Anchoring Truth in a World of Confusion

 

Summary

In a world that often feels like exile—a place where we long for a truer, better home—there is a deep need to anchor ourselves in something unchanging. Living as exiles in a modern-day Babylon, we are surrounded by a culture that questions the very existence of truth, offering instead a shifting landscape where “your truth” and “my truth” are seen as equally valid. Yet, this approach leads to confusion, disorientation, and ultimately, destruction. The longing for home is not just a desire for comfort, but a yearning for a place where truth, justice, and righteousness are not stumbling in the public square.

The conversation between Jesus and Pilate in John 18 brings us to the heart of the matter: “What is truth?” Jesus declares that His very purpose is to bear witness to the truth. Throughout the Gospel of John, the language of testimony and bearing witness is repeated, emphasizing that Jesus is not just a messenger of truth, but the embodiment of it. The works of Jesus, the testimony of the Father, and the witness of Scripture all converge to declare that Jesus is the Son of God, the standard by which all truth is measured.

God’s own self-revelation in Exodus 34 describes Him as abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness—words that also mean truth. God is unwavering, unchanging, and eternally true. When society loses its grip on this unchanging standard, it becomes vulnerable to the “big lie”—the idea that truth is whatever feels right, whatever benefits us, or whatever makes the most people happy. But these are shifting sands, not a foundation.

Truth, as revealed in Jesus and the Word, is objective, universal, eternal, and freeing. It is not subject to our feelings, cultural trends, or personal preferences. Instead, it is the unmovable standard by which all else is measured. Tolerance, in its classical sense, allows for disagreement without demanding affirmation, but our culture has redefined it to require affirmation of every belief, further muddying the waters of truth.

To live as people of truth is to hold fast to the reality that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. It is to let the truth set us free—not to bind us, but to liberate us from confusion and sin. As exiles, we are called to point others to this hope, to the Savior who embodies truth, and to the freedom that comes from knowing and following Him.

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Key Takeaways

- Truth Is Not Subjective, but Rooted in God’s Unchanging Character
In a culture that promotes the idea that truth is personal and flexible, Scripture reveals that truth is anchored in the very nature of God. He is steadfast, faithful, and unwavering—His truth does not shift with opinion or circumstance. To lose sight of this is to open ourselves to confusion and deception, for only an unchanging God can provide an unchanging standard. [41:29]

- Jesus Is the Embodiment and Witness of Truth
Jesus did not merely teach about truth; He claimed to be the truth itself. His life, works, and words are the ultimate testimony to what is real and trustworthy. The Gospel of John repeatedly emphasizes that Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, and that believing in Him is the path to true life. [29:54]

- The Redefinition of Tolerance Leads to Confusion and Division
Classical tolerance allowed for disagreement while respecting others’ rights to hold different beliefs. Today, tolerance is often redefined to mean affirmation of all beliefs, and disagreement is labeled as hatred or bigotry. This shift not only distorts language but also makes it nearly impossible to have honest conversations about what is true, leading to societal confusion and fear. [53:55]

- Truth Is Objective, Universal, Eternal, and Frees Us from Bondage
Truth is not determined by feelings, majority opinion, or personal benefit. It is objective (corresponds to reality), universal (true for all people, everywhere), and eternal (unchanging through time). Most importantly, knowing the truth as revealed in Christ brings genuine freedom—freedom from sin, confusion, and the tyranny of relativism. [01:01:12]

- Our Calling as Exiles Is to Be People of Truth and Hope
Living in a world that often rejects or distorts truth, we are called to hold fast to the standard revealed in Jesus and Scripture. This means not only living by the truth ourselves but also inviting others to find hope, forgiveness, and freedom in Christ. Our witness is not just about being right, but about pointing to the One who sets captives free and offers a home beyond exile. [01:03:10]

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:05] - Worship and Declaration: Serving the Lord
[17:27] - Reflections on the Men’s Conference
[18:44] - Living as Exiles: Defining Exile and Babylon
[21:12] - The Lie of Relative Truth in Culture
[24:49] - The Most Consequential Question: “What is Truth?”
[27:54] - Jesus’ Mission: Bearing Witness to the Truth
[29:54] - Testimony and Witness in the Gospel of John
[33:41] - The Choice: Accepting or Rejecting Jesus
[38:47] - God’s Self-Revelation: Abounding in Truth
[42:48] - The Consequences of Truth Stumbling in Society
[44:48] - The “Big Lie” and Cultural Deception
[49:59] - Jesus Defines Truth
[53:19] - Truth vs. Tolerance: Changing Definitions
[57:18] - Four Truths About Truth
[01:01:12] - Truth Sets Us Free
[01:03:10] - Living as People of Truth
[01:05:11] - Communion and Invitation to Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living as People of Truth (Based on Sermon Summary and Transcript)

