Tag Archives: truth

Enemies of truth

4 Enemies of Truth

Bible General, Church, Church Bulletin, Culture
Enemies of truth

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”

John 8:32

“relating to or existing in an environment in which facts are viewed as irrelevant, or less important than personal beliefs and opinions, and emotional appeals are used to influence public opinion: “

definition of “post-truth” from www.dictionary.com

Truth is not what it once was. We do not think of truth as we once did. Truth does not change. My understanding may change, but the underlying truth is the same. A lack of truth may be inconvenient as when an airline promises a seat after knowingly overbooking. But becomes catastrophic when eternal life is at stake. We offer 4 enemies of truth for your consideration.

Sadly, truth struggles today. Enemies of truth abound and endanger our future. We know who those enemies are, and we can fight back.

Enemies of Truth: Apathy

Years ago, a friend remarked that although he had studied a Biblical topic and knew what the Bible said, he just didn’t care. He didn’t think it made any difference. That approach to truth is apathy. It’s common today. Truth may exist, but so what?

Jesus said that we can know truth (John 8:32). But he also described the extent to which one may go to pursue truth. From the God of Truth (John 17:17), the Kingdom of Heaven is worth extraordinary effort to find and acquire.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44,45).

What would you do; how hard would you work to save a loved one from death? There is no room for apathy in the pursuit of truth.

Enemies of Truth: Compromise

Compromise is a necessary part of life. We bargain and eventually compromise when buying a car. In business, a contract is the result of negotiation and compromise. A man who does not compromise will have little success in life.

But compromising truth is different.

To compromise truth is to attempt to change the unchangeable. King Saul thought to compromise truth when he chose not to complete God’s mission against the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15).

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23).

Truth cannot be changed. To attempt to do so is a fool’s errand.

Enemies of Truth: Fear

It takes real courage to change, even in the face of truth. Because such change will result in new loyalties (to Jesus) and new alliances (the church), we can expect vociferous opposition to those that currently see us as mirrors of themselves. Still, truth must be chosen over comfort.

King Herod knew that John the Baptist was a prophet, and he knew the people so-honored him. He wanted to hear the words of this great man. But because of his public promise to Salome, he feared the scorn of his associates if he did not give her as he had promised. Her request was the head of John. Herod ordered him to be beheaded (Matthew 20:14 – 2)

You know the truth. Perhaps you operate with an out-of-sight-out-of-mind philosophy. It could be that your career, social standing, or family standing is threatened. Carefully thinking about the eternal outcomes is always appropriate.

Enemies of Truth: Sloth

Study is hard work. Solomon said study wearies the body (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Jesus used examples of hard work when he described searching for truth (Matthew 13:44 – 45; searching for treasure). While a Bible is easy to find, its truths require study, thought, and deep personal resolve. A slothful man rarely finds success, and when he does, he quickly loses it.

Jesus told a parable of three servants entrusted with a rich man’s wealth. Two of the servants worked and produced a return for their master. But the third man was lazy and afraid.

But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:26 – 30)

Observe that the master did not accept the excuse of fear, and he says the servant was slothful. Did you see the outcome? The slothful one was cast away into “outer darkness.”

Laziness and fear are terrible enemies of the truth. Let neither be named in your life. As Paul encouraged Timothy, be a “worker who never needs to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15).

God Is Here

Bible General 
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them” (Romans 1:19)

               Easter marked what many hold to be the holiest weekend of the year. The Jews celebrate Passover this weekend, and Christians remember that Jesus’ crucifixion was on the Friday before Passover with his resurrection occurring the day after Passover on Sunday. While I celebrate his death every first day of the week (Acts 20:7), and, by extension, his resurrection, I am still touched that people throughout the land are thinking of Jesus and his sacrifice for our sins. It is always good when people are thinking of Jesus. Pressures of the enforced quarantine are causing many people to search for answers to their deepest questions. The answers have always been there. They are overlooked in the rush of modern life.

                When Paul wrote Romans, he had not yet met the Christians of that mighty city. Still, he knew something about their challenges and their opponents. He is speaking of the pagans of Rome who had rejected the God of creation. They were without excuse because God was present. He was among them, and he could be known.  Nothing is different today. Godless “experts” have developed lengthy, convoluted arguments against the God of Heaven. Most people in our culture are hesitant to deny the existence of God, although they may live as if he does not exist. Still, God is here and shows himself to us.

