I.INTRODUCTION-- In John 17:13-21, Jesus prayed to the Father, "But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.


20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me."

A. The Word of God is TRUTH (with many evidences of inspiration by a truthful God), and all who believe on Christ through the word are ONE.
1. Yet, all who claim to believe in Christ are not united.
2. Therefore all have not been "sanctified in the truth."
B.When Jesus said in Vs. 19, "for the disciples' sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth," he presents himself as the source of truth.
1.In John 14:6, Jesus proclaimed, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me."
2.In John 18:37b-38a, Jesus said, "To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice," (but "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?" This cynical question illustrates the point of this lesson---Some will not learn the truth, in order to unite with Christ!!)
C. Preachers and Personal Work Teachers are often frustrated by the fact that their messages have failed to have their desired effect--even when the most fundamental truths are taught!
1. The teacher is not justified in blaming this result on his own meager skills, because the greatest of teachers, Jesus, did not convert every soul.
2. Even though Paul tells us that God "would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4), it is true that all will not be saved. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said, "Enter ye in by the nar-row gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. 14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it."
II. LESSON-- Why do most men fail to learn the TRUTH?
A. Some fail to know, because they are not disposed to seek the truth.
1. Christ knew this, andpresented truths in a way to entice only those dis-posed to hear. Matthew 13:10-17 "The disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the king-dom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not."

2.On another occasion, Jesus accused some "believers" of failing to have the disposition to hear truth. In John 8: 44-47, he told them, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. 45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God."

3. An EXAMPLE of a truth to receive.
a. Malachi 4:5-6 promised the coming of Elijah. The prophet wrote, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come. 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
b. When John the Baptizer was born, the angel (privily) told Zacharias that he would be identified with Elijah. Luke 1:15-17 "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."
c. John was questioned as to his identity. John 1:19-21a "And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not...."
d. Yet, Jesus identifies John to those "able to receive" it. Matthew 11:11-15 "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, that is to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
3. There must therefore be a willingness to hear the truth and believe it. Those who are unwilling cannot come to the truth to be saved.
B. Some fail to know the truth, because they have no spirit of obedience.
1. The "willingness to do" the truth precedes the knowledge of it. John 7:14-17 "But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself."
2. The EXAMPLE of this is in James 1:19-25 ("Swift to hear" needs to be coupled with "willingness to do") "Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing."
a. Otherwise, they become like the disobedient ones in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 "But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away. 6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith."
b. The consequence is condemnation. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
C. Some fail to know the truth, because they are unwilling to accept it ALL.
1.Jesus said to "hard things" to "believers," in figurative language. In John 6:54 63, he said, "He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever.....60 Many therefore of his disciples, when the heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? 61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble? 62 What then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are are life."

2. One EXAMPLE of this: The disciples were reluctant to believe all the truth.


a.Even when Jesus told them unequivocally that He was to be crucified, some did not believe. Matthew 16:21-23 "From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22 And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men."


b.After the report of His resurrection, two disciples were in doubt about its truthfulness, and Jesus said, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:25-26

III.CONCLUSION-- Though these passages tell us why there is resistance to and rejection of the Truth, we should not cease to try to find those who desire to hear truth, will accept it, and obey it. Love of the truth will save us. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 "But we are bound to give thanks to God,....that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."