T R U T H slide 81
Cults Class 2
1
The Statistics!
•
According to pollster George Barna:
–
–
•
Only 9% of “born again” teenagers
believe that absolute truth even exists
At least 60% of the children from
evangelical homes are estimated to
leave the church once they leave home
Reasons:
–
–
–
No answers from the church for the
hard questions asked by our youth
Indoctrination of our youth in
secularism and evolutionism
No real teaching on the Truth!
2
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE
What is truth? John 18:39
I am Truth!!!
Truth is Inconvenient!
Truth is power
Truth is lost in translation!
Truth is out of style!
Truth
is
There is no truth!
stranger
than
The Truth is Within You fiction!
The Law of Non-Contradiction
They can’t
BOTH
be true!
Rev. Billy Graham –
God Exists!
Madalyn O’Hair –
God Does NOT Exist!
•
•
•
•
•
•
Humanistic reasoning vs.
ultimate truth:
Since:
2+2=4
2x2=4
Humanists conclude;
2+3=5
2x3=5
• Humanistic reasoning
ignores some absolute
truths!
• Those that use
presumptive logic
come to invalid
conclusions.
• Objective truth takes
the facts, not you own
idea of the facts.
• Many people simply
take their idea - they
say things like…
5
Objections to Objective Truth
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
There is no such thing as truth!
You can’t know truth!
All truth is relative!
It’s true for you but not for me!
No one has the truth!
All truth depends on your perspective!
Just love and tolerate different views
Just ‘love’ and tolerate different
truth claims
1. True love corrects those in error
2. God is truth, and God is love, and
Jesus is the Word, thus, love and
truth are not mutually exclusive
but tied together!
The Golden rule:
• Mat 7:12-15 "In everything, therefore, treat people the
same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law
and the Prophets.
• Mat 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is
wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and
there are many who enter through it.
• Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that
leads to life, and there are few who find it.
• Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
8
• Mat 22:37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL
YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
• Mat 22:38 "This is the great and foremost
commandment.
• Mat 22:39 "The second is like it, 'YOU
SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
YOURSELF.'
• Mat 22:40 "On these two commandments depend
the whole Law and the Prophets."
9
Let’s reason through this:
• All the law and the prophets and every command
in scripture is all about love. The commands
‘hang’ – get their power, get noticed, from a heart
of love.
• If you obey the law without love, it profits you
nothing!
• If you have all the gifts, without love, it profits
you nothing – so all the gifts hang on love as well!
We don’t nullify the gifts and say all we need is
love, just like love doesn’t nullify the commands
but empowers them!
• I Cor. 13
10
• Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the
Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but
to fulfill.
• Mat 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and
earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke
shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
• Mat 5:19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least
of these commandments, and teaches others to do
the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
11
This Truth hasn’t changed – love
is all about obedience to God’s
Word!
• Exo 20:6 but showing lovingkindness to
thousands, to those who love Me and keep
My commandments.
• Deu 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD
your God, He is God, the faithful God, who
keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness
to a thousandth generation with those who
love Him and keep His commandments;
12
• Deu 11:1 "You shall therefore love the LORD
your God, and always keep His charge, His
statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.
• Jos 22:5 "Only be very careful to observe the
commandment and the law which Moses the
servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the
LORD your God and walk in all His ways and
keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and
serve Him with all your heart and with all your
soul."
13
• Jos 22:5 "Only be very careful to observe
the commandment and the law which
Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded you, to love the LORD your
God and walk in all His ways and keep His
commandments and hold fast to Him and
serve Him with all your heart and with all
your soul."
14
• Neh 1:5 I said, "I beseech You, O LORD
God of heaven, the great and awesome God,
who preserves the covenant and
lovingkindness for those who love Him and
keep His commandments,
15
• Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him,
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
and My Father will love him, and We will
come to him and make Our abode with him.
• Joh 14:24 "He who does not love Me does
not keep My words
• Joh 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep
My commandments.
16
• We are commanded to love God first. How
do we demonstrate our love for God?
• By keeping His commandments!
• For those who say we just need to love and
not obey the rest of the commands in
scripture, they are liars and have listened to
the voice of the enemy, ‘did God really say
you can’t _____________’, ‘Just love –
that’s all you have to do’.
• Case in point:
17
• I know a group of ‘Christians’ who refuse
to pay taxes.
• Why should we pay taxes?
