TITLE: How to Avoid Deception

• TOPIC: The Easy Burden of Truth • TEXT: John 8:31-36• THEME: In following Christ we have the

source of eternal truth.

People Smarter than me.

People Smarter than me.

• Dave Ross

People Smarter than me.

• Dave Ross• John Storkel

People Smarter than me.

• Dave Ross• John Storkel • John Kohlenberger III

People Smarter than me.

• Dave Ross• John Storkel • John Kohlenberger III • Almost Everyone Else

Michel Horton

“We live in a world that assumes reason is unbiased, when in fact our reason itself is enslaved to naturalism: a denial of the world's dependence on God for its creation and preservation, much less redemption. Any valid argument or evidence that suggests otherwise must have a naturalistic explanation, even if that explanation is the least reasonable

Michel Horton

To be a rational person is to be a practical atheist, whatever spiritual hobbies one takes up on the weekends. Reason rests on public facts; faith, on private values. When it comes to faith, you can believe whatever you want, as long as you don't think it's true for everyone else. You can have faith in whatever makes you happy, as long as you don't presume to evaluate my faith.”

Key Questions

• How do we know what really matters in life and who can we trust to tell us to the truth about it?” How smart must a person be before we can trust them on life issues?

Key Questions

• How do we know what really matters in life and who can we trust to tell us to the truth about it?” How smart must a person be before we can trust them on life issues?

• The Christian answer is very clear- we can only know the ultimate truth trough Jesus- no one else is smart enough.

What is the benefit of being faithful to the teachings of Jesus?

I. You are a disciple of Christ.

John 8:31-32

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

I. You are a disciple of Christ.

A. A disciple was a learner.

I. You are a disciple of Christ.

A. A disciple was a learner. B. A disciple took on the identity of his master

John 15: 4-7

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me… 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

What is the benefit of being faithful to the teachings of Jesus?

II. You will know the truth.

John 8:31-32

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Truth is that which is real

A magician is skilled at twisting our perceptions so that we do not see that which is really true it only appears to be true. It is part of the fun.

There are times when deception is not fun.

• Wrong medical diagnosis

There are times when deception is not fun.

• Wrong medical diagnosis• A false guarantee on a wristwatch.

There are times when deception is not fun.

• Wrong medical diagnosis• A false guarantee on a wristwatch.• We can be fooled --and fooled often

II. You will know the truth.

A. Jesus is the source of all Truth.

Who determines what is real?

• The question of authority has a lot to do with determining reality.

Who determines what is real?

• The question of authority has a lot to do with determining reality.

• If a wild looking man in tattered clothing with drool chasing down his chin were to leap at us with his claims of truth we probably would not believe him.

Who determines what is real?

• The question of authority has a lot to do with determining reality.

• If a wild looking man in tattered clothing with drool chasing down his chin were to leap at us with his claims of truth we probably would not believe him.

• If a sophisticated gentleman in a white lab coat came out with his claims of truth, backed by a Harvard medical degree, we might tend to lean toward his view of reality.

Who determines what is real?

• The question of authority has a lot to do with determining reality.

• If a wild looking man in tattered clothing with drool chasing down his chin were to leap at us with his claims of truth we probably would not believe him.

• If a sophisticated gentleman in a white lab coat came out with his claims of truth, backed by a Harvard medical degree, we might tend to lean toward his view of reality.

• Authority matters in the quest for truth.

John 1:1-4,

“1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”

Leroy Garrett

When Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” he was referring to his own entrance into history and into the lives of his disciples. He and only he is the truth. When one knows that truth, when he knows Jesus, he is free, not until.

Leroy Garrett

It doesn’t matter how full his head may be of the many truths of Scripture or how faithfully he interprets all the doctrine or knowledge. If his heart is empty of the truth, which is the Person of Jesus dwelling in our hearts through faith, then all else is vain.

I. You will know the truth.

A. Jesus is the source of all Truth. B. All Truth is God’s Truth.

When a supposed conflict about truth claims exist between naturalism and the Bible

When a supposed conflict about truth claims exist between naturalism and the Bible

1. The “facts” are wrong.

When a supposed conflict about truth claims exist between naturalism and the Bible

1. The “facts” are wrong.2. The interpretations of the facts are so biased by the naturalistic or philosophical underpinnings that they are misleading..

When a supposed conflict about truth claims exist between naturalism and the Bible

1. The “facts” are wrong.2. The interpretations of the facts are so biased by the naturalistic or philosophical underpinnings that they are misleading.3. Someone has misunderstood or misinterpreted the scriptures.

A. You will know the truth.

A. Jesus is the source of all Truth. B. All Truth is God’s TruthC. Ultimate Truth can only be known through Jesus.

Two Spheres of Stephen J Gould

Science• Deals with Facts• Objective• Deals with the physical

(only what can be tested or observed).

• Rational• Example: Laws of Gravity

Religion• Deals with Faith• Subjective• Deals with metaphyscial

(beyond what can be tested or observed).

• Irrational• Example: Santa Claus

The Biblical Position

Robert Jastrow

“At this moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.”

What is the benefit of being faithful to the teachings of Jesus?

III. The Truth will set you free.

John 8:32-36

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 14:6-7

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

I. The Truth will set you free.

A. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

III. The Truth will set you free.

A. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. B. A slave has no permanent place in the family.

John 1:11-12

“11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

I. The Truth will set you free.

A. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. B. A slave has no permanent place in the family.C. As His disciples Jesus accepts us as sons.

The problem for devout Jews in Jesus' day wasn't naturalism but Jesus' assumption of the titles, works, and identity of God. To

them, this was blasphemy.

Gentiles had a different problem with Jesus. Their world was shaped

by Plato and the Stoics. In their culture, the Logos (the Word) was the rational principle that pervaded

all reality; by rational contemplation, one could ascend from particulars of

the everyday "lower world" to the "upper world" of universal ideas.

APPLICATION:

1. Regarding ultimate reality avoid following men, no matter how smart, follow Jesus. Trust me as pastor only to the degree to which I direct you to Jesus and His Word. I am not smart enough to be a source of truth but I can direct you to the source of all truth.

APPLICATION:

2. Understand the value but also the limitations of science and philosophy.

APPLICATION:

3. Value your freedom in Jesus. Realize people who do not follow Christ are not truly free. They are enslaved to their spiritual blindness, pride, intellectual limitations and ignorance.

Professor Wengert

"By using words like should and ought, you betray your alleged conviction that truth is relative. If you were a true relativist, you would realize that there is no external standard to which my grading should conform. If my truth and my ethic lead me to an alternate grading system that you deem inappropriate, c'est la vie! I will grade however I wish."