Over the last several weeks we have explored many of the names of Jesus that teach us about Him as the Truth. He is the Truth, and His Word is Truth. By studying these many names, we can all better understand Jesus’ identity, role, ministry, teachings, and works. Not only this, but we can also learn a lot about what it should mean for us, and how this truth should transform us.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 NKJV
Jesus Christ is the Truth, and through Him comes Truth. Learn more about Jesus Christ’s role and identity as the Truth with the following studies.
Check out other studies in this series
- Names of Jesus as the Son of Man
- Names of Jesus as the Son of God
- Names of Jesus: The Way, the Truth, the Life
- Names of Jesus: The Word
- Names of Jesus: Teacher
- Names of Jesus: Bread of Life
- Names of Jesus: Light of the World
- Names of Jesus: The True Vine
- Names of Jesus: Holy Servant
- Names of Jesus: Risen Lord
- Names of Jesus: Amen, Faithful and True Witness
- Names of Jesus: Victorious One
- Names of Jesus: Faithful and True
The Way, the Truth, the Life
Jesus is the Way to and the Truth of eternal Life. The Truth teaches that the Way to spiritual and Eternal Life is by faith in Jesus Christ. Your faith should produce obedience and fruitfulness according to the Spirit of God that gives life to a believer’s spirit. By entering salvation by the Way of Jesus you accept His Truth, are given new Life through His death and resurrection, and then get to learn more of the Truth. In order to live the life we were made for we must have faith and believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. No one receives salvation and the forgiveness of their sins except through Jesus Christ.
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6-7 CSB
7 If you know me, you will also know[a] my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
The Word
The Word is the only way to the Truth, and the only way to true life. Through the Word come life, light, grace, and truth for our lives, our very souls, and to prepare us for eternity with the Father. All of us are called to believe in the Word, abide in the Word, and share the Word. He will teach us in all of these things, and strengthen us to do His will, drawing us and those around us closer to Him by His Word.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 NKJV
Teacher
Christ gave Himself so that we may live in eternity with the Father. He came as a man and left lessons for His disciples to follow so that we may be prepared on the day He returns for us. As our great Teacher, He is the One to look to in all circumstances, lean on in every trial, praise in every joy, and always be humble at the foot of the cross where He died for our sake. He didn’t just die for us – He also gave us His Word to teach us why He died, and how to live because of His death and resurrection.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:1-3 NKJV
Bread of Life
Coming to Jesus – following His instruction, obeying His commands, and being in a personal relationship with Him take constant diligence and intention. It takes active participation to remain faithful and obedient, and for all relationships to thrive. Jesus tells us to take communion, or the sacraments, in remembrance of Him as the Bread of Life. This is one part of training ourselves to continuously come to Christ and remain in our relationship with Him. When we remember the sacrifice He made for us, we are better able to actively learn, engage, and grow in our understanding and relationship with Him.
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
John 6:32-35 NKJV
Light of the World
His light is a lamp to our feet, guiding our steps, instructing our decisions, guarding our minds and words. When Jesus is the light of our life we allow Him to lead the way and let His light shine on the right path to follow.
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NKJV
NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, hardcover By Zondervan Bibles |
NIV Verse Mapping Bible–cloth over board, gray By Zondervan |
The True Vine
Followers of Jesus have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, therefore we are no longer our own. We are not making choices that only impact ourselves, but also affect the dwelling-place of God’s Spirit, and have a Kingdom impact. As branches within the Vine, we get to have an impact on the Kingdom, serve and glorify God in Spirit and Truth, and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. By our fruits, whether of the Spirit or of the world, we will be known. If we are known by the fruits of God’s Spirit we can share the Truth of the True Vine with the world.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:1-8 NKJV
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Holy Servant
Jesus performed the greatest act of service ever known to man in His death by taking our place on the cross. His life was given as a ransom; He paid the price for our lives with His own life. Because of our sin we deserve death, but because He loves us so much He humbled Himself and came down from Heaven to be like us, live a perfect life none of us could ever achieve, and die in our place as a spotless sacrifice in order to pay the blood price for our sins and give us access to God that we could never obtain on our own.
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:27-30 NKJV
Risen Lord
By learning and growing in our faith, God works in us by His Spirit to produce the fruits of our faith in Him. As we grow in faith and understanding of the things of God, we grow in the likeness of His character and nature. We display His character more, and less of our sinful human character. We not only grow in godliness, but we are living testimonies for the world around us. As we bear fruits of God’s Spirit, we plant seeds for the gospel in the lives of the people around us because we are setting an example of Christ and drawing them to the Risen Lord.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have [b]fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 NKJV
Amen, Faithful and True Witness
We all have work to do for the Kingdom, and those who are faithful with the work He provides for us to do for the Kingdom are given the promise of co-ruling with Christ when He rules over the earth. As we prepare for the return of Christ, we should be diligent in prayer and steadfast in reading His Word so that we can continue to learn and continue to be prepared for the day of His return. Not only this but growing in prayer and our understanding of scripture will help us to grow in faith and build up our defenses against the schemes of the devil. As we grow in faith, prayer, and the Word we are better equipped to resist sin and come to repentance when we fall short.
14 “To[a] the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:[b] “This is the solemn pronouncement of[c] the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator[d] of God’s creation: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.[e] I wish you were either cold or hot! 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going[f] to vomit[g] you out of my mouth!
Revelation 3:14-16 NET
Victorious One
By faith, we not only have access to His power over sin in our lives, but we gain access to the promise of eternal life at the end of the age. We are also made new in this life by the gift of spiritual life through the Holy Spirit dwelling in those who believe in the Victorious One. By faith in Christ’s victory, we recognize our sin and need for a Savior and are forgiven our sins because of Jesus’s death in our place.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 3:21 NKJV
Faithful and True
When Jesus returns with His bride all on white horses ready for His Millennial Reign, then conquers the enemy once and for all, the whole of creation will all be judged. His Faithful and True judgment will determine each of our eternal fates. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him will have their names written in the Book of Life.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war.
Revelation 19:11 CSB
Recommended Study Tools
CSB She Reads Truth Bible–soft leather-look, rose gold By Holman Bible Publishers |
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Based on Articles from the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible By J.D. Douglas & M.C. Tenney, edited by M. Silva / Zondervan |
Have you accepted the grace of God?
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
- Names of Jesus: Savior
- Don’t Neglect Your Salvation
- Prayer of Salvation
- What is grace and why do we need it?
- What does it mean to be justified by grace?
- Don’t Reject God’s Grace
- Don’t Reject Christ
- Godly Women – what it means to live a godly life
- Redeemed Women – what it means to be redeemed
- What is Biblical Love?
- What are Spiritual Gifts?
- How to live in Spirit and Truth
- How to test what is pleasing to God
- Names of Jesus as the Son of God
- Names of Jesus as the Son of Man
- Names of Jesus as the Truth