Ignorance of God Is Unacceptable

                Knowledge is growing at an unbelievable pace. One website reports that human knowledge, pared with the continuing growth of the internet, will double every 12 hours! If you can read, you can learn anything. For example, it would be surprising to find someone who had never heard of the coronavirus. What was once a term used mainly in virology labs is now a household word. Knowledge is spreading fast.

                Unfortunately, the knowledge of God may not be. Like past years, there is illiteracy of God. While people know about a teeny, tiny, bug called COVID-19, they are ignorant of the God of all creation. The Lord decried this ignorance when he said to Hosea, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The very words of God are truth (John 17:17) and, Jesus said we could know the truth (John 8:32). Still, many do not.

                Ignorance is never an excuse. In our text from Romans 1:19, we note first that God can be known because God has made himself plain to them. Many scientists are beginning to acknowledge that there must be a designer behind the intricate details of our creation. God is in the careful design of the great stars of heaven and the delicate design of a butterfly. God has made himself obvious.

Ignorance of God Is Dangerous

To examine the context of verse 19, we see that this ignorance is dangerous. See verse 18: “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” It is never a good thing to be in the path of God’s wrath! Hosea wrote that the nation was destroyed because of their ignorance. When Paul addressed the curious people of Athens, he warned that they should turn to a knowledge of God. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:30, 31). See that the days of ignorance were over. Why? Because judgment was coming.

Ignorance of God is not Accidental

The saddest part is that some people do not know God and do not want anyone else to know him either. Some people actually suppress the truth about God (Romans 1:18). The apostle asserts that people knew God but “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25). It stuns the mind to thank that some are so calloused in their thinking that they will knowingly swap truth for a lie.

This happens in two ways. First, some reject God outright. These are the atheists who will not be persuaded. Their faith in their atheism is unshakable.

Second, are those who wear the name Christian but are not. They swapped conviction for convenience and serve their own selves rather than the God of Heaven (Romans 16:18). In some ways, these are far more dangerous people. In some cases, they sit on the pew beside us. They sing the same hymns and shout “amen” as loudly as any. But there is no substance in their hearts.

Ignorance of God is Hard Work

In our text, Paul says God has made it “plain to them, For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived” (Romans 1:19, 20). God has made it plain, and they have clearly seen the evidence! The result? “So they are without excuse” (vs. 20).

Because the certainty of God’s existence is so plain, one must work very hard to blind himself to the truth. Jesus said, “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). We can now understand how some who are otherwise intelligent, can be so blind to the truth. 

Others work hard to prevent the knowledge of truth. Paul says some actually suppress the truth (Romans 1:18). Some are blindly ignorant of the truth of Jesus Christ. But others actively work to corrupt, hide, and misstate the truth. They will not be held innocent.

Most of my readers are Christians. You are children of the light. We must know how Satan works in our lives and be prepared to fight back against his schemes. The victory is ours in Christ. Let us press on to the knowledge of Christ

Fact Checking Your Preacher

Bible General, Homilitics, Preaching

We’ve warned that your should never trust your preacher. It is not that preachers are dishonest (although some are) but that your soul is too important to entrust to anyone other than Jesus.

After all, preachers have no innate authority other than that which flows from Scripture. They are just as fragile and breakable as anyone else.

The obvious question is: “How do I know if my preacher is speaking truth when he preaches?”

The media likes to fact-check politicians. They compare what officials say against the known facts. You can do the same with your preacher. This is not disrespectful. Your minister should appreciate the fact that his people are listening carefully to what he says and are willing to dig into Scripture to discover pure truth.

Here are 5 ways to fact check your preacher.

Listen Carefully and Without Distraction

It is not fair to give half your attention to the sermon. He has worked hard to prepare his lesson and you should be able to devote the requisite time to hear his words. Pay careful attention. Note the flow of the lesson and note the points which build to his conclusion. Later, you will want to analyze his study and see if you reach the same Biblical conclusions that he has.

It can be impossible to control distractions around you. A cute, playful, child, chatty people, folks getting up and going out constantly, all these can rob you of your attention. The solution is amazingly simple: Move up! As you move forward you will be putting those distractions behind you and you can listen carefully.

You cannot fact check the preacher without an accurate hearing of his lesson.

Take Careful Notes of the Sermon

What the preacher says must be backed up by the Bible. Listen for the “book, chapter,and verse” of every claim he makes. Jot the reference down and then you can compare his statement with what the text actually says.

