TRUTH

1. Someone has said that time is precious.

2. This is true, but truth is more valuable than time.

3. One of the most important things in life is truth.

4. At least this is what God says when we look at the Bible.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO CHRISTIANS ARE, WE MUST SAY THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH TRUTH.

A. In Ps. 145:18 the writer spoke of calling upon God in “truth.”

B. This makes sense.

C. We would be shocked if a verse in either testament said, “call upon God in error.”

D. One of God’s attributes is truth.

E. Isa. 65:16 says God is a “God of truth.”

2. If we want to be associated with God, we must be associated with the truth.

3. Many who are here are familiar with Jn. 4:24.

4. Here Jesus spoke of worship.

5. He said those who want to worship God must worship in a certain way.

6. The word must describes necessity; something that is required.

7. Worshippers must worship in “spirit and truth.”

A. This means heaven does not accept any old form of worship.

B. God has rules about what we do.

C. He has rules about the day of worship.

D. He has decided what worship should include.

E. He has determined how often things are to be done.

F. If we obey the instructions He has given, we worship in truth.

G. If we do not do things as the New Testament describes, we worship in error.

8. It might be asked where truth comes from.

9. Jesus answered this question in Jn. 17:17 – quote.

10. We must do things according to truth, and this truth comes from (is found) in scripture.

11. What Jesus said in Jn. 17 presents us with one of two choices.

A. We either obey God’s word and practice the truth or we do not.

B. To some these two choices are offensive.

C. We live in a time of toleration, acceptance, and doing what we want.

12. It is therefore fairly uncommon to find people who base their religious faith upon sincerity.

13. As a long as a good heart exists, it is believed God will accept whatever kind of worship is offered.

14. Let’s compare this idea with a passage from 1 Cor. 5.

A. This chapter begins in a negative way.

B. At least one member of the Corinthian congregation was involved with fornication.

C. These Corinthians should have been grieved over this matter but this sin did not bother them.

D. They were not troubled by a flagrant disregard for God’s laws.

E. This caused Paul to say (verse 7), “purge out the old leaven.”

F. In other words, “deal with the situation. Address the fornication.”

G. Paul wanted them to be people who possessed two important qualities.

H. These qualities are in verse 8 – READ.

15. Notice the word “sincerity.”

16. This is a rather unique word because it is composed of two separate terms.

17. One word means “sun;” the other means “test.”

18. The idea is that something is tested by the sun.

19. We sometimes hold an item up to the light to evaluate it.

20. Paul said “live in such a way where this imagery can describe your life.”

21. At the present time this standard is considered good enough by many in our society.

22. If we are truly sincere this is all that supposedly matters.

23. Paul said this is important but this is not enough.

24. Notice the final two words: and truth.

25. There will be sincere people who will not be saved.

26. Being genuine is not enough because God says we must also possess the truth.

27. This is certainly right in the area of worship because Jesus Himself said so in Jn. 4.

A. When it comes to our worship in song, this part of our service must be in truth.

B. The Lord’s Supper, giving, preaching, and praying must all be done in the way described by the NT.

C. Paul reinforced this point by saying what he did in Col. 3:17

D. He said everything must be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

E. That is, God’s stamp of approval must be on what we do.

F. Jesus must authorize, sanction, and give His consent to what we do.

G. This approval comes through scripture.

28. Perhaps the necessity of truth can be illustrated in another way.

29. How important is love?

30. Can a person be a Christian if he or she does not posses New Testament love?

31. Surely everyone would say love is required.

32. Let’s consider a second question.

33. Can a person guilty of sin be saved if he or she does not have New Testament love?

34. This question would also be answered “no.”

35. Love is essential.

36. Paul provided several details about love in 1 Cor. 13.

A. In verse 6 he said “love rejoices in truth.”

B. Love and truth go together.

C. In order for us to have the agape love described in 1 Cor. 13 we must have the truth.

