Pastor Teacher Evangelist Visionary Sermon Title: Three Part Series on Christ, Culture and the Church: Truths Series “No Other Way to Obtain Spiritual Truths” – Part 1 John 14:6 - 7 Dr. Janice Gilbert Senior Pastor

John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you know him and have seen him.”

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or power or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or power or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him.

Pastor Teacher Evangelist Visionary Sermon Title: “No Other Way to Obtain Spiritual Truths” – Part 1 John 14:6 - 7 Dr. Janice Gilbert Senior Pastor

Commentary My friend if you have not obtained first, knowledge of who Christ is and who he is for you, your faith is hollow, misdirected and meaningless in your Christian development. You must remember no one can’t call upon or believe someone whom he doesn't know. Obtaining truth is the beginning of grasping the nature and taking on this nature as yourself. Knowing God through Christ is the beginning of your alignment in God and with God.

This alignment must be fed continually in order to retain and maintain a fruitful relationship with God along with an empowered life. My friend, standing in times of difficulties you must know Christ for yourself. Knowing Christ is key to a life of overcoming power. As you seek to know Christ, truth is obtained that equips, empower and sustains the believer as you walk through life's test.

Although life is a test, the test reveal who you are in Christ when all else fails. ! This is the starting point of knowing your weaponry and fighting from a place of power and victory. These truths contained in scripture informs and directs us as we learn to walk in our new nature. Paul states in 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Remember knowing Christ for yourself is huge! This is the starting point of knowing your weaponry and fighting from a place of power and victory. These truths contained in scripture informs and directs us as we learn to walk in our new nature. Paul states in 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Life Application Statement Obtaining spiritual truths is just the beginning point. Retaining and maintaining what you have heard and learned is key to your spiritual life.

Life Application Principles Obtaining truth for your life is the starting point of knowing your identity and you understanding your weaponry. 1. The truth helps us know God for ourselves. 2. The truth helps us to see ourselves not just as we are now, but who we are becoming in Christ. 3. Obtaining truth through Christ helps to establish our hearts, therefore we can retain the truths we have heard and learned.

Life Application Conclusion Jesus is still the truth, the way and the life. In spite of what's referred to as culture wars, and how the church fits into today's culture, God has not changed. The church is not supposed to fit the culture. The Church is to impact the culture in which it lives so that the gospel message prevails. The church is called to supersede the culture and affect it as well as infect and stop the disease of sin and it's affect.

In fact scripture tells us that God changes not, there is no shadow of turning in him. Yes, how we reach and make disciples for Christ may vary, but the message is the same. Yes, the culture around us is changing, yes evil seems to be fiercer than ever, yes people seem to be loosing their grip. But I also see in these times, that people are stretching and reaching for a life line, looking for a life jacket, looking for peace, looking for hope.

My friend this place is where the new creation of God is grabbing hold of the new nature in God. Jesus is the truth, the way and the life in the world today.