• Mat 22:21 They *said to Him,
"Caesar's." Then He *said to them,
"Then render to Caesar the things that
are Caesar's; and to God the things that
are God's."
18
• Rom 13:7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax
is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor
to whom honor.
• Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one
another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the
law.
• Rom 13:9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT
ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU
SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,"
and if there is any other commandment, it is summed
up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
• Rom 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore
love is the fulfillment of the law.
19
With their reasoning we would
conclude:
• We don’t have to pay taxes – that was a
command is scripture but all we have to do
is love our government, not pay taxes.
• They make the commands in scripture
meaningless!
• They pick and choose what to obey out of
convenience or personal ideologies or
societal norms!
20
They teach ‘God is not the author
of confusion, but ignore the next
verse:
• 1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of
confusion but of peace, as in all the
churches of the saints.
• 1Co 14:34 The women are to keep silent
in the churches; for they are not
permitted to speak, but are to subject
themselves, just as the Law also says.
21
They also reject this verse:
• Tit 2:5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home,
kind, being subject to their own husbands, so
that the word of God will not be dishonored.
• Βλασφημέω blasphēmeō
• Thayer Definition:
• 1) to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile,
calumniate, blaspheme, not honored,
• 2) to be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at
• It is blaspheme not to obey the teachings of
scripture!
22
Did Paul correct false doctrine,
even in the ‘non-essentials’?
• YES! Almost every letter written by Paul
was to correct false teaching or practice!
• Case in point
• There are many today who are ahmillennialist – they say the resurrection
(rapture) has already taken place and we
will Christianize the world and then Jesus
will come to establish His everlasting
kingdom. Among those are Hank
Hanegraff.
23
Here is how Paul dealt with those
who teach this false doctrine:
• 1Ti 1:18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy,
my son, in accordance with the prophecies
previously made concerning you, that by them you
fight the good fight,
• 1Ti 1:19 keeping faith and a good conscience,
which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in
regard to their faith.
• 1Ti 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and
Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan,
so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
24
What was their blaspheme?
• 2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to
God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately handling the word of truth.
• 2Ti 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it
will lead to further ungodliness,
• 2Ti 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
• 2Ti 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth
saying that the resurrection has already taken place,
and they upset the faith of some.
25
We must correct false doctrine!
• 2 Cor. 10:5, “Casting down arguments
and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to
the obedience of Christ, and being
ready … “
• We must obey the commands in scripture!
26
Knowing Jesus is everything!
• On judgment day, it won’t matter how
‘good’ you were.
• The only thing that will matter is did you
make Jesus Lord and Savior of your life!
• If you’ve done that – you know Him, and
He knows you!
27
Jesus said…
• Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me,
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My
Father who is in heaven will enter. 22
"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons, and in
Your name perform many miracles?' 23
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never
knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU
WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
28
How do you know Christ?
•
•
•
•
•
By studying His Word!
By praying
By good Christian fellowship
By loving Him
By Obedience!
His Word is absolute Truth. If it is not reliable, we
have nothing to base our faith on. Truth must
originate outside of the mind of finite man! It
must come from God!
29
• Joh 15:10 "If you keep My
commandments, you will abide in My love;
just as I have kept My Father's
commandments and abide in His love.
• Joh 14:21 "He who has My
commandments and keeps them is the
one who loves Me; and he who loves Me
will be loved by My Father, and I will
love him and will disclose Myself to him.
30
• The Word of God is Truth and the
commands are imperative!
31
• ἀλήθεια alētheia Thayer Definition: Truth
• 1) objectively 1a) what is true in any matter under
consideration
• 1b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the
duties of man, moral and religious truth
– 1b1) in the greatest latitude
– 1b2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason
without his supernatural intervention
• 1c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting
God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and
respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the
superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews,
and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers
even among Christians
32
You can find the Truth!
• The Bible is the ‘Word of God’.
• (1Jo 2:14) I have written to you, fathers, because you
know Him who has been from the beginning. I have
written to you, young men, because you are strong, and
the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome
the evil one.
•
• (Rev 1:2) who testified to the word of God and to the
testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
•
• (Rev 1:9) I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the
tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in
Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the
word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
33
• 2Jn 1:1 The elder to the chosen lady and her
children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but
also all who know the truth,
• 2Jn 1:2 for the sake of the truth which abides
in us and will be with us forever:
• 2Jn 1:3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us,
from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the
Son of the Father, in truth and love.
