Truth is more about morals than knowledge

Even though 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” (John 8:31–32) truth is far more than knowing facts, or even believing something is true. Truth gives freedom only when it is known and lived out. 

Jesus words were questioned by those who heard them. They claimed to be free from any sort of slavery, assuming Jesus meant physical bondage, but Jesus said:

Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. (John 8:34–38)

This is such a loaded answer. First truth: all who sin are slaves to sin. Because sin is defined as doing our own thing instead of obeying God (see Isaiah 53:6), sin is not mere immoral acts. It includes all of life that is apart from faith in the Lord and doing His will. 

Second truth: a slave need not remain a slave. By faith in Christ, sinners can become members of God’s family, sons and daughters. And those who believe live in the ‘house’ of God forever. 

Third truth: salvation through faith in Christ sets sinners free from the penalty and power of sin. Doing my own thing is no longer my task-master. I am able to put aside my ideas, weaknesses, even strengths, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to direct all that I do. I’m free from cravings, indecision, human effort, and the driving force of ‘I want what I want when I want it’ so that I can love God. 

Fourth truth: no matter my heritage or the fact that I read the Bible, truth is about my attitude toward Jesus. I am not a Jew, yet I could know the words of God’s book. However, if those words go in one ear and out the other, it shows a heart in slavery. True freedom is being transformed in not only how I think but how I talk and live.

Fifth truth: involves listening to God and not the lies of Satan. The Bible says that those who are set free are aware of his devices. That means I recognize and am set free from the bondage of lies, even though that involves a choice to believe what God says and not listen to the Liar. 
Piper says that to love God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is to love the truth. I cannot separate God from truth. This is who He is and what defines Him. He is not like humans. He is the source of a truth-driven life.

Piper also says that to not love truth is eternally suicidal — based on this:

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12)

Indifference to the truth is a mark of spiritual death. It involves taking pleasure in sin, revealing that the alternative of truth is immorality and wickedness, not merely falsehood. Again, loving and believing the truth with my whole heart is a matter of eternal life rather mere knowledge.

PRAY: Jesus, the world seems filled with those who have abandoned truth (You) for the lies of Satan and the folly of sin. If I focus on this, heaviness threatens. But another reality drives away darkness and hopelessness, the reality that You are the way, the truth, and the life. And You have come into my life to set me free, from sin but also from doubt and all fear. I can still choose to do my own thing, but that cannot compare to the wonder of living in truth. Your grace is humbling and not at all deserved — yet fills my heart and life with great joy and thanksgiving.

Who is my slave-driver?

 

Our street is a U-shaped curve with both ends arriving at the same major road. One way is quicker because the other has a playground zone with a long stretch of reduced speed. Does that mean traffic slows down? Everyone knows that many drivers ignore a posted speed limit. What is the point of having a law if people do not obey it?

MacArthur says the same thing about the Word of God. We might assume that those who affirm the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of God’s Word would automatically submit to its authority, but that isn’t always the case. Even those who hold to a high view of Scripture sometimes fail to obey it.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. (Isaiah 1:2)

The NT goes into this with more detail:

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:17–24)

This condemnation is much like our society in which the Lord is ridiculed or ignored because of the sins of His people. It is said that Christians are the only Bible some will ever read but if they see us ignoring what God says, how easily this results in reasoning: ‘If they can do as they please, then so can I.’ God is aware so He says:

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

The NT also tells me that the OT disobedience of the Jews “took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did” and “they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

In other words, just because the car ahead of me ignores the traffic rules does not ensure that I will avoid getting a speeding ticket if I do it. Right after the above admonition, the NT says:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:1–13)

God did not give me new life in Christ so I could be free to do whatever I please. That way of life is slavery to an ignorant and foolish taskmaster — me. If nothing else, God has taught me that I am oblivious to godly living apart from His instruction and enablement. His Word is clear and knowing it is like knowing the speed limit — which is totally useless unless I take my foot off the gas.

PRAY: Jesus, right away I can think of areas where I know what to do and do not do it. You invite me to greater prayer — and I can always find something else to do. You nudge me to call the shut-ins and needy folks in my life, and I easily think of reasons why this is not a suitable time. I sometimes procrastinate regarding the important things and instead do what gives me pleasure. I have no chapter and verses regarding my to-do list, but Your Word is loud and clear about listening and obeying Your voice. These things I confess.

PONDER: Yesterday I heard John Piper say that we may mean well, but without planning a time to pray, the chores of the day will distract us until the day is spent and the time has gone. I need to plan my days better than I do, not let my to-do list rob me of the most important things.