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### Bible Reading

- John 18:33-38 (Jesus before Pilate: “What is truth?”)
- Exodus 34:6 (God’s self-revelation: abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness/truth)
- John 8:31-32 (“If you abide in my word… you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”)

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### Observation Questions

1. In John 18:37, what does Jesus say is the purpose for which He was born and came into the world?
[[27:54]]

2. According to Exodus 34:6, how does God describe His own character to Moses?

3. In John 8:31-32, what does Jesus say will happen to those who abide in His word?

4. The sermon described how our culture often says, “What’s true for you isn’t necessarily true for me.” What are some examples the pastor gave of how people determine what is true in today’s world?
[[48:44]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. When Jesus says He came to “bear witness to the truth,” what does that mean about His identity and mission? How does this challenge the idea that truth is just personal or flexible?
[[27:54]]

2. The sermon mentioned that God’s faithfulness in Exodus 34:6 can also be translated as “truth.” What does it mean for truth to be rooted in God’s unchanging character?
[[41:29]]

3. The pastor described how redefining tolerance in our culture leads to confusion and division. Why does the shift from “disagreement with respect” to “demanding affirmation” make it harder to talk about truth?
[[53:55]]

4. Jesus says, “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). According to the sermon, what kind of freedom is Jesus talking about?
[[01:01:12]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon described living as “exiles in Babylon”—longing for a true home and feeling out of place in a culture that rejects God’s truth. In what ways do you personally feel like an exile in today’s world? How does this affect your daily life and faith?
[[19:24]]

2. The pastor warned that when we lose sight of God’s unchanging standard of truth, we become vulnerable to “the big lie”—believing whatever feels right or benefits us. Are there areas in your life where you have been tempted to define truth by your feelings or preferences? What would it look like to anchor yourself in God’s truth instead?
[[48:44]]

3. Jesus claims to be “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, referenced in the sermon). How does believing that Jesus is the embodiment of truth shape the way you make decisions, handle disagreements, or respond to cultural trends?
[[49:59]]

4. The sermon talked about the redefinition of tolerance—how disagreement is now often labeled as hatred or bigotry. Have you ever felt pressure to affirm something you don’t believe is true? How did you respond, and what would it look like to hold to truth with both conviction and love?
[[53:55]]

5. The pastor said that truth is objective, universal, eternal, and freeing. Which of these aspects is hardest for you to accept or live out? Why?
[[57:18]]

6. Jesus says, “the truth will set you free.” Is there a specific area in your life where you need the freedom that comes from God’s truth? What step could you take this week to invite Jesus’ truth into that area?
[[01:01:12]]

7. As “people of truth and hope,” we are called not just to live by the truth but to point others to Jesus. Who in your life needs to hear about the hope and freedom found in Christ? How can you share this with them in a way that is both truthful and loving?
[[01:03:10]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to hold fast to God’s truth, wisdom to discern truth from lies, and love to share the hope of Jesus with others—even when it’s hard.

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Came to Bear Witness to the Truth
Jesus’ conversation with Pilate reveals the heart of His mission: to bear witness to the truth. In a world swirling with confusion and competing claims, Jesus stands as the embodiment of truth, inviting all who listen to His voice to find clarity and purpose. The question “What is truth?” is not just Pilate’s, but ours as well—and Jesus answers it not with abstract philosophy, but with His very life, words, and actions. To follow Jesus is to align oneself with the truth that transcends culture, opinion, and circumstance, and to listen for His voice above the noise of the world. [28:35]

John 18:37-38 (ESV):
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.” 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.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling to discern what is true? How can you intentionally listen for Jesus’ voice in that area today?


Day 2: God’s Character Is Abounding in Truth and Faithfulness
God’s self-revelation to Moses is a declaration of His unchanging nature: merciful, gracious, overflowing in steadfast love, and abounding in truth and faithfulness. Unlike the shifting standards of the world, God’s truth is unwavering and eternal, providing a foundation that does not move with the winds of culture or opinion. When we anchor ourselves in God’s character, we find security and clarity, knowing that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that His truth is the standard by which all else is measured. [41:29]

Exodus 34:6 (ESV):
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Reflection: Where do you need to trust in God’s unchanging truth and faithfulness rather than relying on your own feelings or the opinions of others?


Day 3: The Scriptures and Jesus’ Works Testify to the Truth
Throughout the Gospel of John, the language of “bearing witness” and “testifying” is used to show that Jesus’ identity and mission are confirmed by multiple sources: John the Baptist, Jesus’ own works, the Father, and the Scriptures themselves. This multi-layered testimony is meant to lead us to faith, to recognize that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing in Him brings life. The invitation is to search the Scriptures, observe Jesus’ works, and receive the testimony that points us to the truth and to the life He offers. [33:41]

John 5:36-40 (ESV):
“But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

Reflection: How can you make space this week to search the Scriptures and reflect on how they point you to Jesus as the truth?


