For Truth and Against Deception

Truth and Deception: What is Truth?

Jesus is for truth, and He is against deception.

You would think defining truth would be incredibly easy, right? After all, how hard can it be to settle on what’s real? But here we are, in a world where people will passionately argue that 1+1 equals 3 or that a hotdog qualifies as a sandwich.

So instead of debating definitions, let’s jump straight into scripture to see what Jesus says truth is.

Jesus states it plainly in

John 14:6:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life."

In this verse, Jesus doesn’t just speak truth, He is truth. So, what does that mean for us?

Defining Truth: Jesus as the "Word"

Let’s dig a little deeper by starting at the beginning. The apostle John helps us understand:

John 1:1:

"In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God."

That word Word in Greek is "Logos." It’s not simply about spoken words or written scripture. Logos is bigger—it includes not just spoken words, but thoughts as well. It’s the very essence of who you are, made visible, audible, tangible.

In other words, when we talk about Jesus as the Word of God, we’re talking about Jesus as God—out loud. Jesus is God in the flesh, physically here, seen, and touched. He’s not just telling us the truth, He is the embodiment of truth, the agent of creation.

Nicodemus and the Search for Truth

We see this played out when Nicodemus, a religious leader, comes to Jesus at night, looking for answers. Nicodemus had heard the teachings and seen the signs—he knew there was something special about Jesus.

Jesus responds to him with a radical truth:

John 3:3

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus is confused. Born again? How? For his entire life, he believed that following the Law would lead him to righteousness and now Jesus is telling him that it’s not about the Law but about being made new.

Jesus is offering Nicodemus a truth he’s never heard before: it’s not just about doing the right things. It’s about being born of the Spirit—letting the truth of Jesus transform you from the inside out.

The Radical Truth of Jesus

Jesus continues with this powerful image:

John 3:8

"The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit."

I don’t know about you, but I love control and having clear explanations for things. But Jesus is telling Nicodemus—and us—that we don’t get to define the truth. We don’t control the wind, and we don’t control how the Spirit works. The truth is not ours to manipulate or explain. It’s not something we own. Jesus is the truth, and we need Him.

Against Deception: The Enemy’s Tool

On the flip side of truth is deception, and deception is the enemy’s favorite tool to pull us away from God’s truth.

Jesus confronts this head-on when He says:

John 8:31-32

“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

But the people around Jesus push back, claiming they’re already free. After all, they’re descendants of Abraham, right? They’re in Jesus, however, doesn’t let them stay in their delusion.

John 8:34

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin."

It’s hard to hear, but deception is everywhere. The enemy clouds our vision, making us believe lies about ourselves, about God, the people in our lives, and about the world around us. But Jesus, the embodiment of truth, exposes these lies and gives us the freedom to walk in the light.

Jesus digs into the root of deception here:

John 8:44

"For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Deception is powerful, but truth is more powerful still. Jesus doesn’t just set us free from our sin; He sets us free from the lies we’ve been told, the lies we believe about ourselves and others.

Living in Truth

As we reflect on Jesus being for truth and against deception, let’s remember this:

Truth isn’t just something we know. Truth is someone we follow.

Jesus is the truth, and we find freedom in Him.

So, where are you today? Are you caught up in confusion, maybe believing some lies about who you are or who God is? Or are you ready to accept the truth that Jesus offers—a truth that sets you free?

What lies have you believed about yourself, and how can you bring them into the light of Jesus' truth today?

John 8:32

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”