A Person of Truth

Read This Week: John 7

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. – John 7:16-18 NIV

Jesus was the ultimate purveyor of truth. His eternal accuracy and unquestioned rightness underwrote His ministry, teaching, miracles, and works. His entire life and essence embodied the truth from above. His truth is more powerful and authentic than anything produced on earth. Jesus could do nothing but speak the truth. No one but Christ has ever been able to say that their presence represented the purest integrity and truth. 

In John 7, Jesus returned to Jerusalem. He is squarely in the crosshairs of the religious leaders who hated Him because of His teachings, His following, His influence, and ultimately His healing on the Sabbath. Verse 1 goes so far as to say the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. They wanted to trap Him in a contradiction or catch Him in a lie or a violation of Jewish law. They did not realize that Jesus wouldn’t and couldn’t do these things because he was cunning or crafty but because He was doing the will of God. He was, in His deity and humanity, a person of truth.

In answer to how He speaks with such authority, intelligence, and power without a formal education, Jesus says in verses 16-17:

My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Jesus is saying that His ability to communicate and teach these deep things comes from God Himself. He makes it clear that The perfect will of God directs his words and actions, and anyone who does God’s will can recognize and perceive His truth. God’s will is truth, and it leads people to the truth. Jesus says those who speak out of vain motives and for personal gain are not trustworthy. They do it simply for notoriety and their esteem. But those who seek the glory of God sent him are people of truth; there is nothing false about them.

Jesus’ teaching is an excellent principle and truth for us in this day of confusion, division, and polarization. We live in such an age of shadowy nuance and misinformation. It is hard to know daily what or who can be trusted in our lives, workplaces, and relationships. Honesty and certainty can be elusive, while truthfulness and accuracy are willfully denied by so many.

But God’s word is truth, and when we follow His word and do His will, we can be people of truth. Those around us can trust us, those we lead, serve, know, and live with. With God’s help and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there can be nothing false about us. We can be truth bearers and integral witnesses for the Lord as we do daily life. Others can feel secure and at peace around us because they know our lives embody truth.

5 Comments

  1. Javaid Ahmed on October 12, 2022 at 12:21 pm

    God drew my attention to John 7 Verse 26

    26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah?

    He said to me

    “I am the ultimate authority as far as your understanding of authority goes. Placing faith in a socalled authority will yield restricted and often incorrect results. Open your mind to seeing past human constraints and embrace Me and your spiritual self.”

    The only word that we need to recognize and abide by is God’s. Woldly words and constraints based on human validation are not truthful. God is the ultimate authority and we know what God’s word is and what he expects of us. Being a “good person” is not a coincidence or based on worldly narrative.

    • Ken on October 16, 2022 at 12:20 pm

      The Worldly Narrative – Well said, Javaid. May we be immersed in God’s narrative and His plans for our lives. God is saying, “My plans for you are good.”

  2. reachchurch on October 16, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    This Week in the Life: John 7

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, then the message, and then the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1016-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1016-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1016-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

    • Alma on October 18, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      This week I got a song in John chapter 7
      We Believe
      We worship you we worship you we worship you our Lord trusting relying believing in you everyday is a new day every day is a new day with you Lord we believe in you helping us through all things listening for your guidance through the holy Spirit thanking you thanking you we believe in you so the water shall flow continually becoming closer to you we worship you we worship you we worship you our Lord amen

      Thank you Lord for all you do for your children I feel blessed. I want to get to know you more and more, letting your spirit fill me with your love peace and Joy. Spreading the truth being your light to bring others to you. Amen

  3. Heidi on October 17, 2022 at 7:44 pm

    John 7:37 Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’”

    Everyday is a new day with our Father, Jesus and His Holy Spirit, His river of living water flows continually because we trust in, and rely on on Jesus continually
    Think of yourself like a sponge the more you fill your self up with His love the more you can let his love splash on others.
    You do have to fill you self up all the time with all He has for you, being refreshed over and over.

    I hear God saying
    I Am here for you always, the more you desire to know Me, the truth, rely on on Me, I will help you
    Come to Me first, there will be people who can influence you if you let them, but if you come to me I will give you what you need, don’t wait until your depleted come to Me right away because I love you

    Thank you Father that we can come and get what we need from You! I love you

    Is anyone Thirsty

    Is anyone thirsty, anyone?
    Is anyone thirsty?
    Is anyone thirsty, anyone?
    Is anyone thirsty?
    Jesus said: ‘Let them come to me and drink
    Let them come to me’

    O, let the living waters flow
    O, let the living waters flow
    Let the river of your Spirit
    Flow through me (Repeat all)
    Flow through me

    Let the living waters flow
    Let the living waters flow
    Let the living waters flow
    Let the living waters flow

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