I once preached with Wendell Winkler in the audience. He sat near the front in the center section. As I began to speak I saw him draw out his pen and pad and begin to takes notes as I spoke. It staggered me. Why would he take notes? What could I say that he hadn’t heard a million times before? I never asked him about those notes but I would venture that he was fact checking the young man in the pulpit.

Your notes will serve as the basis for your analysis of the sermon. You will note the following:

  • The Big Idea – what is the main purpose of this lesson. If someone asks what the preacher spoke about you should be able to explain by stating the big idea.
  • The Text – what is the primary, foundation text of the lesson. Is it from the Old Testament or the New? This matters because of the way we receive the message. The New Testament is our guide for today while the Old is our teacher.
  • The Main Points – each well-crafted sermon is usually composed of 3 to 5 main points. What are they? How do they relate to one another and how do they support his Big Idea?
  • The Scriptures – Every point must be backed up by Scripture. I can think of no exceptions. Collect the passages together with the points they make and compare. Does the passage, in its context, really say what he is teaching?
  • The Conclusion – All of the points with their Scriptures should support his conclusion. If it does not, there is a problem.
  • Your Questions – if a question pops into your mind, write it down for later study.

Pray, Pray, and Pray Some More

God has revealed his word through inspired Bible writers (2 Peter 1:21). He has also promised help for those seeking to know the truth. He has also promised that we can find him if we seek him because he is not far away (Acts 17:27ff).

The Lord has also promised wisdom as we study (James 1:5-8). Here’s a bit of wisdom from Solomon (Proverbs 2:1-8):

My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2  making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3  yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4  if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5  then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6  For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8  guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.

Notice the necessity of seeking truth and the promise that we can understand and know the knowledge of God.

As you approach the Scriptures, do so prayerfully. You are not seeking to prove or disprove anything. You only want to know truth.

Analyze Your Notes

After the sermon, analyze your notes and fact-check every statement he made. This step cannot be done during the sermon. If you try, you will miss important teachings. Do this at home. It is a far better use of your time than that Sunday afternoon nap!

Look for context, context, context! Job’s wife infamously declared “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). Obviously, that is not a command for us to follow today. The context of the verse makes that plain. Sometimes, preachers botch the context.

Once you understand who is speaking, who is being spoken to, what the occasion is, and what the intended message was, you can determine if the speaker got it right.

It’s common to confuse commands under the law of Moses with commands under the law of Christ. See our discussion on the Covenants for more.

Share What You Find

Let your preacher know that you are carefully following his lessons. If he has done a good job, tell him so. He should be acknowledged for his good work. If he has stumbled – well, tell him that too. He needs to know.

One sweet lady would frequently tell me that she was going to think about what I said. That is one of the greatest complements you can pay to your preacher.

Let us all pay careful attention to our preachers and even more attention to the word of God. It is the standard!

Finding a Church

Church, ,

Finding a churchYou have made an important decision. You want to find a church and improve your spiritual life. That is a commendable goal but it could be more difficult than you think. Finding  a church that will help you learn and grow is not easy. More and more groups call themselves a church but in reality are little more than entertainment venues. If you are not careful you will hurt your spirituality instead of helping it. Here are five tips to help when finding a church.

1. Understand “Church”

The word church is thrown around so much today that its real meaning is lost. The word comes over from a Greek word which referred to an assembly of people who come together for some purpose. In fact, it could mean an assembly with no religious purpose at all. Even in the Bible, that underlying Greek word was sometimes used to describe a community meeting (Acts 19.32, 39, 41). However, by studying the New Testament we learn that when that word is used it typically means people who come together to serve and worship.

Today, we could say that a PTA meeting or even a football game is a form of church; it would be an assembly with a purpose. Obviously, that is not the kind of church we think of today, or least I hope not.

When you say you are looking for a church, you are looking for a group of people assembled together for the purpose of serving and worshiping God. The original Christians served one another (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 6:1-7; James 1:27). They did not expect to be served but rather to be busy about caring for others. The work of the church was outside the walls of the meeting place and their service took place daily (Acts 2:46).

Worship was directed toward the Lord only. While Christians are surely encouraged, edified and uplifted by worship the primary goal was to glorify and praise God. This is what the Father desires (John 4:23). The pattern of worship from the Old Testament forward was always God-centered; it was never directed toward mankind.

So you see, understanding what church really means is the first step toward finding one.

