What is Truth?

I am going to paraphrase excerpts of a recent sermon by Rev. Matthew Fenlon. These are from notes and may not be exactly what he said.

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If truth exists, where can we find it? We find it in the Bible.

John Stott – Truth is most clearly seen when it is held up against our depravity.

John 8:31-32 Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. (32) You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

another translation: "If you abide in my word you will be my disciples."

A story Fitzsimmons Allison told on himself – after a hurricane he rushed to see if the records were OK. He went to a supply closet and got locked in without power. He could have been locked there for days. Try as he might, he pushed and pushed. Finally he found that the door opened to the inside. All he had to do was pull, not push. It was easy. It is a picture of all of us trapped in our own sinfulness, depending on ourselves, trying to be in control. It took him to stop trying before he realized the truth. He pulled the door, it opened and he was free.

We do not have to try to figure it out. Jesus has acknowledged everything. After the trial Pilate remarked, “What is truth?” Freedom is not something we can engineer. It is something that happens to us. When we have no other option and we finally give up. After that we will be free.