• 2Jn 1:4 I was very glad to find some of your
children walking in truth, just as we have received
commandment to do from the Father.
34
• (Heb 13:7) Remember those who led
you, who spoke the word of God to you;
and considering the result of their
conduct, imitate their faith.
• (Heb 4:12) For the word of God is living
and active and sharper than any twoedged sword, and piercing as far as the
division of soul and spirit, of both joints
and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart.
35
• (Rev 6:9) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I
saw underneath the altar the souls of those who
had been slain because of the word of God, and
because of the testimony which they had
maintained;
• Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is
written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD
ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT
PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
36
• Pro 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven
and descended? Who has gathered the
wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the
waters in His garment? Who has
established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son's name?
Surely you know!
• Pro 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is
a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
• Pro 30:6 Do not add to His words Or He
will reprove you, and you will be proved a
37
liar.
Jesus said
• Luk 8:21 But He answered and said to them, "My
mother and My brothers are these who hear the
word of God and do it.“
• Luk 11:27 While Jesus was saying these things,
one of the women in the crowd raised her voice
and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore
You and the breasts at which You nursed."
• Luk 11:28 But He said, "On the contrary,
blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it."
38
• Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the
place where they had gathered together was
shaken, and they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of
God with boldness.
39
Why was Paul ordained to
preach?
• Col 1:25 Of this church I was made a
minister according to the stewardship from
God bestowed on me for your benefit, so
that I might fully carry out the preaching of
the word of God,
40
The Word of God is living and
active in transforming those who
obey it and believe!
• 1Th 2:13 For this reason we also constantly
thank God that when you received the word
of God which you heard from us, you
accepted it not as the word of men, but for
what it really is, the word of God, which also
performs its work in you who believe.
• “used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which
a man is impelled to obedience by a certain inner
and higher prerogative and law of soul”
41
We are born again by the Word
of God!
• 1Pe 1:23 for you have been born again not
of seed which is perishable but
imperishable, that is, through the living and
enduring word of God.
42
Sanctified – washed – by the
Word of God!
• 1Ti 4:4 For everything created by God is
good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with gratitude;
• 1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified by means of
the word of God and prayer.
43
• Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just
as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself up for her,
• Eph 5:26 so that He might sanctify her,
having cleansed her by the washing of water
with the word,
• Eph 5:27 that He might present to
Himself the church in all her glory,
having no spot or wrinkle or any such
thing; but that she would be holy and
blameless.
44
Faith leads to obedience to the
Word of God!
• 1Pe 1:22 Since you have in obedience to
the truth purified your souls for a sincere
love of the brethren, fervently love one
another from the heart
• 1Jn 2:4 The one who says, "I have come to
know Him," and does not keep His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not
in him;
45
• False teachers/churches so we only need to agree
on the essentials!
• They have developed their own
doctrine/teaching/tradition rather than simply
being obedient to the Word!
• Mat 15:6b …you invalidated the word of God for
the sake of your tradition/doctrine.
• Jas 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays
from the truth and one turns him back,
• Jas 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from
death and will cover a multitude of sins.
46
• Jas 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays
from the truth and one turns him back,
• Jas 5:20 let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save
his soul from death and will cover a
multitude of sins.
• ἁμαρτωλός hamartōlos
• to deviate from truth, miss the mark of God’s
commands, sin. - erring from the divine law,
practicing and teaching false doctrine.
Living Water
47
This is serious!
• Vs. 20 let him know that he who turns a
man who teaches or practices anything
contrary to the commands of Christ in the
Word of God in error rather than in sound
doctrine will save his soul from death!
• The soul dies at the second death, the final
judgment!
• We NEED to correct false teaching!
Living Water
48
And now the problematic portion
of this text:
• Jas 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays
from the truth and one turns him back,
• Jas 5:20 let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save
his soul from death and will cover a multitude
of sins.
• What? We can’t ‘cover’ sin! In the New covenant,
sin is cleansed and forgiven, not ‘covered’!!!
• Have you ever wondered what this really means?
Living Water
49
Cover
•
•
•
•
•
καλύπτω
kaluptō
Thayer Definition:
1) to hide, veil
1a) to hinder the knowledge of a thing, to
stop it from continuing to be taught or
learned
Living Water
50
Remember the definition of ‘sin’?