2. Resist Entertainment Churches

An entertainment church is a group that expends much time and money to bring productions to the stage every week. God’s name is heard and people speak of Jesus and the Holy Spirit but the real center of the worship is the individual. Sometimes you can attend and never once participate in worship. Instead, you are being entertained. The glory is given to the performers. How sad.

After the music ends and the lights come up you may feel excited but without any purpose, without any change and without any increase in knowledge or understanding. If you visit a church and feel like you have been to a concert; mark it off your list. Did you know that among the original Christians there was never such a church to be found? What does that suggest to you?

3. Find Truth

Jesus declared that God’s word was truth (John 17:17). As you seek a church make sure that the truth is the foundation of everything taught, preached and practiced. Truth is hard. Some churches have softened the truth to make people feel at ease in their assemblies. These churches sometimes have large crowds because people are not discomforted when they attend. Of course, they are also unchanged by the preaching – at least they are not being transformed in a Biblical way (Romans 12:2). Paul warned of such preaching:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

If you find a church that does not preach truth and truth only, you should run screaming from their building. At the least you are wasting time and at the worst damning your own soul. Remember, the Father seeks those who “worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23).

4.  Compare Churches to the Original

As you visit about, and you should, simply observe the worship. How does the modern worship compare to what you read of in Scripture? During the days of the New Testament, Jesus’ apostles were directly involved in the various churches that were forming. These holy men, empowered by the Holy Spirit, were able to guide the churches into the truth. When problems arose with teaching or worship, and they did, the apostles could correct those errors and ensure that worship was according to God’s plan. So we may conclude that the worship practices of the original churches in the New Testament are true else they are corrected. We may pattern our worship after what we read in the New Testament because we know it is correct and acceptable.

Changes have occurred slowly. Some have altered true worship more than others. For example, the Roman Catholic church bears almost no resemblance to the original church of the New Testament. Truth is everything. As Solomon said, “Buy truth and sell it not…” (Proverbs 23:23).

5. Avoid the Perfect Church

There are no perfect churches. Actually, the church is perfect since it came from Christ and he remains the one head of the church. But the people who make up the church are not perfect. The finest Christian among is flawed and struggles everyday to reflect the glory of Christ. All of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). We are far from perfect. When finding a church be suspicious of anyone or any group that claims perfection. Any honest Christian will surely acknowledge their weaknesses. David struggled (2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51), Peter fell (Luke 22:54-62); Paul had his issues (2 Corinthians 12:1-10). Everyone stumbles.

The problem with a supposedly perfect church, aside from dishonesty, is that you will feel alone in your battles. It will seem that everyone else has it together while you drag alone in despair. We are all in this together.

There are many other things that are helpful when finding a church What about the youth programs? Are there areas of service? is there a program for seniors? These are important but secondary to the things I have mentioned. What good is a great youth program that teaches pop culture and not life-changing words from Jesus? Use these tips to begin your search. Find a true church and jump in!

What do you think? Share your thoughts and comments with our readers.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.

 

Truth Series

Apologetics, Doctrine

We posted a few articles on truth recently. Truth always battles to be heard. Often we stifle truth by denying it exists, or allowing its existence but denying that we can know it. Such agnosticism is the result of the multiculturalism that swept our culture. Suddenly, everybody is right and no one is wrong. While  there are always gray areas, truth is knowable and can, even must, be applied. Hopefully these articles will help.

  • Truth – This is an introduction and asserts that truth does exist as an objective item.
  • Truth – This article, from 2012, is another introduction and summation of our thoughts on truth.
  • Truth is Known – It is not enough that truth exists, it can and must be knowable. Otherwise any objective truth is useless. This article argues that truth can be known.
  • Consequences of Truth – If truth exists, and it does, and if truth can be known, and it can, certain consequences are revealed. This is where truth and reality merge.
  • Truth Haters – It seem odd, but there are people who hate the truth and try to supress it. Consider these thoughts from the Bible.

In the words of a famous television show, the truth is out there.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

Implications of Knowing Truth (part 3)

Doctrine

Having previously examined the reality of truth and the ability of humanity to know truth, we turn to the implications that the knowledge of truth brings. We confine ourselves to spiritual truths and leave the discussion of earthly truths (mathematical, scientific, logical, et cetera) to others.

