Love the Truth Topical Objective: Urge people to diligently pursue Truth. Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12. Memory: 2 Thessalonians 2:10, They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Introduction: 1.The passage just read, indicates that Satan will delude many souls in time yet to come. In our time! Folks will be deceived and loose their salvation because they lack a serious love for Truth. 2.2 Thessalonians 2:10, indicates that the work of Satan will be displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. And it specifies that They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. There is a clear connection with one s love of the truth and salvation. 3.Sometimes folks flat dislike the truth because they have things to hide and don t want truth known. Most folks have at least a liking for the truth and want to know some of it; (if the building is really on fire, I would like to know), but not a love for truth that will alter their lives from the inside out. 4.Do you have a love for the truth so as to be saved, or just a so-so love for the truth? We need to love the Truth. (HOW?) A genuine, serious love for truth ought affect our lives deeply, down to our very souls. Let me suggest some ways in which such love for the truth ought to manifest itself in those who are being saved. One who honestly, sincerely loves the truth will diligently I. Seek the Truth. A. You have got to look for it! 1. God intends for folks to work at trying to understand the truth about Him. 2. What is He like, what does He want expect? Why are we here? 3. Romans 3:10-11, There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 4. Anything worth anything is worth working at. Knowing God is work the effort! 5. Seek equals work! It is an action word. It requires effort on your part. 6. Is God a pushover or is He demanding? Will He accept moral slothfulness or does He require a genuine effort at holiness and purity? 7. I spoke with a man this week who acknowledges a lot of ambivalence about dying perhaps there is no afterlife? But not enough concern to seek truth about it. I spoke with a lady the week before who told me what she believes but has no reason for believing it! 8. Will you be satisfied with assumptions on what the nature of God is, on what His expectations and requirements and provisions for life eternal are, or do you really want to know? B. I am now going to tell you where to find Truth; 1. Jesus is the 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. 2. He clarifies Truth. He reveals the nature of God the Father. He has been there and knows because He is God. 3. Colossians 2:9, For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 4. Here is the source of truth, knowledge and understanding of eternal things. What does it take to please God? How is God to be served and worshiped? What is the Way to heaven? 5. Other religions may have some truth. Truth sort of, but truth is they fall short. Sort of directions don t get you there! 6. Jesus words are directives from the Father. They are Life and Truth! John 12:48-50, 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. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
7. We have everything necessary through true knowledge of Him. 2 Peter 1:3, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 8. Hear Jesus. Believe Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. Obey Him. C. Understand that truth has been suppressed over the years. 1. Romans 1:18, The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 2. Hand-me-down tradition is not reliable because truth has been suppressed. 3. If you want truth, go to the true source. Go to Jesus, who is Truth. Here is another manifestation of love for Truth. When those who love truth find it, any little piece of it, they will never let it go. Those who honestly love truth will... II. Cling to the Truth. A. Distortions of Truth, are no longer Truth. 1. If we accept a changed Gospel, it is no longer Gospel. (No longer Truth, no longer Good News. 2. Galatians 1:6-9, 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! 3. Hold to the Gospel as taught in Scripture! Which Good News message do you want? Which Good News message is really Truth? The one that Paul and the Apostles had already taught by this time! The very same one the Galatians had already accepted! 4. Where will you learn details of that saving message? By seeking to know what had already been taught and accepted at that time not by looking at later distortions or other world assumptions or other paths. Go to this same unchangeable Gospel for Truth. B. We are actually warned by God that a departure from Truth will come. 1. 1 Timothy 4:1-4, The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 2. How can you tell if such a departure has come? Thing will be taught differently from what the Apostles had originally taught! Some will forbid certain folks to marry. They will teach abstaining from certain foods, etc. 3. What will you do when you encounter such departures? Go back to Scripture!!!! C. What happens to those with a so-so attitude about truth? 1. 2 Thessalonians 2:10, They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2. Some are satisfied with getting their ears tickled ; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, 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.
3. What do you want to hear about baptism? If your ears are itching to hear something, you can find someone to tell you that; If you want TRUTH, diligently seek it in Scripture! 4. What do you want to hear about sexual morality? If your ears are itching to hear something 5. Do you want someone to teach you that it is okay to sin? That it is okay to cuss or look at pornography or tell little lies? If your ears itch to hear such things, you can find someone to teach those things! Unless you love the truth so as to be saved, you can find folks who will tell you what you would like to hear! The bottom line is that those who genuinely love the truth so as to be saved will actually... III. Do the Truth. A. Doing is the verification of faith. 1. You are not really believing unless it shows up in behavior. If you believe there is poison in the drink, you won t drink it! If you want to go home and you believe the trail to the right leads home, that is the one you will take. 2. James 1:22, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 3. Matthew 7:21-23, 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! B. This requires physical obedience. 1. Truth is that God s Word tells us to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. What are you going to do about it? 2. God s Word tells us. Galatians 6.2, Carry each other s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. What are you going to do about it? How is it reflected in your life? 3. God s Word tells us. James 5.9, Don t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Do you love this truth or do you sidestep it? C. It also requires spiritual obedience. 1. God s Word tells us. Romans. 12.10, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. How do you honor others above yourself? 2. Colossians 3.13, Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Do you hold to this truth! 3. Matthew 5:28, But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Do you fool yourself into thinking this is okay? D. All obedience requires a willingness to change from your present course. 1. Do you love truth more than you love being stubborn? Which pull is greater in you? 2. Are you ready and willing to admit you are wrong and to change? 3. John 3:21, "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. So What? Knowing the truth that lightning tends to strike the highest point will not help me if I continue to stand on a bald mountain in a thunderstorm. Knowing the truth about salvation; about doctrine, about the teachings of God in Christ, about the physical and spiritual path that leads to salvation will not help me if I refuse to follow it. John 8:31-32, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Love the truth so as to be saved! Find Truth. Hold to the Truth. Do the truth.
Loving the Truth Topical Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12. Memory: 2 Thessalonians 2:10 T_ p_ b_ t_ r_ t_ l_ t_ t_ a_ s_ b_ s_. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 We need to love the Truth. Ways in which love for the truth ought to manifest itself. I. Seek the Truth. A. You have got to look for it! Romans 3:10-11 B. Where to find Truth; John 14:6 Colossians 2:9 John 12:48-50 2 Peter 1:3 C. Understand that truth has been suppressed over the years. Romans 1:18 II. Cling to the Truth. A. Distortions of Truth, are no longer Truth. Galatians 1:6-9 B. We are actually warned by God that a departure from Truth will come. 1 Timothy 4:1-4 C. What happens to those with a so-so attitude about truth? 2 Thessalonians 2:10 2 Timothy 4:2-4 III. Do the Truth. A. Doing is the verification of faith. James 1:22 Matthew 7:21-23 B. This requires Physical obedience. Galatians 6.2 James 5.9 C. It also requires Spiritual obedience. Romans. 12.10 Colossians 3.13 Matthew 5:28 D. All obedience requires a willingness to change from your present course. John 3:21 So What? John 8:31-32 Find Truth. Hold to the Truth. Do the truth.