1. ARE YOU “OF THE TRUTH”?

2. Jesus Defined Truth John 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 17:17 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

3. Christ’s Church Upholds Truth 1 Timothy 3:14-15 14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

4. Pilate Doubted Truth John 18:38 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

5. Jesus Brought Truth John 18:37 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE."

6. Christians Live In Truth 2 John 1-4 The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.

7. Love Identifies Those “Of Truth” 1 John 3:17-19 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF THE TRUTH, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

8. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Obey truth – 1 Pet 1:22-23 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, …25 Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

9. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Heed truth NOT error – 1 Jn 4:1-7 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error

10. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Heed NOT commands of men – Titus 1:14-16 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

11. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Handle truth accurately – 2 Tim 2:15 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

12. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Apply truth to themselves – Jn 3:19-21 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

13. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Are NOT fakes – 1 Jn 2:3-6 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

14. Those Who Are “Of The Truth” Obey truth – 1 Pet 1:22-23 Heed truth NOT error – 1 Jn 4:1-7 Heed NOT commands of men – Titus 1:14-16 Handle truth accurately – 2 Tim 2:15-16 Apply truth to themselves – Jn 3:19-21 Are NOT fakes – 1 Jn 2:3-6

15. Handling Opposition To Truth Paul identified error & sin – Acts 13:6-12 8 But Elymas the sorcerer…withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all right- eousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?”

16. Handling Opposition To Truth Paul relied on truth – Acts 24:2-21 14 …according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16…I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward...

17. Why More Are Not “Of The Truth” People look for truth among the elite – John 7:45-52 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."

18. Why More Are Not “Of The Truth” People love tradition & will not study the Scriptures – Mark 12:18-27." 24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?... 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."

19. Are You “Of The Truth” Only TRUTH can “set you free” from condemnation – Jn 8:31-32 10 …they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. – 2 Thess 2:10-11

20. Eternal Life Leave the State of Sin: Leave the State of Sin: Believe: John 8:24 Believe: John 8:24 Repent: Acts 17:30 Repent: Acts 17:30 Confess: Matt 10:32 Confess: Matt 10:32 Baptism: Acts 2:38 Baptism: Acts 2:38 In Christ In Sin Obey Him Obey Him 1 Peter 1:14 1 Peter 1:14 1 John 1:7 1 John 1:7 Christian Christian Forgiveness Forgiveness of sin Rom 8:1 “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” Rom 8:1 “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”