Spiritual, or we might say, Biblical, truths are especially important for they reach into eternity. At the very worst, a failure of truth in science might cause death. Yet, a similar error in spiritual matters could cost one his eternal soul. Therefore, we commend this brief article for consideration and analysis as a critical piece of the foundation of a mature Christian life.

Knowing and possessing Biblical truth brings confidence, not arrogance.

Jesus said “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). He declared that his apostles “knew” that he was from God and were blessed in that knowledge (John 17:8). Later, the apostle of love would write that one may know he is of the truth through the love that he shows for others. That knowledge, John writes, will “reassure our hearts before him” (1 John 3:19). Most comforting of all is John’s assertion in 1 John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (emphasis mine, jbe). Paul speaks of his confidence anchored in the sufficiency of all things are given by God (2 Corinthians 3:1-6). Because truth exists and can be known, we are confident in our eternal future. Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10), how can his people live in doubt and fear?

Yet, the knowledge of truth must never produce arrogance or a haughty attitude. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses this very issue. Some in Corinth were eating food that had been used in idol worship. They thought nothing of it since they knew that idols were not real. Their confidence, while based in fact, was hurting less knowledgeable Christians who thought eating food offered to idols acknowledged their reality and the authority of that idol. “…all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Paul’s conclusion was while it was true that idols were not real gods, mature believers were hurting the less mature through their knowledge and attitude. He writes, “if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat…” (1 Corinthians 8:13).

Paul tells the Ephesians to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Frankly, this is sometimes harder than it seems. Our love for truth exceeds our love for the sinner. Our knowledge becomes a club used to beat others into submission. At all times, the Christian must possess both the truth and love for his fellowman. [bctt tweet=”At all times, the Christian must possess both the #truth and #love for his fellowman.”]

Knowing and Possessing Biblical Truth Requires Sharing

What would be thought of a person who knew the cure to cancer but kept it to himself? Or what of a man who knew of some impending disaster but kept it a secret? Surely the believer must share his knowledge with the lost. While truth is without arrogance, it must also be shared. Love demands that we do all that is possible to protect our family and neighbors from the coming wrath. The idea is embodied in Peter and John’s statement to the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:13:

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Paul concurs in 2 Corinthians 5:11: “knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (NKJV). The writer of Hebrews reminds that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Why? “For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). We also know that our Lord is coming again to take vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Surely, those in possession of truth must feel compelled to share that truth with those who face destruction. [bctt tweet=”those in possession of truth must feel compelled to share that truth.”]

Knowing and Possessing Biblical Truth Requires Response.

The truth is a measuring rod. It is the yardstick against which every thought and action are measured. It is not only a standard; it is the standard. Nothing else compares. Every time we approach truth, it measures us. So, we choose to conform to the truth or to resist it and ignore it. James argues that a man deceives himself when he looks at truth, finds shortcomings, and does nothing to correct the deficiency (James 1:22-25). Truth is demanding. Truth requires self-assessment. One cannot escape truth without response.

Young preachers are disappointed when there is no public response to a sermon. They reason that there was some weakness in their preparation or delivery. However, if the sermon is true to the word of God, there is always a response. As the final notes of the invitation song fade, every person has responded. Some will change their lives in a private way. Others respond publically. Still others will say “no” to the needed change. Nevertheless, in every case, people respond.

Every man is compelled to respond. He must respond appropriately. Since truth does not change, men must change to conform to its demands. A hearer must allow himself to be crafted into the person God desires. To resist the truth is to resist God. Jewish leaders were rebuked by Peter because they had resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). Paul warns that they who resist God will incur judgement (Romans 13:2).

Before closing, let us note that ignorance of truth is no excuse. Speaking in Athens, Paul said; “the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Truth is known and must be obeyed (Romans 2:8; Galatians 5:7).

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I Know Truth? (part 2)

Doctrine

Objective truth exists. Objective good and evil exist. But can a mortal man know that truth? Can he recognize real good and discern real evil? The answer is a certain yes. However, some adopt an agnostic view of truth and declare that men are so limited that they cannot know the truth. The consequence is an inability to identify error and, at the most extreme, an inability to evangelize.

The Bible is clear: You can know truth. [bctt tweet=”The Bible is clear: You can know truth.”]

Truth is Known

The classic text is John 8:32: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Here Jesus comforted believers by confirming that that they were his disciples and added the certainty of knowing the truth. Prophet Daniel desired to know the truth about the visions he saw. He received the truth of the fourth great beast he witnessed (Daniel 7:19 ff). In Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, our Lord declared that his apostles had come to know the truth (John 17:8). John wrote to believers who knew the truth (1 John 2:21). In 2 John 1, he addressed his letter to all those who “know the truth.”

