The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Source of Truth
John 16:5-15
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.â€
Philosophers throughout the ages have constantly wrestled with the question of truth. Henry David Thoreau famously stated, “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.†But this is the one thing that seems most elusive. To determine truth, people turn to humanity for answers. Some turn to science, where truth is determined by scientific discovery and verified outcomes. Others turn to the collective opinions of man. To determine morality today, we take a poll, and what the majority believes to be true becomes truth. However, God warns us that humanity is ultimately incapable of determining the truth because we are governed by selfish desires and sin, so we will distort the truth to achieve our own ends. The Bible warns us in Psalm 116:10-11 and Romans 3:4 that every man is a liar. From the Garden of Eden, the first sin involved believing a lie. The ultimate lie is the self-lie that I can determine what is true and correct. So, if we are incapable of fully determining the truth, where can we find the truth?
The answer to the question of truth is not found in us but in God and His revelation. Paul affirms that God is the source of all truth. He is the one who possesses all truth and the one who determines truth so that in Him, there is no falsehood or lie. In Hebrews 6:18, we read, “So that by two unchangeable things (His character and His Word) in which it is impossible for God to lie.†If God is the source of truth and we are naturally corrupt and sinful so that we distort the truth, where is our hope? Jesus provides the answer in John 16. God has not left us to flounder in our own self-deception; instead, He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth. The Holy Spirit does this in three ways (vs. 8). First, He brings His convicting presence into our lives so that when we believe a lie and pursue what is false and sinful, He convicts us and reveals the lie (vs. 9). Second, He reveals the truth to us by continually pointing to the righteousness of Christ (vs. 10). As we read and study God’s word, He reveals to us the righteous standard of God so that we might obey Him. Last, He convicts us of judgment by revealing our sin so that we might recognize our need for grace (vs. 11). He does this by revealing the truth to us as we study and read His word.
Our culture has become so accustomed to the lie that we no longer believe in the truth. People today distort the truth and twist it to their own end. It has become so familiar that we accept it, so truth now becomes what I want to believe. We live in the age of confirmation bias, where we can search the internet to obtain confirmation of what we want to believe. Thus, we now create our own truth. Our greatest threat to our pursuit of truth is ourselves. Therefore, we must recognize that truth can only come from God as He has revealed in His word. However, in our sin, we can even distort the Bible.
To prevent this, we need to surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit so that He might guide us in the truth. We do this by first making Scripture the unshakable foundation for truth. Second, when we approach scripture, we must do so with an attitude of surrender so that we are governed by what it says rather than distorting it to what we want it to say. Last, we must prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us by revealing our own self-deception and revealing the truth to us. When we do these things, we can be assured that He will disclose the truth. In a world of lies and falsehood, we must recognize that there is only one source of truth: God and what He has revealed in His Word without error or falsehood. Every time you open the Bible, start with a prayer of surrender, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the lies you believe and to open your understanding to the truth of God’s Word.
John 16:5-15
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.â€
Philosophers throughout the ages have constantly wrestled with the question of truth. Henry David Thoreau famously stated, “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.†But this is the one thing that seems most elusive. To determine truth, people turn to humanity for answers. Some turn to science, where truth is determined by scientific discovery and verified outcomes. Others turn to the collective opinions of man. To determine morality today, we take a poll, and what the majority believes to be true becomes truth. However, God warns us that humanity is ultimately incapable of determining the truth because we are governed by selfish desires and sin, so we will distort the truth to achieve our own ends. The Bible warns us in Psalm 116:10-11 and Romans 3:4 that every man is a liar. From the Garden of Eden, the first sin involved believing a lie. The ultimate lie is the self-lie that I can determine what is true and correct. So, if we are incapable of fully determining the truth, where can we find the truth?