• 1Ti 5:20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in
the presence of all, so that the rest also will be
fearful of sinning
• ἁμαρτάνω hamartanō :
•
•
•
•
1) to be without a share in
2) to miss the mark and thus not have part of the reward
3) to err, be mistaken, to fall away from truth
4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour,
to do or go wrong in practice or doctrine
• 5) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, to not
obey God’s commands, to sin
Living Water
51
but digging deeper we
find the real meaning
of this text:
• Thus, when we reprove and correct false
teaching, we ‘cover’ = hinder the
knowledge of a thing and prevent it from
continued to be taught
a multitude of ‘sins’ = to wander from the
teaching of scripture and the commands of
God!
• So, we hinder the false teaching from
continuing to lead people to disobey the
Living Water
52
• Tit 1:13 This testimony is true. For this
reason reprove them severely so that they
may be sound in the faith,
• Tit 1:14 not paying attention to Jewish
myths and commandments of men who
turn away from the truth.
• We need to correct, reprove, and warn
those who ignore the teaching of
scripture!
53
We are accountable to the Truth!
• Eze 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword
coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that
the people are not warned, and the sword
comes and takes any one of them, that person is
taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will
require at the watchman's hand.
• Eze 33:7 "So you, son of man, I have made a
watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you
hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them
warning from me.
54
• As watchmen, we need to teach and obey
the full council of God’s Word – Truth!
• That’s what Paul did:
• Act 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this
day that I am innocent of the blood of all of
you, 27 for I did not shrink from
declaring to you the whole counsel of
God.
55
It’s all about obedience to the full
council of God’s Word – Truth!
• Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty
words, for because of these things the wrath of
God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
• Eph 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
• Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now
you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of
Light
• Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all
goodness and righteousness and truth),
• Eph 5:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the
Lord.
56
God’s commands clearly tell us
what is pleasing to God!
• Every Word is essential!
57
• Duet. 8:3b that he might make you know
that man does not live by bread alone, but
man lives by every word that comes from
the mouth of the LORD. (ESV)
58
Truth is the Word of God!
• 1Jn 5:6 This is the One who came by water
and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water
only, but with the water and with the blood.
It is the Spirit who testifies, because the
Spirit is the truth.
• The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God
– Truth!!
59
• 2Jn 1:3 Grace, mercy and peace will be
with us, from God the Father and from
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth
and love.
• 2Jn 1:4 I was very glad to find some of
your children walking in truth, just as we
have received commandment to do from
the Father.
60
We must be saved AND come to
the knowledge of the Truth!
• 1Ti 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior,
• 1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the
truth.
61
It is grace and the knowledge (experiential,
obedience to) of the Truth…
• 2Pe 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things,
be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and
blameless,
• 2Pe 3:15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;
just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom
given him, wrote to you,
• 2Pe 3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these
things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the
untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the
Scriptures, to their own destruction.
• 2Pe 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand,
be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error
of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
• 2Pe 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to
the day of eternity. Amen.
62
• 2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that no
prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's
own interpretation
• This is saying there is only one
interpretation of Scripture and it is what
God intended when He had the scribe write
it.
63
I Corinthians 2:12-14
• NIV: (12) We have not received the spirit of the
world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may
understand what God has freely given us. (13)
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by
human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit,
expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (14)
The man without the Spirit does not accept the
things that come from the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
64
I love this…
• Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to
conceal a matter, But the glory of
kings is to search out a matter.
65
Deconstruction
alism
• The text never means what it appears to
mean
• All writers had ulterior motives
• Biblical writers were prejudiced and
influenced by the times in which they
lived
• Everyone has colored glasses that they
can never remove
Of course such claims do not apply to the
writings of biblical critics. They always
make exceptions for themselves. They
do not have colored glasses on, they do
not have ulterior motives, and they are
not being influenced by the culture in
which they live. In effect, they are
inspired the Bible is not---in other words
their writings are the absolute standard
When a culture is
declining
• A sense of abandon, people yield to
their impulses at the expense of their
well-being
• Truancy, escapism, retreating in the
world of distraction and entertainment
• Sense of drift
• Sense of guilt, self-loathing, moral
abandon
• Uncritical tolerance
The church in
decline
•
•
•
•
“We cannot understand the Bible alike”
“The more I study the less I know”
“Everyone is guilty of believing some error”
“You would do the same thing in the same
situation—so don’t judge”
• “Love takes precedence over rules”
• “Spirit of the law not the letter”
• “Gray area”
Truth
• It’s all about Truth!
• Why did Jesus come into the world?
