Breaking Every Chain
Two Important Questions
What is Truth?
John 18:28-38
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to
the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning.
They themselves did not enter the governor’s
headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but
could eat the Passover.
29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What
accusation do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing
evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and
judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It
is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken
to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and
called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the
Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own
accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation
and the chief priests have delivered you over to me.
What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would
have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to
the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus
answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I
was born and for this purpose I have come into the
world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of
the truth listens to my voice.”
38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had
said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told
them, “I find no guilt in him.
John 8:32 & 36
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free."
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be
free indeed.
Pilate asks two very important questions…
Matthew 27:22 He ask the crowd….
Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus
who is called Christ?" …
Three possible choices that Pilate could do with Jesus.
1. Release Him
2. Crucify Him
3. Attempt to Remain Neutral
1. Receive Him
2. Reject Him
3. Attempt to Remain Neutral
When you encounter Jesus…. You are forced to make
a choice!
The second question! He ask Jesus….
Does the truth matter?
John 18:38 “Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
When we go to court and stand before a judge..
We swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth… but even then… when you listen to
testimony from various witnesses… it is very difficult to
distinguish the truth from fiction… or that which is false
or not true.
How you answer this question will determine how you
handle the first question.
The quest for the truth…
Where can you find the truth?
Over the centuries the philosophers have been trying
to answer this question…
You will read statements like this:
Hawkes continues: “Milton believed that truth was
historical, that it changed and developed along with
human society. He viewed history as a narrative, a
continuously evolving revelation of truth.” But is this
what truth is about—a never-ending movable target
motivated and changed by the latest philosophical or
societal whimsy? Is it simply a matter of how society
chooses to use the term?
Some:
Seek the truth philosophically – reason and logic
Seek the truth scientifically
Seek the truth theologically
But by whatever means people seek truth, however,
they often have difficulty distinguishing it from the
seeming reality of their own perceptions.
Of course it matters… the opposite of truth is a lie… or
a falsehood…or a deception..
In court it make the difference as to whether a person
is found guilty and goes to the electric chair or he
walks out of court declared innocence.
If someone is truthful and has the character of being a
honest and truthful person… you can trust them… and
believe them and what they tell you about something…
When someone lies to you… after a while… you loose
trust and can’t believe whatever they tell you…
When you buy something…
Gas – pay 2.20 a gallon… you want a full gallon.
You don’t want 8 tenths of a gallon
A pound of meat…. You don’t want to get 14 ounces..
But who sets the standard… who is checking to see if
the standard is being consistent and being kept…
There must be a standard that doesn’t change with
someone’s whim or perception….
Oh… it looks like or feels like it might weight a pound…
No you want a clear standard you can trust….
What is more important than your soul and where it will
spend eternity….
It there a truth that you can trust…. About who you are,
who God is and how salvation can be secured?
The world is full of different beliefs…
There is a Creator God
There is no God and we evolved and over billions of
years of evolution after a big bang… we came to be
where we are today…
If you do believe in God, it appears that there are many
ways to find Him and His salvation…
Hinduism have a way…
Islam – Muslims have a way
Buddhist have a way
Baptist have a way…
Catholics have a way
Methodist have a way…
Jesus said in:
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
The foundation for eternal truth is found in the very
character of God.
Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed,
"The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the
hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
The Bible sets the standard…
The Ten Commandments
The Beatitudes
And it can get very confusing…. Who is right? Who
has the truth?
When a culture… a people… a nation…. A society
chose the Bible as the standard… there is order…
“God is God of order not of confusion”
There will be trust… mutual respect, personal
responsibility for our attitudes and actions…
As a result there will be little crime and corruptions..
And prosperity and peace and security will be enjoyed.
Personally I have chosen to believe that the Bible is
the source for finding eternal truth.
But what about eternity…. My soul… where will it go
when I die?
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 18: 37
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus
answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I
was born and for this purpose I have come into the
world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of
the truth listens to my voice.”
What is the Truth About the Person of Jesus?
He declared Himself to be the Eternal God!
John 8 Before Abraham was, I AM
I Am the Light of the World
I Am the Bread of Life
I Am the Water of Life
I Am the Good Shepherd
I Am the True Vine
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life
What is the Truth about the Death of Jesus?
John 10:15; 17-18
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My
life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me,
but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down,
and I have power to take it again. This command I
have received from My Father."
John 19… It is finished… into thy hands I commit my
spirit.
He was the sinless Lamb of God who only can take
away the sin of the world with His own sacrifice…..
The difference between Bible salvation and every other
religion in the world…
The Bible declares.. “It is Finished… It is done!
Other religions declare “You must do!
What is the Truth about the Resurrection of Jesus?
The Bible declares:
He is risen!!!!
The witnesses declared… We have seen Him!!!!
Today we declare “I have experienced Him
personally!”
What is the Truth About Me?
Romans 3:23
I am a sinner unable to save myself…
I am under condemnation….
What is the Truth about Salvation?
Acts 4:10-12
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of
Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—
by him this man is standing before you well.
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you,
the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which
we must be saved.”
What is the Truth about My Future?
The Truth is: “You Can Begin Again”.
Show video”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new.
Remember Two Questions?
What is Truth?
What shall I then do with Jesus who is called the
Christ?
Today, You are confronted with a Choice!!!!!
Today – you can reject Him….
Today – you can receive Him…
You really can’t remain neutral!!!!!! No choice is the
same as rejecting Him…
What will you do with Jesus today?