Spirit and Truth


We live in a time where many are focused on living and speaking their truth. There's this general idea that anything goes if you believe something strongly enough. But what if our personal convictions about the world don't hold up in the end? Was it still true? We can, in fact, believe something false and take our strong conviction of that false thing to the grave. Something doesn't become truth just because we believe it. Truth stands alone whether it's believed or not. 

Things get even more hot-button when we look into the religious world. People take pride in how devout they are and are easily offended when told that something isn't as they were taught or if it's suggested that they do a little more research. And when every church seems to be preaching something different, it's hard to know what to believe. It's understandable that Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Sometimes the differences in doctrines seem so minor that it's hard to know if they are important. And if the differences are minor then does it really matter? Or asked another way:

Does it matter what we believe?

As always, we want to look at this from a Biblical perspective because, otherwise, why are we even here? If our desire is to learn about the Lord, then we have to look in the book that talks about Him and contains His teachings. If our desire goes beyond learning to a desire to follow then we have to know what the Bible says to follow. Always look at what the Bible says. 

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The word "must" in this verse is the Greek "dei" which means "absolute necessity". So already we're seeing that Jesus is saying that it is an absolute necessity for those who are true worshippers of God to worship in Spirit and truth. But remember, we need two to three witnesses for a matter to be established (Deut. 19:15,  2 Cor. 13:1) so let's keep looking.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

So here Paul is telling the Galatians that they should only believe the Gospel that was first delivered to them, the Gospel that Christ Himself delivered to Paul and that Paul now preaches. It was the same message that the other disciples preached which is why the salvation accounts in Acts 2, 8, and 10-11 (other disciples preaching) are the same as that account in Acts 19 (preached by Paul).

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

It's the truth that sets us free. We can't be free without the truth. That's how I was Spirit-filled for so many years but still wasn't free from pornography shame, drinking, etc., because I hadn't heard and believed the truth yet. I was still convinced that I was saved by a sinner's prayer and asking Jesus into my heart. 

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

If the Lord's path is truth and we are walking in the path of a lie, believing a lie or a half-truth then how can we also be on the Lord's path? If we are walking with the Lord wouldn't we also have to be on the path of truth? And if all these teachings of different religions and denominations contradict then how can they all be true? Let's take a look at more verses. What do these verses tell us about the importance of truth as it relates to our salvation?

  • Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
  • Psalm 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
  • Psalm 145:18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
  • Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
  • Isaiah 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
  • Zechariah 8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
  • John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
  • John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
  • Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 
  • 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
  • 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
  • 1 Peter 1:22a Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
  • 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

At the very least, you should be able to deduce from these verses that we have to believe the truth. Our salvation and righteousness depend on it. Proverbs 25:2 Tells us that it is the honor of Kings to search out a matter. We get to choose whether we take a preacher/family member's/friend's word for it when it comes to something as important as the word of God and our salvation or we can take on the honor of searching the word for ourselves, asking the Lord to lead us to the truth, and praying for and then in the Spirit so that the Spirit can indeed guide us into all truth. What we don't want, is to be like those described by Paul in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Remember Jesus said the truth sets us free? But how do we sift through all the interpretations and denominational doctrine differences and find what the truth is? Well Jesus told us how to do that too.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Spirit, when we receive it, guides us into all truth. Our job is to pray for God to reveal the truth to us and in us, pray for the Spirit and then once we receive we need to daily be praying in the Spirit (tongues). We should turn away from those who aren't speaking the truth and who deny that you can be godly without the power of God (the Holy Spirit). And we should make sure that we aren't like those who seek out people to tell us what we want to hear.  The Bible says very plainly that the Lord doesn't want anyone to perish, He wants us all to come to the knowledge of the truth, all we have to do is put our full confidence in His word and keep praying until we see it come to pass in our life.

Haven't received the Spirit yet and ready to take that step and be led to truth yourself (true worshippers worship in Spirit AND truth)? I'm happy to pray with you. Reach out, here or on Facebook or Instagram. 

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