The answer to the question of truth is not found in us but in God and His revelation. Paul affirms that God is the source of all truth. He is the one who possesses all truth and the one who determines truth so that in Him, there is no falsehood or lie. In Hebrews 6:18, we read, “So that by two unchangeable things (His character and His Word) in which it is impossible for God to lie.†If God is the source of truth and we are naturally corrupt and sinful so that we distort the truth, where is our hope? Jesus provides the answer in John 16. God has not left us to flounder in our own self-deception; instead, He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth. The Holy Spirit does this in three ways (vs. 8). First, He brings His convicting presence into our lives so that when we believe a lie and pursue what is false and sinful, He convicts us and reveals the lie (vs. 9). Second, He reveals the truth to us by continually pointing to the righteousness of Christ (vs. 10). As we read and study God’s word, He reveals to us the righteous standard of God so that we might obey Him. Last, He convicts us of judgment by revealing our sin so that we might recognize our need for grace (vs. 11). He does this by revealing the truth to us as we study and read His word.
Our culture has become so accustomed to the lie that we no longer believe in the truth. People today distort the truth and twist it to their own end. It has become so familiar that we accept it, so truth now becomes what I want to believe. We live in the age of confirmation bias, where we can search the internet to obtain confirmation of what we want to believe. Thus, we now create our own truth. Our greatest threat to our pursuit of truth is ourselves. Therefore, we must recognize that truth can only come from God as He has revealed in His word. However, in our sin, we can even distort the Bible.
To prevent this, we need to surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit so that He might guide us in the truth. We do this by first making Scripture the unshakable foundation for truth. Second, when we approach scripture, we must do so with an attitude of surrender so that we are governed by what it says rather than distorting it to what we want it to say. Last, we must prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us by revealing our own self-deception and revealing the truth to us. When we do these things, we can be assured that He will disclose the truth. In a world of lies and falsehood, we must recognize that there is only one source of truth: God and what He has revealed in His Word without error or falsehood. Every time you open the Bible, start with a prayer of surrender, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the lies you believe and to open your understanding to the truth of God’s Word.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
The Coming JudgmentThat is My KingThe Certainty of Christ's WordsThe Uncertain CertaintyThe Importance of Spiritual PreparednessThe Danger of Spiritual ComplacencyChrist's Measure of SuccessThe Unpopular TopicRejection, Confusion, Betrayal, and WorshipBetrayal and RedemptionThe Inexplicable Act of LoveBetrayal, Bravado, and FearBetrayal, Bravado, and FearThe Unlikely Witnesses of Jesus' DietyRemorse, Repentance and ForgivenessThe Power of the Crowd and the Power of FaithThe Irony of the CrucifixionThe Cost of SinThe Cure for SinThe Reality of the ResurrectionLiving a Life of SignificanceThe Attitude of a SlaveThe Basis for Confident LivingThe Basis for Confident Living
February
The Prayer God AnswersWhen Adversity Becomes a TriumphFinding Joy in the Ministry of OthersPursuing the InsignificantPerspective in SufferingThe Sacrifice of SelfIf God can do it, then why can't we.The "Kenosis" of Christ"THE NAME"Divine Initiative and Human ResponsibilityThe Age of ComplaintReorienting our Focus Pt 1
March
Reorienting Our Focus Pt 2The Basis of SalvationDetermining ValueSetting the Right Goal in LifeFollowing the Right PeopleRecognizing our CitizenshipResponding to ConflictThe Keys to PeaceLearning to Think RightlyThe Secret of ContentmentThe Blessing of GivingA Life without SignificanceThe Futility of LifeThe Endless PursuitThe Futility of PleasureThe Limits of WisdomEvaluating Our WorkFinding Joy in LifeThe Doctrine of Right Time
April
May
Finding BalanceThe Folly of AllObeying Those in LeadershipWhen Injustice ReignsKeeping Perspective in an Upredictable WorldFinding Success in the World of VanityThe Value of Wisdom in the Struggles of LifeThe Danger of Foolish ThinkingTrusting in God's Unseen HandEnjoy the MomentAct before it is too late.The Geneology of Christ: A Testimony of God’s Grace and SovereigntyChrist the KingThe Authority of Christ
June
The Compassion of ChristThe God who cares for us.The Power of JesusThe ServantChrist the JudgeThe Compassion of ChristScandalous GraceThe Power of Christ Over DeathWho Is Jesus?The Majestic KingThe TIming of GodThe Value of NothingThe Basis for Security in LifeThe Joy of The FatherThe Grace of JesusThe Divine WordThe Greatest Prayer
Categories
no categories
No Comments