• This is the most important question we can
ask – and prayerfully answer tonight!
• Jesus answered this question for us!
• Jesus said, for this reason I came into the
world, and this is why I was born….
• Read John 18:33-36
70
• Joh 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So
You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say
correctly that I am a king. For this I have
been born, and for this I have come into the
world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who
is of the truth hears My voice."
71
We testify of the Truth
• We are His hands and feet extended, and
thus we are here to testify of the Truth!
• And this is why Jesus came!
• So that the cults, the world, and everyone
may know the truth!
• Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life!
72
• Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth’ over 75
times!
• Joh 1:17 For the Law was given through
Moses; grace and truth were realized
through Jesus Christ.
• Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the
way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but through Me.
73
Pilate asked…
• Jesus said I came to testify of the Truth…
• John 18:38 Pilate *said to Him, "What is
truth?“
• This is the most important of all time!
• Jesus & the Word of God is Truth!
• All of the Words of God!
74
• Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your
word is truth.
75
• Joh 17:14 "I have given them Your word;
and the world has hated them, because they
are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world.
• Joh 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them
out of the world, but to keep them from the
evil one.
• Joh 17:16 "They are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world.
76
The time is now to stand for
Truth!
• Joh 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now
is, when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for such
people the Father seeks to be His
worshipers.
• Joh 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth."
77
• Joh 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews
who had believed Him, "If you continue in
My word, then you are truly disciples of
Mine;
• Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and
the truth will make you free."
78
• Jesus came to set the captives free, and He
does that by giving us the Truth!!
• Joh 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep
My commandments.
• Joh 14:16 "I will ask the Father, and He
will give you another Helper, that He may
be with you forever;
• Joh 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth,
79
• Joh 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth,
comes, He will guide you into all the truth;
for He will not speak on His own initiative,
but whatever He hears, He will speak; and
He will disclose to you what is to come.
• Joh 16:14 "He will glorify Me, for He will
take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
80
• 1Ti 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior,
• 1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one
mediator also between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus,
• 1Ti 2:6 who gave Himself as a ransom for
all, the testimony given at the proper time.
81
We must stand firm in the Truth!
• Eph 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor
of God, so that you will be able to resist in
the evil day, and having done everything, to
stand firm.
• Eph 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING
GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,
• The first part of the armor of God is Truth!!
82
• The last piece of the armor?
• The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God –
TRUTH!!!
• Truth is important!
• Yet in the last days we know that many will
fall away from the Truth!
• People will develop their own idea of Truth.
83
• 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting
to have their ears tickled, they will
accumulate for themselves teachers in
accordance to their own desires,
• 2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from
the truth and will turn aside to myths.
84
• Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness,
• Act 20:30 and from among your own
selves men will arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away the disciples after
them.
85
• Rom 2:8 but to those who are selfishly
ambitious and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, wrath and
indignation.
86
• Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you
captive through philosophy and empty
deception, according to the tradition of men,
according to the elementary principles of
the world, rather than according to Christ.
• ‘Tradition of men’ – law, ordinance, creed,
teaching, doctrine
• This is a warning to stand on the word of
God, not what men have taught you!
87
• 2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of
wickedness for those who perish, because they
did not receive the love of the truth so as to be
saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon
them a deluding influence so that they will
believe what is false, 12 in order that they
all may be judged who did not believe the
truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
• 2Th 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and
hold to the traditions which you were taught,
whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Living Water
88
Wickedness
•
•
•
•
ἀδικία
adikia
Thayer Definition:
1) injustice, of a judge – falsely judging
doctrinal truth
• 2) unrighteousness of heart and life
• 3) a deed violating law (Jesus commands)
and justice, act of unrighteousness
Living Water
89
Traditions
•
•
•
•
παράδοσις
paradosis
par-ad'-os-is
From G3860; transmission, that is,
(concretely) a precept; specifically the
Jewish traditionary law: - ordinance,
doctirne, teaching of scripture, tradition.
Living Water
90
• Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren,
keep your eye on those who cause
dissensions and hindrances contrary to
the teaching which you learned, and turn
away from them.
• Rom 16:18 For such men are slaves, not of
our Lord Christ but of their own appetites;
and by their smooth and flattering speech
they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Living Water
91
Dessinsions
•
•
•
•
διχοστασία
dichostasia
dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah
From a derivative of G1364 and G4714;
disunion, that is, (figuratively) dissension: divisions, (modern) denomoniations,
dessenting from the clear teaching of
scripture, holding to teaching from men
rather from God’s Word.
