TRUTH, what is it? Can it really set you free?

I think we have all heard the phrase, “and the truth shall set you free”. I find it interesting that it says “the truth” and not “your truth”. In a society built on self truth and a “perception is reality” approach/mindset, it can be hard to navigate what truth is and if, in fact, it will “set you free”. A lot of the “truths” people cling to today do quite the opposite, they make us a prisoner to our beliefs and if anything bring more confusion than clarity.

Well, I set out on a mission to get to the bottom of this saying, “and the truth shall set you free” to help bring clarity on the matter and deliver that information to you. In my research I found the origin of this phrase in a book written by a man named John in/around the year AD 90. In this book he records the life and teaching of a man named Jesus, ever heard of him? Haha, ok, sorry, that was a long and unneeded introduction. This widely known quote comes straight from the bible. In John 8:31b-32 Jesus says, 31b “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What is TRUTH and how do we know TRUTH?

Well first:

TRUTH is every word spoken by Jesus

In John 8:26 Jesus says, “​​I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”

He also says in verse 28b “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.”

And in our verse about the truth setting us free (above) he says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.

So the first step in understanding truth is reading and listening to the words of Jesus (see the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and/or John). Note also that all scripture is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Spending time in the bible, and especially the red letters, gives us a great advantage when it comes to understanding actual truth, not societal self proclaimed truths (see the news, facebook, instagram, crazy Karen down the street).

Second:

Jesus is TRUTH (ok Brandon, how is this any different than the first point? Hang with me).

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

It is not enough to just read and understand the words of Christ, you must live for him and understand that he is not just the tour guide telling you where to go and what to look at while explaining what it all means along the way, HE IS THE WAY!

John 15:3, “​​Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

Jesus is saying, it is not enough just to know, you must also abide in him and him in you.

Now that we know what truth is, what does it mean to be free?

The Jews that Jesus was talking to back in John 8 had the same question. They said in response to Jesus’ teaching 33b “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word [truth] finds no place in you. 38 I speak [truth] of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (emphasis added)

He goes on to say, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father [the devil] did.”

Freedom means freedom from sin. When you do not live in truth, you live in sin. Those who live in sin are a slave to sin, thus not free. I think many times society gets it twisted, they think that not following Christ and living by his Word is actually freedom. They think, “we don’t want to be restricted to those rules and regulations placed on us by religion”. Christianity has even been seen as hateful since we don’t accept societal “truth(s)”. To the many that are being sold these lies, they think of Christianity as the opposite of freedom.

Well that couldn't be any further from the truth. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). From the same verse we are told that the devil comes to do the complete opposite – steal, kill, and destroy. Which one sounds like freedom to you?

Freedom also means freedom from death. In John 8:51 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” This speaks to the promise of eternal life with Christ. Sure, our physical bodies will die but spiritually we will live in an everlasting relationship and communion with our Father and creator.

Ed Cole in his book “REAL MAN” says in reference to Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life: “Truth is the fulcrum for both the way and the life. The “way” is our direction in life, the “truth” is the moral and intellectual basis for life, the “life” is the result of our relationship with Jesus. The more we base our life on truth, the better will be our way and the greater will be our life.”

As men it is important for us to be grounded in truth so that we may experience true freedom in this life. The directions are clear but the process can be difficult at times. That is where it is our responsibility as leaders to step up to the challenge and daily live our lives grounded in “The Truth”. No matter what society tells us, we know that only “The Truth” will set us free!