If one declares that he cannot know the truth, or argues that we do not know enough to discern truth, he ignores clear Bible teaching. There are some things reserved unto God’s divine knowledge (Deuteronomy 29:29), but among those things revealed, we can know them with certainty. [bctt tweet=”There are some things reserved unto God’s divine knowledge but among those things revealed, we can know them with certainty.”]

Faith Depends on Knowing Truth

How miserable is the man whose agnosticism causes him to doubt! Abraham was not agnostic about God’s promises (Genesis 15:13), but fully expected the Lord to deliver (Hebrews 11:8-13). David did not doubt when God promised victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:19).

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God but if truth cannot be known, how can we be certain? We believe that Jesus will come again (John 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) but if truth is unknowable, we have no basis for our belief. The entire 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians was written to combat doubt. Paul asserts the truth of the resurrection and the assurance of our heavenly destiny. Hebrews declares that we have confidence to enter into the holy place through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19).  How can we have any confidence if we cannot know that God’s promises are true?

Why Question Truth?

If truth exists, and it does, and if truth can be known, and it can, why are some agnostic? It could be that some have never studied the subject and never considered the ramifications of agnosticism. While it is difficult to distinguish the motives of others, we may observe that an agnostic view of truth is comfortable and less confrontational. If one allows for a more malleable kind of truth, then he will not feel compelled to confront others about untruth in their lives and worship. He can simply declare that he cannot know if they are right or wrong. Then he is free to continue in a comfortable relationship.

Truth can be hard. We must never be harsh in our approach to sin, nor can we compromise that which we know. [bctt tweet=”Truth can be hard. We must never be harsh in our approach to sin, nor can we compromise that which we know.”] As the apostle wrote, we must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Truth

Doctrine

A co-worker once said that “truth is what the people believe.” From his perspective as an advertising executive, that was a good working definition. Infamous Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels once said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Both definitions hold the same fallacy: both depend on the mind of the individual to determine the truth. We declare that such subjectivity is, itself, false and without foundation. One can see the weakness of such reasoning.

Our challenge, however, is not to define falsehood or to highlight an untrue statement. Our task is to determine truth. Roman Governor Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth” (John 18:38)? We offer a feeble attempt an answering this difficult question.

The denotation of “truth” is varied. Having perused numerous sources for a reliable definition we suggest the following:

Truth is a genuine depiction of real facts; it is a statement of how things are.

[bctt tweet=”Truth is a genuine depiction of real facts; it is a statement of how things are.”]

We differentiate between two kinds of truth: temporal and eternal. An example of a temporal truth is the following statement: “It is raining.” That may be correct today but tomorrow, when the sky clears, there will be no rain. Hence, the statement is true at one time and false at another. An eternal truth is unchanging. It exists without regard to time or place. “God is love” is an example of an eternal truth. We could support our statement with reference to Scripture, which is also eternally true, but we are getting ahead of our study.

Mathematics uses eternal truths too. Adding two and two gives four; it always has and it always will. To deny a fundamental precept of addition is to wreck the entire basis of math. All branches of science depend upon the unchanging nature of myriad principles and foundations. A scientist cannot accurately analyze nor can he forecast if those principles are subject to change. A common example from everyday life is the ability to tell time. People depend on the fixed length of one second, one minute and one hour to enable them to carry on their affairs. Our point is simple: real truth exists.

The deeper question is whether or not there is an objective standard of truth. Since our interest concerns matters of faith, morality and spirituality, is there some standard against which all ideas, concepts and worldviews compare? The answer is an unequivocal yes. We would go so far to say that without an objective measure of truth, there is no truth at all.

[bctt tweet=”…without an objective measure of truth, there is no truth at all.”]

This objective standard is bound up in our understanding of morality. A behavior or thought may be moral or immoral when tested against the absolute standard of truth. We believe that the God of the Bible is that absolute standard. Further, he has revealed himself to us through his inspired word. The unchangeable Creator, existing eternally outside of the natural world, Is the only possible standard for good and evil. His word is true (John 17:17). His Spirit knows the deep thoughts of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) and has given unto us all truth (John 16:13;  2 Peter 1:19-21).

As we continue our study truth will become more precious each day. In the words of Scripture, “buy truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23).