Day 4: Truth Is Objective, Universal, Eternal, and Frees Us
Truth is not subjective or changeable based on feelings, culture, or convenience. It is objective, universal, and eternal—true for all people, in all places, at all times. When we embrace the truth found in God and His Word, we are set free from confusion, deception, and the bondage of lies. Jesus promises that knowing the truth will set us free, giving us a firm foundation for life and hope that endures beyond the shifting sands of society. [01:01:50]

John 8:31-32 (ESV):
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Reflection: What is one lie or confusion you need to let go of today in order to experience the freedom that comes from God’s truth?


Day 5: Living as People of Truth in a Confused World
In a culture where truth is often redefined or dismissed, followers of Jesus are called to be people of truth—not only in what we believe, but in how we live and how we invite others to hope. Holding fast to God’s unchanging standard, we point others to the way, the truth, and the life found in Christ. This means rejecting the lies that truth is whatever we want it to be, and instead embracing the freedom, clarity, and hope that come from God’s consistent nature and His Word. [01:03:10]

Ephesians 4:14-15 (ESV):
So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see or hear the truth spoken in love today, and how can you be a person of truth and hope for them?

Quotes

One of the lies that you will find in our Babylon in our culture that is living against God that is anti-God that is pursuing the things of this world one of the lies that you will often hear in our culture is that there is no such thing as truth. [00:21:00]
These claims which in all honesty these are the claims of higher academia okay this is what is being taught largely in in university settings these are the kinds of claims that are being made in the halls of our universities and and the reality is is that these claims left unchecked can have devastating circumstances in our society. [00:22:15]
While in a philosophy classroom this sounds really good it sounds very warm it sounds very inviting it sounds enlightened and progressive the reality is is that when these kinds of claims hit the road when they come down to our level it becomes very confusing and it becomes very disorienting and it becomes actually a little bit destructive not a little bit it becomes very destructive in the way that we think and the way that we process information. [00:22:48]
As followers of Jesus for those of us in this room who have chosen to follow Jesus we've made a profession of our faith we have acknowledged his lordship maybe we have been baptized up here or in some other place and we have identified as a follower of Jesus yet we find ourselves as an exile living in a godless culture what does it look like to process the ideas of truth and tolerance. [00:23:24]
If I go the way of culture and embrace this idea of kind of an open definition of truth that what is true for you is true for you what is true for me is true for me or or this idea that everyone has their own truth where does that actually take me i just want you to to go with me on the thought experiment this morning as we try to unpack this. [00:24:17]
Jesus says it's for this reason that I was born it's for this reason that the father sent me into the world my entire purpose for being here is to bear witness to the truth. [00:28:56]
The Gospel of John was written so that you can believe that's why the Gospel of John was written so that it would testify to the fact that Jesus Christ is the eternal son of God and that if you believe in him if you trust him for salvation you can in fact be saved. [00:36:38]
"This is actually not the home that I'm living for this is not the end this is not the telos this is not what I This is not what I'm hoping in my hope is somewhere else." Because Jesus is truth at the very very very end of his gospel second to the last verse John says in John 21:24 "This is the disciple," he's referring to himself this is the disciple who is bearing witness who is testifying about these things who has written these things and we know that the testimony is true we know it's true. [00:37:07]
When we lose our grasp on this unchanging nature of God it opens the door to all kinds of falsehood all kinds of evil if we if we allow the standard of who God is to move in the wind like this then we then we don't know what is true anymore. [00:42:22]
If you don't have a standard of truth then people the culture the society will become a target for a really big lie. [00:44:22]
The number one way in which the Bara data uh revealed that people determine what is true how they make moral decisions was by whatever feels right or is comfortable in a given situation whatever feels right i'm going with my gut on this one can I just tell you your gut will deceive you. [00:48:00]
John chapter 14 verse 6 Jesus says I am the way I am the truth and I am the life he goes on to say no one will come to the father unless they come through me if you want to know what truth is start with me Jesus says. [00:50:11]
Truth is objective truth is universal truth is eternal lastly truth is freeing if you actually know the truth it's really freeing. [01:01:12]
"If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free you don't have to be caught in this moral mores you don't be caught in all these questions you just what is eternally true about who God is how is that eternally revealed in the person and work of Jesus and what does his word declare to be true that's going to be freeing for me it's going to help me know the character of the God that I worship it's going to help me understand the wickedness of my own heart it's going to point me to my need for a savior it's going to reveal that Jesus is the savior that I need in order to deal with the sin problem that I have it's going to tell me that if I confess with my mouth that he is Lord and I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead that I can in fact be saved and it's going to declare for me that no matter what happens that neither life nor death nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor anything else\n Amen\n in all of creation will ever be able to separate me\n from the love of God." [01:01:38]
As we live out these days in this exile let's be people of truth not just in how we live but in how we invite people to deal with the sin problem in their own heart pointing them to a way of hope pointing them to a savior that loves them pointing them to the way the truth and the life. [01:03:10]

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