OUTLINE:

Jn 8:32
“and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Jn 17:17
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

Jn 1:17b
…grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.


“realized”
from ginomai – to come into being, to be born, become, come about, happen.

The Dichotomy of Ps 73:22-23
In order to “see it all as truth” (Eph 5), we must fully recognize/accept all influences in our lives. Our emotions may range from being “embittered…senseless” to walking with the Lord (and everything in-between). There’s nothing wrong with emotions, so long as we have a grip on them, righteously judging them. (ala Ac 21:10-15; Mt 26:36-42)

A Shepherd’s Lament
When sheep are stuck in the thicket, especially those who should know better, a shepherd’s first response is indignation. His second response is actually what is behind both the first and the second, that is love. After his anger subsides, his heart breaks.

“God demonstrates His own love”
At our very worst, God loved us. May we possess this same love towards others this Christmas, even though these same people break our hearts. (cp 1Jn 4:19)

1Jn 4:19
We love, because He first loved us.

When we judge wrongly, we are being deceived by sin.

Objectivity exists in the absence of partiality.

Lk 11:46 [Expanded]
Jesus answered, “How terrible for [Woe to] you, you experts on the law! You make strict rules that are very hard for people to obey [burden people with burdens hard to carry], but you yourselves don’t even try to follow those rules [or lift a finger to ease the burden]."

Do Not Be Fooled
Do not believe that deceitfulness is anything less than an erosive process. It is very subtle and may depend upon years of baby-steps towards evil in order to ultimately meet its goal.

Thwarting Arrogance
What does it matter if you have so-called "perfect vision" if you're in complete darkness??? Likewise, what does it matter if you're a capable believer in Christ, but remain in darkness regarding some area of your life? You need the Light to see!!! (Eph 5)

“every thought captive”
"Emphasizes the total destruction of the fortresses of human and satanic wisdom and the rescuing of those inside from the damning lies that [have] enslaved them." - MacArthur

Pr 4:13-15 [ESV]
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.

The Deceitfulness of Sin
Sin would love you to rationalize any addiction as "no big deal”.

Gateway Drug
“A habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs.” - Google.com

“Gateway Sin”
These are the sins that we deem “less important” or “less damaging” than the supposed “big sins”. They comprise all the “little sins” and tend to remain “under the radar,” going undetected. “Gateway sins” are the insidious ones!

The Deceitfulness of Sin
You are incapable of controlling sin on your own! Sin wants to deceive you of this very truth; it wants you to think that you actually CAN control it so that you don’t cut if off (ala Mt 18:8-9), but you HAVEN’T, you CAN’T, you NEVER WILL!

The Deceitfulness of Sin
Sin would love you to rationalize any addiction as "no big deal".

Understanding Sin
We are incapable of measuring the distance between even the "smallest" sin imaginable and the Holy God of the Universe. The chasm between the two is infinite. Therefore, every sin is a "big deal".