What is The Truth?
October 26, 2025. John 8:31-36. Pastor Leslie Nolin
Even as He spoke, many believed in Him.
James 2:19 says that even demons believe and tremble.
The Jews in verse 31 believed Jesus but was this saving faith yet?
Jesus goes on to say that to truly be His disciples, they must hold to His teaching, then they would know the truth and the truth would set them free.
Verse 30 confirms that they were still depending on their lineage as descendants of Abraham and belief, because they had the Law, that was sufficient. They still had trust in righteousness by works to be accepted into God's kingdom. Jesus knew their hearts, that they were really rejecting Him, looking for a way to kill Him because they had no room for Him in their hearts.
So, what is the truth?
In Revelation 14:6-7, an angel proclaims the Good News to all the earth; “Fear the Lord, and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and springs of waters!”
John 1:3 tells us that all things were made through Jesus, without Him nothing was made that has been made. Believing this is the beginning of faith.
The wonderful truth is that regardless of lineage, if the Son makes us free, we are free indeed.
Ephesians 2:1-9; “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
We are free from the bondage of sin, free from the condemnation of sin and free from the bondage of not being able to keep the Law.
James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
Romans 3:9-31 tells us that the purpose of the Law is to make us aware of sin, that no-one is made righteous by the Law, “For all have sinned and fall short...” and we are justified by faith, apart from the Law.
Galatians 3:24; “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”
Apart from the Law, true righteousness of God is made known, this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (who have a confident trust, entrust ourselves).
Paul was willing to suffer as he did, because he knew in whom he had believed and was convinced that Jesus was able to guard what he had entrusted to Him until the day he stood before Christ as a faithful witness of the gospel.
Regardless of lineage, Jew or Gentile, all have sinned, all are guilty of breaking the whole Law, even if only by breaking it once in a lifetime.
We are only justified by faith in the atoning sacrifice of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Having total trust that we are completely incapable of fulfilling the requirements of the Law, that the penalty of our sins have been fully paid.
Copyright © 2025 St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Kamloops
View this sermon presented live here: https://youtu.be/f7_92JIkC10
