Truth or Consequences:True Life

We continue to seek the truth of the gospel in our sermon series Truth or Consequences.  The truth that we believe, trust, and follow will either lead us to a better life or it will hurt us and destroy our relationships. In the confusion about genuine truth, we find no “counter balance” to the desire of the human spirit to be self-centered. If we cannot move beyond self-centeredness and entitlement, then we struggle to truly love someone or to believe that we are truly loved. The act of loving another person challenges the human spirit toward sacrifice and surrender. Yet if we look around it’s not hard to see the impact of human selfishness and self-focus.  In the sermon True Life, we turn to John 5:24-36 in which Jesus says that if you listen and believe that he is the Son of God, you embark on a journey from death to truly living! When we are determined to live only for ourselves, it leads us to spiritual death. In this passage, Jesus helps us to find a truer, more meaningful, eternal life. What do you want for your life? The choice seems obvious, but it depends on the truth that you decide to follow. As you read the words of Jesus, we pray that the eternal truth of God’s power and love will fill your heart and guide you to God’s presence! John 5:24-36: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out– those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. 31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish– the very works that I am doing– testify that the Father has sent me. (NIV)