Living Water
92
People have called me a Biblicist,
like it’s a derogatory term!
• What that means is that I only teach the
Word of God and obedience to every
command not already fulfilled by Christ’s
finish work on the cross.
• It’s all about truth and obedience to the
Truth!
• What is pleasing to God? That we keep His
commands instead of man’s ideologies!
• Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are
Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit
of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and
93
Living Water
• But many just try to please
culture in order to get them
into ‘church’.
• We call it ‘seeker sensitive’
• I call it compromise…
Living Water
94
We will please the Lord!
• We are Biblicists! We will love, teach, and
practice the Truth of God’s Word in it’s
entirety! Two weeks ago God told us to be
like David Living Water
95
• David didn’t bow to the unfaithfulness of the
whole nation but stood strong in the strength of
the Lord!
• He did not entangle himself with the things of
this world but defied the gravity of mediocrity
and compromise and stood for truth.
Living Water
96
2Ti 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a
good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:4 No soldier in active service
entangles himself in the affairs of
everyday life, so that he may please
the
one
who
enlisted
him
as
a
soldier.
• ἐμπλέκω
• emplekō; from to weave in, to entwine, i.e. to
involve with: - entangled
Php 3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you,
and now tell you even weeping, that they are
enemies of the cross of Christ,
Php 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is
their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame,
who set their minds on earthly things.
Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from
which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ;
Php 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble
state into conformity with the body of His glory, by
the exertion of the power that He has even to
subject all things to Himself.
Those who deny
the revelations of
God
are called FOOLS
Psalm 14:1-3
Bible Doctrine Is To Stay Pure
I Tim. 1:3 - As I
urged you when I
was going to
Macedonia, remain
at Ephesus that you
may charge certain
persons not to
teach any different
doctrine
(didaskalia),
(Context Acts
20:28,29)
Gal 1:8 But even
if we or an angel
from Heaven
preach a gospel
to you beside
what we
preached to you,
let him be
accursed.
We need to teach and live the
Word of God above tradition!
1Ti 4:13 - Until I come, give attention to the
reading of Scripture, to exhortation and *teaching
(Didaskalia).
1Ti 4:16 Hold on to yourself and to the *doctrine ;
continue in them, for doing this you shall both
save yourself and those who hear you.
2Ti 4:2 - preach the Word, be instant in season
and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long-suffering and *doctrine. 3 For a time will be
when they will not endure sound *doctrine …
• 1Jn 4:4 You are from God, little children,
and have overcome them; because greater is
He who is in you than he who is in the
world.
• 1Jn 4:5 They are from the world; therefore
they speak as from the world, and the world
listens to them.
• 1Jn 4:6 We are from God; he who knows
God listens to us; he who is not from God
does not listen to us. By this we know the
spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
103
• Rom 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of
God for a lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is
blessed forever. Amen.
• They say, ‘If I teach that no one will come
to my church’
• They are putting societal ideals and culture
above God’s Word!
104
Paul says…
• Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of
men, or of God? Or am I striving to please
men? If I were still trying to please men, I
would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
• Everyone who is of God hears the truth,
knows the truth, defends the truth, and
obeys the truth!
• This is why Jesus came to the earth!!!
105
Jesus said…
• Joh 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So
You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say
correctly that I am a king. For this I have
been born, and for this I have come into the
world, to testify to the truth.
• Jesus next statement is of paramount
importance:
• Everyone who is of the truth hears My
voice."
106
• 1Jn 4:6 We are from God; he who knows
God listens to us; he who is not from God
does not listen to us. By this we know the
spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
107
We are in a battle!
• Pastor’s today say ‘those truths don’t apply
to us’
• Just like Satan in the Garden:
• Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty
than any beast of the field which the LORD
God had made. And he said to the woman,
"Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat
from any tree of the garden'?"
108
• Col 2:2 that their hearts may be
encouraged, having been knit together in
love, and attaining to all the wealth that
comes from the full assurance of
understanding, resulting in a true
knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ
Himself,
• Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• Col 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude
you with persuasive argument.
109
• Joh 8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying?
It is because you cannot hear My word.
• Joh 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want
to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from
the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because
there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father
of lies.
• Joh 8:45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not
believe Me.
• Joh 8:46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak
truth, why do you not believe Me?
• Joh 8:47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; for
this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of
God."
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• Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way
is narrow that leads to life, and there are
few who find it.
• Luk 18:8 "I tell you that He will bring
about justice for them quickly. However,
when the Son of Man comes, will He find
faith on the earth?"
111
• (Psalms 119:105)
• Your word is a lamp to my feet And a
light to my path.
• (2 Peter 1:19)
• So we have the prophetic word made more
sure, to which you do well to pay attention
as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star arises
in your hearts.
112
• Many will fall off that narrow path in the
last days.
• The will not listen to the Truth of God’s
Word.
• They say it is relevant today!
• They are pleasing men and decieved!
113
• Rom 7:11 for sin, taking an opportunity
through the commandment, deceived me
and through it killed me.
114
• Heb 3:12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one
of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the
living God.
• Heb 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long
as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
• Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we
hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
• Heb 3:15 while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS
VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS
WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."
115
Remember last week we talked
about the lie from Satan that
many churches teach today?
• That doesn’t apply to us – it was cultural!
• Either every command of God in scripture
is true and good, or none are!
• It is time to stand for TRUTH!!!!
116
• 1Ti 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write
so that you will know how one ought to
conduct himself in the household of God,
which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and support of the Truth.
117
So how do we deal with those
who reject the full council of
God’s Word?
• 2Ti 2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be
quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach,
patient when wronged,
• 2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are
in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them
repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
• 2Ti 2:26 and they may come to their senses and
escape from the snare of the devil, having been
held captive by him to do his will.
118
• Col 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom
toward outsiders, making the most of the
opportunity.
• Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with
grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that
you will know how you should respond to
each person.
119
• We truly are in a battle for TRUTH!
• From the beginning the enemy attempted to
distort, negate, and have mankind and the
church neglect the Truth of God’s Word.
• We are told in the last days many will
abandon the truth for a lie and apostatize
against the clear teaching of scripture.
120
II Thess. 2:1-13
• Our faith is in the Truth claims of God!
• It is not in men or denominational creeds!
• It not in societal norms!
• It is in the Word of God!
121
So what is faith?
• Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
• Webster Greek def: “The sense of the verb, from
which that of rope and binding is derived, is to
strain, to draw, and thus to bind or make fast. A
rope or cable is that which makes fast.”
• The Hebrew and the Greek suggest a trust or
belief in a known truth, validated by evidence that
would lead to a conviction.
• It is not a ‘blind leap’!
122
Belief + Proof=Faith
• Heb 11:1 Now faith (the solid rope that holds
something together – the belief in a known truth)
is the assurance(concrete foundation) of things
hoped for, the conviction(evidence, proof) of
things not seen.
•
Faith in Jesus Christ is valid and reasonable!
We derive our evidence from the Bible and personal
experience!
• If the Bible is not true, we have no basis for faith!
123
Many Pastor’s have preached
that you should be a Christian by
blind faith. Even if the Bible is
not reliable and even if Jesus
didn’t raise from the dead.
The Apostle Paul doesn’t agree…
124
Everything rests
on the validity of
the Bible and the
Resurrection!
1 Corinthians 15:13-20a - "IF
there is no resurrection of the
dead, THEN not even Christ has
been raised. And if Christ has not
been raised, our preaching is
useless and so is your faith.”
125
1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “More
than that, we are then found to be
false witnesses about God, for
we have testified about God that
he raised Christ from the dead.
But he did not raise him if in fact
the dead are not raised. For if the
dead are not raised, then Christ
has not been raised either.”
126
1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “And if
Christ has not been raised, your
faith is futile; you are still in your
sins. Then those also who have
fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If
only for this life we have hope in
Christ, we are to be pitied more
than all men.”
127
1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “But Christ has
indeed been raised from the dead”
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing
as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints
and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and
intentions of the heart.
Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the
flower fades, But the word of
our God stands forever.
128
The Bible’s version of
Christianity is not about a
religion – but a relationship!
John 1:12 "Yet to all who
received him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God."
129
Not All Religious Viewpoints Can Be Right!
1. What you believe will affect how you live!
2. Not all religious viewpoints can be right!
Law of non-contradiction:
“Two opposing views can not both be
right”
130
Can All Religious Viewpoints Be Right?
No! Someone has to be wrong!
“Either Jesus is the Messiah or He isn't.”
If He is not the only way to God, then He is a liar.
Taken from: http://www.str.org
131
Objective Truth Does Exist!
1.
2.
What you believe will affect how you live!
Not all religious viewpoints can be right!
3. Objective Truth does exist!
132
Biblical Objective Truth
The Bible teaches that truth does exists
For example:
John 14:6
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.”
John 8:32
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth
shall make you free.”
133
Truth Is Not a Matter of Your Own Perspective
or opinion or tradition, or even your own study:
For example:
“Above all you must understand that no
prophecy of Scripture came about by
the prophet’s own interpretation. For
prophecy never had its origin in the will
of man, but men spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Pet. 1: 20-21
134
A Truth Statement Matches Its Object
“Satan is called a liar because his
statement to Eve, “You will surely not die”
in Gen. 3:4 did not correspond to what
God really said, namely “you shall surely
die (Gen. 2:17).”
Dr. Norman Geisler
135
Truth is That Which Corresponds to Reality
Jesus states in John 14:6 that he is the
only way to God.
This is a true statement because it
corresponds to reality and was
verified by His conquering death in
His resurrection.
136
• A right understanding of God (Truth) leads to a
right relationship with God through Jesus Christ
(Truth).
Jesus=Truth=The Word of
God=Understanding=Logos=Intelligence
• This produces reverence for God
• Wisdom begins with the fear(reverence) of God!
• Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the
Holy One is understanding.
137
Why is Truth so Important?
“If truth and reasonableness are not uppermost in
our presentation of the truth to a pagan culture,
already predisposed to regarding religion as a set of
private feelings, then we will constantly hear this
response. Well that’s fine if having those feelings
helps you.”
Love God with all your Mind
J.P. Moreland P. 30
138
Truth is not based on feelings!
• Truth is based on evidence
• Evidence is logical and rational
• Emotions are unreliable and often times
wicked
• Jer 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than
all else And is desperately sick; Who can
understand it?
139
Truth is not based on feelings!
Strongs
- : “A form of H3824;
• Truth is based
on– heart
evidence
the heart; also used (figuratively) very
• Evidence is
logical
rational
widely
for theand
feelings”
• Emotions are unreliable and often times
wicked
• Jer 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than
all else And is desperately sick; Who can
understand it?
140
Faith Must Have an Object to Have Merit!
1.
2.
3.
What you believe will affect how you live!
Not all religious viewpoints can be right!
Objective Truth does exist!
4. Faith must have an object to have merit!
The object of our Faith is Jesus Christ and the
Truth of God’s Word!
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they
have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom
they have not heard? And how will they hear without a
preacher?
Rom 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent?
Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE
FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD
THINGS!"
141
We must stand for truth..
•
•
•
•
Even if we stand alone
Even when it is not politically correct
Even when denominations refuse to do so
The Bible is our sole source for faith and
practice!
142
Jesus said…
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
man comes to the Father but by Me.”
• John 14:6
• How many ways can we interpret this?
Jesus Christ is the only way to God –
period.
• This is our interpretation – is it valid:
143
• Finally, brethren,
•
whatever is true,
•
whatever is honorable,
•
whatever is right,
•
whatever is pure,
•
whatever is lovely,
•
whatever is of good repute,
•
if there is any excellence and
•
if anything worthy of praise,
Philippians 4:8
• let your mind dwell on these things.
Analyze and weigh your proposition
(interpretation). Follow these steps:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Identify all assertions made – are they supported solely by scripture?
Identify all qualifications and conditions – explain any symbolism or
special circumstances that lead your
interpretation.
Identify all stated and unstated assumptions – list them and explain how
you came to conclusion for each one.
Notice any connections between your interpretation, assumptions, and
assertions.
Decide which assertions are the main ones.
Raise questions about each assertion.
Are there any biases evident?
Any assumptions glossed over?
Anything else not stated? Any parts of issue or passage not discussed?
Is the logic clear, concise, and valid?
Are all consequences and ramifications of the conclusion explored?
Is your interpretation valid in light of all the above
145
Is your interpretation valid? Check it:
• Review your own biases and tendencies.
Be honest with yourself. Be sure your
final interpretation is objective and clear.
• Be specific about the meaning.
• State your interpretation carefully and
precisely.
• Include appropriate qualifications.
• Distinguish certainty from probability.
146
Let’s proclaim the Truth!
• How do we start a revolution?
• Know the Truth, proclaim the Truth
• A revolution to bring the Church back to
Biblical Truth.
• By studying Theology and Apologetics!
This is our task. There is only one Truth.
147