your own lust and desire
2: Put on the new man
a) you have to decide
b) Lord what would you have me do
c) God what’s your will for my life
Point: what do you think righteousness is? To be righteous is to be in a proper relationship with God, can we be in relationship with God outside of Jesus? No, John 14:6 no man cometh unto the Father but by me, Jesus is our righteousness.
Just like those balloons what we put in matters, the one with water could withstand the fire, the water changed the capability of the balloon.
JESUS changes our capability; he causes us to be different.
One last thought:
Be angry and sin not, the only way to be angry and sin not is to be angry at nothing but sin. We should be more jealous for the glory of God than any reputation or honor of our own.
Truth is Jesus Christ…
