Jesus is the truth

(This is a condensed version of the sermon preached on Sep 28, 2025.)

The Way, The Truth, and The Life
In our modern world, we are constantly searching for "the way" to do things. From online videos teaching us how to bake a cheesecake to AI explaining how to invest, we seek knowledge. Ultimately, this search is for one thing: the way to a good life, one filled with joy and peace. Many voices, from various religions to online influencers, claim to have the answer, creating a confusing landscape that can leave us with troubled hearts.
This feeling isn't new. Jesus’s disciples also had troubled hearts when he told them he was going away. They were trying to understand the truth about who he was, amidst claims that he was a prophet, a lunatic, or even demon-possessed. To them, and to us, Jesus gives this comfort: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Believe in me.” He declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Let's explore this statement through three points: how to know the truth, how to be changed by it, and how to live in it.

1. How to Know the Truth
In an age of misinformation, knowing the truth feels difficult. We see curated, often false, depictions of perfect lives on social media and are faced with political confusion. Where can we find someone we can always trust? Jesus provides the answer: “I am the truth.” His very mission on Earth was to "testify to the truth"—the truth about ourselves, the world, and God.
The entire Trinity is truth. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), the Father is the "only true God" (John 17:3), and the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of truth" (John 14:17). As Christians, we often emphasize that "God is love," but it is just as crucial to declare that "God is true." If God is not real, His love is meaningless. God’s truthfulness is the direct opposite of the devil, whom Jesus called a "liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). In contrast, "God is not a man, so he does not lie" (Numbers 23:19). This is why we can have peace. God keeps His promises. To know the truth, we must get to know God by spending time with Jesus through prayer and His Word.

2. How to Be Changed by the Truth
If we are dissatisfied with who we are and truly want to change, we must seek the truth, because the truth changes us. First, the truth sanctifies us. Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17). Believing the truth purifies us from sinful thoughts and desires. Second, the truth frees us. As Jesus said, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). Lies keep us in bondage, but truth brings the peace of God. Finally, the truth gives us confidence and assurance of our salvation (1 John 3:19). The devil lies, telling believers they can't be certain they are saved, which robs them of peace. But the truth provides confidence in God’s promise of eternal life, a promise made by a God who does not lie (Titus 1:2).

3. How to Live in the Truth
Jesus is not a static fact; He is the living truth. Following Him means walking in the way of truth. How do we do this? First, we keep God’s commandments. "Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person" (1 John 2:4). Obedience is evidence of living in the truth. Second, we worship in truth (John 4:24). This means we must worship the true God as revealed in the Bible, not an idol we have created in our own minds to suit our preferences. We must let God's Word smash our imaginary, comfortable versions of Him. Third, we love others in truth. "let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). True love speaks truth. It is never loving to tell a lie, even with good intentions. Of course, truth without love is just cruel. We are called to speak and act in both truth and love.

Jesus is our way, our truth, and our life. Let us commit to living in His way of truth.