The Truth In Jesus

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.…’

Ephesians 4:21

‘The truth is in Jesus.’  This is a simple, but broad statement with massive implications.  Christ went so far as to speak of Himself as ‘the truth.’  Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?’ as the living embodiment of truth stood before him.  The truth ‘in Jesus,’ as we learn Him and receive it, has very practical implications for us personally.  Because Paul is moving from the theological groundwork he has laid to the practical application, he is beginning to show what the practical outgrowth of learning Christ is.  He points to the fact that the Christless person walks daily in an utterly selfish manner ‘in the futility of their mind…having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God,’ and who ‘work all uncleanness with greediness.’  By contrast, if we have ‘learned Christ and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus’ we will ‘put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.’  This testifies of a wholesale change of life, which is inextricably associated with ‘the truth’ which ‘is in Jesus.’  As we ‘learn Christ’ and are ‘taught by Him’ we become full of the truth that is ‘in Jesus.’  This will make us different from how we used to be and also make us different from many others.  Our touchstone of truth is Christ.

Our Gracious God and our Heavenly Father,
we rejoice that the truth is in Christ.
We praise You that You have given unto us
the privilege of seeing Christ
and of embracing the truth that is in Him.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning