TRUTH TRUTH. Does The Truth Really Matter?

Transcription

1 Does The Truth Really Matter? The Truth we will be talking about today is Truth in religious matters. We might ask the question like this: Is it really that big of a deal to God for us to follow the Truth? I believe as we go thru this lesson we will see the answer to this question is a resounding Yes! The first thing I want us to do today is see just exactly what the Truth is. 1

2 Many people in the world today do not have a clear understanding of what the Truth is. They think the Truth can be found in many places That is a shame because Jesus was very clear about what the Truth is. Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. To state is very simply, the Word of God is the Truth! The Psalmist states it just a little differently. Ps 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. God s Law that we find revealed in His Word is the Truth. Paul tells the Colossian Christians that the Gospel is the Truth. 2

3 Col 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, We have all of this Truth (Word of God, Law of God, Gospel) contained in the Bible. God s Truth cannot be found in the Quran, the Book of Mormon, the Catholic Catechisms or any other book that originated with man. Now. Lets look at a few verses that demonstrate how God feels about us following the Truth. Listen to what Joshua tells the Children of Israel just before he dies. Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 3

4 Joshua tells them they must serve God in sincerity and Truth! Sincerity alone was not going to be enough. Their sincerity needed to be guided by the Word of God. Listen to how Samuel tells the people they should obey God 1Sa 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. Samuel tells them to serve God in Truth. Or we might say serve God according to His Word. Not in the way they feel or think or in the way that makes them feel good but rather according to His Word which is the Truth! Next lets look at what Isaiah has to say about the Truth. 4

5 Isaiah was prophesying about the coming kingdom of Christ. Notice who he says will be a part of that kingdom. Isa 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. Who does Isaiah say will be let into this kingdom? Those that keep the Truth. Jesus tells the woman at the well of Samaria in order for us to be true worshippers of God we must worship according to the Truth aka the Word of God. 5

6 Joh 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Much of the Jewish worship was physical in nature. It was tied to the physical place of the temple in Jerusalem It was full of physical elements like the sprinkling of blood, animal sacrifices and the burning of incense. Our worship today is spiritual in nature. We can worship God anywhere in the world. Not only does Jesus say we must worship Him in spirit but we must also worship Him according to the Truth. 6

7 In other words for our worship to be acceptable to God it must be done in accordance with His Word which is the Truth. If we incorporate elements into our worship service that we cannot find in the Word of God then we are not worshipping Him in Truth! The counting of beads, lighting of candles and instrumental music would be examples of elements not found in the Truth. Peter tells us that we purify our souls by obeying the Truth. 1Pe 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, Purifying their souls meant they had their sins forgiven. The only way to have our sins forgiven is thru obedience to the Word of God. 7

8 If we attempt to purify our souls in any way besides what we find in the Word of God then we are not going to be successful. Why won t we be successful? Because we will not be doing it according to Truth. God has laid out His plan for the forgiveness of our sins in His Word. God s plan for the alien sinner is the following steps. We must hear the Gospel. Ro 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We must believe. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 8

9 We must repent of our sins. Ac 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, We must confess Christ before men. Ro 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We must be baptized in water for the forgiveness of our sins. Ac 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Only after obeying the Truth in these steps will the sins of the alien sinner be forgiven. 9

10 God also has a plan for the Christian who has gotten involved in sin to get forgiveness of that sin. Simon the sorcerer became a Christian He sinned by trying to buy the ability to lay his hands on others and impart to them the Holy Spirit. Listen to what the Apostle Peter told this Christian he must do. Ac 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 10

11 Ac 8:23 "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me. Simon was told to repent and pray. If we attempt to have our sins forgiven in any other way than what we find in the Truth then we will not be successful. If we attempt to have our sins forgiven by: Saying the sinners prayer. Reciting hail marys Accepting Jesus as our personal savior. Confessing them to a priest Believing in Jesus alone without obeying His commands. Then our souls will not be purified because these things are not found in the Truth. 11

12 There are so many things that men do today under the pretense of religion that simply cannot be found in the Truth of God s Word. Choirs Plays Concerts Church sponsored schools Church sponsored sports leagues and teams Different forms of entertainment The authority for these things cannot be found in the Word of God therefore they cannot be done in accordance with the Truth. You may be thinking the Bible doesn t say not to do them Yes It does! The Bible specifically says if things are not found in it then don t add them to it. 12

13 Pr 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Re 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. The scriptures are pretty plain about God s desire that we obey the Truth. But does it really matter if we don t? What does the Truth say? 1Jo 2:4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. If we claim to be followers of God but we don t keep His Truth (commands or law) then John says we are a liar! 13

14 Paul makes very clear what will happen to those of us who don t obey the Truth Ro 2:6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 2Th 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, Knowing what is at stake, which part of the Truth (the gospel) are you comfortable with disobeying??? 14

15 All of God s Truth matters not just the parts we like Not just the parts that make us feel good. We need to be more like the Pharisees in some aspects when it comes to keeping God s word. In Matthew 23 Jesus pronounces about 8 different woes on the scribes and Pharisees. We will look at just one of them. Mt 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. The mint, anise and cummin were very small herbs of almost no value. 15

16 Many would read this verse and say that Jesus is condemning them for paying to much attention to the small details of the Law. But that is not the case. Jesus is condemning them for neglecting the other parts of the Law (justice, mercy and faith) Jesus says they should have done all of the Law and not just part. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone We need to be like the Pharisees and take care to obey even the details of God s Truth. Many who claim to be Christians today are polar opposites of the Pharisees. They focus solely on the mercy and love of God without worrying about any of the details of His Word. 16

17 Conclusion God expects us to live our lives according to His Truth. God has not given us the authority to change His Truth to fit our lives It is only thru obedience to His Truth that we can have our sins forgiven. Failure to obey the Truth will have everlasting consequences Are we comfortable with telling God on the day of judgment that we thought obeying some parts of His Truth was unimportant? 17