Posted in The Way, the Truth and the Life
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John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Truth. God's word is truth. And Gods word is alive. Truth is a living spiritual thing. When we lie, the people around us can no longer trust us. This is a spiritual thing. Distrust separates us from others. 1 John Truth is more than not speaking lies. Our words alone are not what truth is or isnt. Behind all words are intents of the heart. If we speak lies, what does this tell of our hearts, our spiritual state? How does this translate to our actions, and the actions of those our lies affect? If we say one thing and do another, we are hypocrites, liars, covenant breakers. How many people do you know that say the church is just a bunch of hypocrites? Are they right? Are we doing what we say? Are we living out what we say we believe? Throughout the Bible, Gods word is spoken of as truth. We can trust it. We can poke it with a stick and it will not bite us. We can weigh it and measure it and find it worthy of its name. We can ponder it and study it and try to tear it apart, but it stands firm. Jesus is also called the Word. And He says He is the truth. Jesus is not a book He is a man, a God-man. His spirit has inspired our physical book that we hold in our hands. But this book is alive. We can also try to tear Jesus apart, His words, His actions, yet He stands firm. He may remain mysterious and perplexing, larger than our minds can comprehend, but the truth remains. Truth is an action. It is spiritual and an action, much like love. Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. John What does it mean to walk in truth, or do truth? If Jesus is truth, wouldnt this mean we were walking in Jesus? Is that what Jesus meant when He said, Abide in me, and I in you. If truth is an action, wouldnt that mean that Jesus is an action? Then, we are called to live out Jesus as an action, to mirror his life as we live out ours. Truth equates trust. I love the trust that I have with my Lord. The following is an excerpt from Freedom is a strange creature. It comes from having total trust that something is true. When I finally believed that the Bible was all true and trustworthy, I no longer had to figure out what in my life was true or right or wrong. I no longer had any license to judge others, or care about what was thought of me. I have a basis for all truth, and according to the Bible, having my heart right with God is the issue, not my outward appearance (hence the freedom to pierce my nose). I no longer have to fit any mold. I no longer have to care how crazy someone might think I am for believing what I do. I was freed from my search of finding someone who understood me. I am no longer bound by societal rules. I am no longer bound by my familys hang ups. I am free from self. I am free from all things. I am free to totally and completely rely on God and His wisdom. I am free from worry. I am free to make mistakes. I am free to grow and expand. I am finally free to love. The great promise that I fully trust and know, that has given me this freedom is that God loves me, personally. He loves who I am, no matter how weird others might think I am. He has created me with specific gifts and talents that are unique to me, and he wants me to use who he created me to be to bless other people. I am at peace and free because God has made me this way for a purpose and He loves me passionately. I know this because the Bible says so, and He has experientially shown this to be true over and over again. I was once a liar above all liars. Having tasted truth, it is sweet and beautiful. John Yep.
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Posted in The Way, the Truth and the Life
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Jesus and His "I Am" statements: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. My Savior is so bold, so radical. I always inwardly laugh when people say they like Jesus's teaching, and that He was a great man, but they don't believe He is the Son of God. This is what Jesus said about Himself! The Way revisited touching on Hebrews 9:8-28 with the key verse being: Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. The way is the sacrifice. Jesus made the way by He Himself being the sacrifice. To follow the way, I must also sacrifice myself. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Wow, my God loves me. I am continually floored by the depth of this love. I crave this love so badly. I am passionate about this God who could love me so personally and so fully. This is the only Way for me. Lyrics by a favored local musician, Misty Edwards: And I will waste my life And I'll be tested and tried with no regrets inside of me just to find I'm at your feet I am in love with you and there is no cost I am in love with you and there is no loss I am in love with you; I want to take your name I am in love with you I'll leave me father's house and I'll leave my mother I'll leave all I have known And I'll have no other. |
Posted in The Way, the Truth and the Life
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John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.What a controversial statement Jesus made. I know of so many people who stumble over this verse. They like what Jesus is doing, what He has to say, the love He shows, but want to choose their own way to the Father, or rather a universal god. Why must there be a condition put on their belief in God? Below are the definitions of "way" from Strong's Concordance & Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, respectively. Way: Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively a mode or means: - journey, (high-) way. Literally, a passing; hence, a passage; the place of passing; hence, a road of any kind; a highway; a private road; a lane; a street; any place for the passing of men; cattle or other animals; a word of very comprehensive signification. These definitions immediately make me think of The Pilgrim's Progress, a must read. But beyond that, by looking at Jesus' life and the things He did, choices He made, it is so easy to determine that the Way is one of self sacrifice, servanthood, submission to the Father, humility. No wonder the Way seems so wrong to nonbelievers, and can be so difficult for believers. It is the exact opposite of our human nature. To go His Way, we must die to self, daily. The moment our self will directs our path, we are off the highWay of Christ. So in essence, the moment we choose our own way rather than following Christ, The Way, we are on a path that leads away from God. We must always be careful that the Way we follow does not become merely the things we do. Outwardly serving and sacrificing without submitting and seeking the Father's will and plan are meaningless works. We labor in vain in hope of a prize. The Way is not what we do, but Christ Himself. Christ, theWay, will lead us on His path of service to the glory of the Father. Please share your insights and experiences on this verse. I will be discussing in depth the Truth and the Life in following blog entries, plus some other thoughts on this verse that God has given me. |