Do we really want TRUTH Example of how man only desires partial and/or conditional truth - Mark 10:17-22 - 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" 20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. There is only ONE truth - John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am THE way and THE truth and THE life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me. Every Word of God is Truth - Prov 30:5-6 - 5 "EVERY WORD OF GOD IS FLAWLESS; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. God detests liars and deception Prov 6:16-19 - 16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Prov 12:22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Unfair measures Prov 11:1 - The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. Prov 20:10 Differing weights and differing measures the Lord detests them both. Prov 20:23 The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. We get to see what a liars destiny will be - Rev 22:14-15 - 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, THOSE WHO practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. The powerful effects of Truth We are to be set apart to be Holy - 1 Thess 4:3-8 - 3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who REJECTS THIS INSTRUCTION does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. We have full access to the truth and it s what sets us apart - John 17:16-17 - 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. We get cleansed by obeying the truth - 1 Peter 1:22-24 - 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by OBEYING THE TRUTH so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. How Truth should be in our lives In worshipping God, truth MUST BE a major element - John 4:23-24 - 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers MUST worship in spirit and in truth." True love celebrates truth - 1 Cor 13:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. True Love is displayed by truth - 1 John 3:18-20 - 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. The only way to know Jesus is by being taught the truth - Eph 4:20-21 - 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with THE TRUTH that is in Jesus. Page 1 of 5 -Do we Really Want Truth?
God s Word (the Truth) is what will judge us in the end - John 12:47-48 - 47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; THAT VERY WORD WHICH I SPOKE will condemn him at the last day A definite ingredient to receiving God s wrath is rejecting Truth - Rom 2:6-8 - 6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Why have so many not received Truth The father of untruths guide those who follow him - John 8:42-47 - 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 HE WHO BELONGS TO GOD HEARS WHAT GOD SAYS. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." God has predicted that only a few will choose to live by Truth - Matt 7:13-14 - 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a FEW FIND IT. Truth is clear; man distorts it through their wickedness - Rom 1:18-20 - 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Man prefers desires over truth - John 3:18-21 - 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." Man chooses lie over truth - Rom 1:25-27 - 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. The truth is offered clearly and freely and man refuses to accept it - 2 Thess 2:9-12 - 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because THEY REFUSED to love THE TRUTH and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. The Churches failure when it comes to Truth This should be what describes all ministries - 2 Cor 4:1-2 - Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Instead of just presenting Christ we allowed what seems to be wise to be presented - Col 2:2-4 - 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. Page 2 of 5 -Do we Really Want Truth?
Man has restructured churches to preach desire instead of truth - 2 Tim 4:2-5 - 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will GATHER AROUND THEM A GREAT NUMBER OF TEACHERS TO SAY WHAT THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR.4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. False teachers will mislead many with lies and will try to dishonor the Truth - 2 Peter 2:1-2 - But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. Those that distort the path to the truth WILL pay - Gal 5:7-10 - 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion WILL PAY THE PENALTY, whoever he may be. The result of the Godly church service is us speaking the truth in Love - Eph 4:15-16 - 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. How we live will displays if we accepted the Truth or not Do we truly have a relationship with God- 1 John 1:5-6 - 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Do we Know God? Are we imitating Jesus?-1 John 2:3-6 -3 We know that we have come to know him IF we obey his commands 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But IF anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Are we listening to the WORD? - 1 John 4:6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Do we really love God- - Obey his commands? - John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. Do we love other Christians? - 1 John 4:19-21 - 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. Are we partners with the world? - James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is HATRED toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Do we love the children of God? - 1 John 5:2-3 - 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, Are you forgiven? - Matt 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father WILL NOT forgive your sins. Are we Disciples of Christ? - Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up EVERYTHING he has CANNOT BE my disciple. Are we good people? Mark 10:18-19 -18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God alone. Page 3 of 5 -Do we Really Want Truth?
1 John 1:8-10 - 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. Do you have a Godly marriage? - Eph 5:22-33 - 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Are we staying in the protection of Christ s love? - John 15:10 - If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. Are we Jesus friend? - John 15:14 You are my friends IF you do what I command. Are we really worshipers of God? James 1:26-27 - 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 RELIGION THAT GOD OUR FATHER ACCEPTS AS PURE AND FAULTLESS IS THIS: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Religious - threskos (thrace'-kos); ceremonious in worship (as demonstrative), i.e. pious: Are our partnerships in line with God? - 2 Cor 6:14-16 - 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? Do we recognize the sacredness of the Gospel? - Gal 1:6-9 - 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! I should just be myself and I ll make it into heaven right? - Eph 5:5-7 - 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person such a man is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU WITH EMPTY WORDS, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. Are we really saved - 1 John 3:14-15 - 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. Am I going to Heaven? - Matt 7:21-23 - 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Only those who really embrace the truth are those that are truly free - John 8:31-38 - 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "IF you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 THEN you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be FREE INDEED. Page 4 of 5 -Do we Really Want Truth?
Questions: 1. The Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life What is the key word in this statement and why is it the key word? 2. How does God Feel about unfairness? - 3. What exactly sanctifies Christians? 4. Liars are part of the group that are going where? 5. When we worship God it must include Spirit and what else? 6. The main thing that suppressing the Truth is what? 7. Why aren t Churches preaching the Truth? Page 5 of 5 -Do we Really Want Truth?