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

 

Who are Jannes and Jambres?

2 Timothy, Doctrine, Exodus,

Jannes JambresJannes and Jambres appear only once, by name, in the Bible at 2 Timothy 3:8. While our knowledge is limited there some things that can be known and more importantly, some things that we should learn from them.

Jewish tradition taught that Jannes and Jambres were Pharaoh’s two magicians who stood against Moses in Exodus 7:11 ff. Moses was sent to demand the release of the Hebrews from Egyptian servitude. At the first meeting with Pharaoh Moses demonstrated his own bona fides by casting down his staff which became a snake. Two magicians countered with a trick that appeared equal to what Moses had done. But to the astonishment of all, Moses snake devoured the two belonging to the magicians. Tradition asserts that these two magicians were Jannes and Jambres.

While there is an extensive and often bizarre tradition about these two, there are some things that we can know for certain and most importantly, some things that we can learn from them.

Jannes and Jambres Are Examples of False Teachers

This portion of Scripture, at 2 Timothy 3:1-9, discusses the failing away that occurs in the last days. Paul has previously spoken of this heretical time in 1 Timothy 4:1. Paul talks of the same failing away in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12. In both cases false teaching will occur. While Paul looks for the coming of the “man of sin” in his Thessalonian letter, he is more general in the letter to Timothy. But false teaching is in the forefront.

Jannes and Jambres are caricatures of the people detailed in the second Timothy letter.

“For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. From these also turn away” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

As with all false teachers, these people love themselves more than God, appear righteous but deny the power and glory of the Lord.

Jannes and Jambres Failed Like All False Teachers

Jannes and Jambres gave the appearance of being godly. They opposed Moses and his message of truth. One ancient legion even calls them sons of Baal. They tried to demonstrate their other-worldly power through tricks but ultimately failed (Exodus 8:18-19).

False teachers today sweep millions, even billions, into the fold of deception and trickery. Yet, like these two, they will fail. Sadly, they will take untold souls into a Devil’s hell. Like Simon, their riches will perish with them apart from true repentance.

As Christians, we have the once for all revealed word of God (Jude 3) which sustains and supports all our needs (2 Corinthians 9:8). Through constant examination of the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) we can know the truth (John 8:32) and be prepared to discern truth from fable. As John wrote, let us test the spirits to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1).

 Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Truth

Church Bulletin,

Truth is everywhere. The lack of truth always results in the unraveling of whatever it is excluded from. When deception replaces truth between a husband and wife, the marriage will soon shatter. When truth is discounted in society, chaos will follow. When truth is removed from faith, false teaching and false hope result.

The essential nature of truth is well known in scientific circles. Accuracy and precision are the building blocks of truth. Research hinges upon truthful data which is then analyzed and used to produce great and wonderful advances for mankind. If data is falsified, extreme harm can follow.

To make helpful advances in science, the researcher must be able to depend upon the accuracy of the data he is given. A judge and jury in court must know that the words spoken and the evidence submitted are true. A wife must know that her husband is truthful when he says he was working late. Truth is everywhere. Truth is essential.

In matters of faith, truth is even more important. Because we do not walk by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) we must be able to depend upon the truth of spiritual matters. Apart from that truth we will stumble and fall. We cannot direct ourselves (Jeremiah 10:23). We must know and depend upon truth. In matters of faith there is one method by which we can examine and analyze any statement. The Bible alone is that truth.

“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

Psalm 119:160

“Sanctify them in your truth, your word is truth.”

John 17:17

Truth can be inconvenient. It can be troubling. It can anger. It can hurt. But truth also saves. It frees. It releases.

In Biblical matters, truth may conflict with long held thoughts or ideas. Things we long held as truth may be swept away under the light of the Scriptures. The psalmist said of God’s word that “it is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). When that light is turned on our own beliefs we may discover that some of those beliefs were only masquerading as truth.

It is ironic that truth depends upon truth for its existence. A man may discover truth. He may know it is true. But because he lacks honesty, he will not conform to the dictates of that truth. Consider Paul’s encouragement to Timothy: “Do your best to present yourselves to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It is clear that truth doesn’t change. But it is also true that it must be handled properly. Truth needs honest people so that they can be changed by the power of the truth.

We have before us the message of God to a lost world. Confirmed through stunning miracles and signs, we know the word is truth. Let us approach that word with honesty of heart and drink in its life changing truths.