Stand in the Truth

John warns believers not to devote themselves to the world or the things in it. The world continually appeals to us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These temptations are not new. The same basic strategy appears in Genesis 3, in the wilderness testing of JESUS, and throughout our own lives.

The world continually offers something to satisfy, possess, achieve, or become, but everything it offers is passing away. John calls believers to recognize what is feeding their desires and to give their devotion instead to GOD and HIS enduring will.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore what it means not to love the world, the enemy's recurring tactics of flesh, eyes, and pride, and why wholehearted devotion belongs to GOD alone.

John writes to believers who may be deeply aware of their sin and afraid that failure means they have lost everything. His answer is clear: when we sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father - JESUS CHRIST the righteous. HE became the substitute for our sins and took the punishment we deserved.

But assurance does not mean indifference toward sin. John says that those who know CHRIST are called to keep HIS Word, love one another, walk as HE walked, and grow strong as the Word of GOD abides in them.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore JESUS CHRIST as our ADVOCATE, what it means to truly know HIM, and how abiding in HIS Word strengthens us to walk as HE walked.

John opens his first letter with remarkable certainty. He is not sharing a philosophy or repeating a story passed down to him. He writes about the One he heard, saw, looked upon, and handled. JESUS CHRIST, the Word of life, was manifested before him, and John declares what he witnessed so that others may share fellowship with GOD and know full joy. Title

But fellowship with the GOD who is light means we cannot make peace with darkness. John does not tell us to pretend we have no sin. He tells us to bring it into the light and confess it. The promise is not that GOD will forgive some sins, but that HE is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore John's eyewitness testimony of JESUS CHRIST, what it means to walk in the light, and the assurance that GOD faithfully forgives and cleanses those who bring their sin to HIM.

John 21 begins with Peter and several disciples doing what they know to do while waiting to understand what comes next. They fish through the night and catch nothing. Then JESUS appears on the shore, fills their net, feeds them breakfast, and begins restoring Peter. Rather than berating him for his failures, JESUS asks whether he loves HIM and then gives Peter work to do: feed MY sheep.

Peter's future will include hardship, and when he asks about John's future, JESUS redirects him: "What is that to you? You follow Me." The chapter reminds us that fruit may take time, disappointment does not mean GOD has stopped working, and our responsibility is not to control the results but to remain faithful to CHRIST.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore how JESUS meets us in disappointment, how HE restores and commissions Peter, and why our calling is to keep following CHRIST and faithfully doing the work HE puts before us.

John 20 begins with an empty tomb and disciples struggling to understand what has happened. But the resurrection is far more than the return of someone who had died. Paul says that if CHRIST has not risen, our faith is futile and we remain in our sins. The resurrection is GOD's declaration that JESUS is the Son of GOD and that the sacrifice HE offered on the cross was sufficient. It also becomes the foundation of our hope that those who belong to CHRIST will likewise be raised.

John then moves from Mary recognizing the voice of her risen LORD to Thomas honestly saying, "I will not believe," until he encounters JESUS and responds, "My LORD and my GOD." John closes by telling us exactly why these events were recorded.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore what the resurrection proves about JESUS, why it gives believers assurance and hope, and John's call to believe so that we may have life in HIS name.

John 19 brings the “behold” theme to its fullest point. JESUS carries the cross to Golgotha, but the teaching reminds us that HE was really carrying the cross that belonged to us. From Genesis 22 to the curse of Deuteronomy, from fulfilled prophecy to the final sacrifice, Scripture shows that none of this was accidental. CHRIST willingly became the curse, the sacrifice, and the substitute for sinners.

At the center of the passage are the words, “It is finished.” JESUS did not say, “I am finished.” HE declared that the work was complete. The final sacrifice had been offered, the debt had been dealt with, and nothing remained to be added by human effort.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore why JESUS carried our cross, how HE became the curse and final sacrifice, and the assurance found in HIS declaration: “It is finished.”

John 18 surrounds JESUS with a series of people whose actions expose the human heart. Peter fails when following CHRIST becomes uncomfortable. An officer strikes the One who created him. Religious leaders protect outward appearances while rejecting the One their religion pointed toward. Pilate recognizes the truth but chooses convenience, and the crowd listens to another voice. Then Barabbas, the guilty man, walks free while the innocent CHRIST remains and moves toward the cross.

Yet the purpose of this passage is not simply to leave us ashamed of what we see in the mirror. The mirror shows us why we need a SAVIOR. JESUS knowingly and willingly came for this purpose, bearing what Isaiah said belonged to us and taking the place of the guilty.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore what the people surrounding JESUS reveal about our own hearts, the contrast between human failure and the faithfulness of CHRIST, and why we must ultimately stop looking at ourselves and look at the SAVIOR.

JESUS entered the garden knowing everything that was about to happen. HE did not hide from the soldiers or resist the Father’s will. Instead, HE stepped forward, asked, “Whom are you seeking?” and revealed HIMSELF as the great I AM. Even in the moment of HIS arrest, HE remained in complete control, protected HIS disciples, and willingly accepted the cup before HIM.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore the willing obedience of CHRIST, the deeper meaning of HIS question in the garden, and the call to seek JESUS for who HE is rather than merely for what HE can give us.

Long before we believed in CHRIST, CHRIST was praying for us. In John 17:20–26, JESUS looks beyond the disciples gathered around HIM and prays for everyone who would later believe through their testimony. HE prays that HIS people would be united in truth and love, that their unity would bear witness to the world, and that they would understand the Father’s love.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore the heart of Christ’s prayer for His Church, the call to unity in truth and love, and the assurance that Jesus desires His people to be with Him and behold His glory.

As Jesus continues His High Priestly Prayer, He turns His attention toward His disciples. He doesn't ask the Father to remove them from the world but to keep them, sanctify them through His truth, and unite them as one.

In this episode of Stand in the Truth, we explore the comfort of Christ's intercession, the transforming power of God's Word, and the assurance that those who belong to Christ are securely kept by the Father.