D. Those who do not have the truth have an imperfect love because Bible love is joined with truth.

37. Just as a person without New Testament love will not be saved,

38. So a person without the truth will not be saved.

39. Hearing someone say this can be disturbing.

40. Saying the unsaved people must obey the truth or be eternally lost begins to sound exclusive.

41. Some would say this is judgmental.

42. This information is not material I devised; it comes from God.

43. In 2 Thess. 1 Paul spoke of the Lord’s final coming.

44. He described how Jesus will appear.

45. He also predicated what will happen to certain groups of people.

46. The passage to be read is verse 8 – READ.

A. It is possible to “obey the gospel.”

B. What is the gospel? It is the truth; the good news that is true.

C. In this verse Paul said some “do not know” the truth.

D. What will happen to those who are ignorant of the truth?

E. God says they will not be saved.

F. Others know the truth but do not obey it. These also will be turned away from heaven.

AS WE NOTED AT THE START OF THIS LESSON, TIME IS PRECIOUS. AN ITEM WHICH IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, IS THE TRUTH.

A. We need to know the truth of the gospel (how to become a Christian).

B. We need to know the truth about worship and obey it because of what Jesus said in Jn. 4:24.

C. We need to know the truth about Christian living and put it into practice.

2. If we fail to do these three things we will not be on good terms with God.

3. In the Old Testament (Hos. 4:1) the prophet said God had “a controversy with the land.”

A. There was a disagreement between God and His people.

B. Part of the problem was related to truth.

C. The Hebrews did not want the truth and God said He would inflict massive punishments upon them.

D. He said He would “reject” His people as well as “forget” them (verse 6).

E. He would take the glory enjoyed by the Hebrews and change it to shame (verse 7).

F. He would let the people eat but not be filled (verse 10).

G. The Hebrews would be overthrown (verse 14).

4. The truth matters. It mattered under the Old Testament and it matters now.

5. For the Christian it matters because it is part of our armor (Eph. 6:14).

6. Paul says it helps us “stand” and “gird the loins.”

7. God says this is a critical part of the faith but we are told, “truth really doesn’t matter.”

8. “Sincerity is what truly counts.”

9. This is a lie straight from the pits of hell.

10. Truth is joined with godliness in Tit. 1:1.

11. We, however, live in a time when these two things are separated.

12. It is believed we can have godliness without the truth or godliness with part of the truth.

13. This is not right.

14. Listen to what Paul said in Rom. 2:8:

15. but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (shall be) wrath and indignation

A. This verse presents two choices regarding the truth.

B. We can obey it (fully obey it) and please God.

C. We can refuse to obey it or be partially obedient.

D. Those who are not fully obedient are classified as unrighteous.

E. Not being fully obedient to God’s word results in God’s “wrath and indignation.”

16. To this someone might say, “I have a hard time believing that.”

17. Is the truth really that important?

18. Earlier I cited Jn. 17:17 – quote.

19. In order to be saved we must be sanctified.

20. How does sanctification occur? According to Jesus, it occurs by the truth.

21. Those who are involved with the truth are sanctified.

22. The truth used in sanctifying people is God’s “word.”

A. If any final evidence is needed to establish the importance of the truth,

B. Perhaps my final two citations will be useful.

C. Both of these come from Paul’s correspondence with Timothy.

D. The first passage is 2 Tim. 3:8; the second is 1 Tim. 6:5.

23. In 2 Tim. 3 Paul spoke of people who have a “form” of godliness.

24. These men look good. They appeared to be cream of the crop church members.

25. Their true character, however, is described in verse 8 – READ.

26. There are people—even religious people—who “withstand the truth.”

27. Those who withstand the truth are said to have a “corrupt mind.”

28. It is so bad 1 Tim. 6:5 describes this attitude as being “bereft” of the truth.

29. The KJV says “destitute.”

30. For a New Testament Christian, truth is a non-negotiable quality.

31. A dividing line between salvation and condemnation is knowing the truth.

32. Another line is being fully obedient to the truth.

33. There are at least two separation lines regarding the truth.

34. Which side of the lines are we on?

35. Do we know the truth?

36. Have we obeyed it?