OceanSide church of Christ

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WHAT IS TRUTH? (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In our first hour of worship, we allowed Pilate to set the stage for our lesson.  He asked a question of our Lord about truth.  He inquired:  “What is truth?” (John 18:38a).

 

B.      We gave five answers to that question:

1.      Truth is a person, Jesus Christ.

2.      Trust is the revelation from God to man.

3.      Truth is fact that will endure.

4.      Truth is a love letter from God to man.

5.      Truth is a teacher that educates, that is, leads individuals in spiritual things.

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to examine five more answers to Pilate’s question.

 

I.                   TRUTH IS A KEY THAT SETS ONE FREE

 

A.    The Bible teaches us that we are either servants of righteousness or slaves of sin (Rom. 6:16).

 

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 

B.      Those enslaved in sin need to be set free from Satan’s prison.

 

C.     They key that opens the door is truth.

1.      In John 8:32, Jesus makes this statement about truth.

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

2.      Remember, Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).  In John 8:36, Jesus issues a powerful statement about the freedom He offers.

 

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

3.      Paul also teaches us about the liberty that can be obtained by the law of the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2).

 

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

D.    NOTE:  There are not many truths that can set a person free. 

1.      Some believe multiple truths exist:

a.      Differing opinions of men

b.      Differing creeds of men

c.       Differing religions of the world

2.      There is only one truth that turns the key of freedom. 

a.      It is the word of the truth found in the gospel of Christ (Eph. 1:13).

b.      Paul referred to it as the “one faith” in Ephesians 4:5.

c.       In Romans 1:16, he declares that “the gospel” is the power of God unto salvation.

 

II.                TRUTH IS A COMPASS THAT POINTS THE WAY

 

A.    If man just evolved upon the scene, then he really has no purpose for being here.  His sole purpose would be to evolve into some form that is more complex than he is at this time, but we have no control over that individually.  The process of evolution handles that.

 

B.      Ask the evolutionist:  “What is our purpose?”

1.      There is none.  “There is no purpose to life, and we should not want there to be a purpose to life because if there was that would cheapen life” (atheist, Dan Barker in a debate with James White).

2.      To eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.

3.      To render assistance to our planet and our fellowman. (To which we ask:  “Why?”)

4.      To stretch our knowledge and abilities as far as we possibly can.  (To which we ask:  “Why?”)

 

C.     The truth found in God’s Word gives us purpose.  It governs and guides us in this life.

1.      Psalm 119:104-105

 

Through thy precepts I get understanding:  therefore I hate every false way.  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

a.      Truth exposes the false ways and keeps us from treading those paths.

b.      Truth lights the way, that is,  the good, right, and noble path so we can walk therein.

2.      Jeremiah 6:16

 

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.  But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

3.      II Peter 1:3

 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

a.      All things relating to life and godliness have been provided through the knowledge of him.

1)      How to treat my neighbor.

2)      How to raise my children.

3)      How to work on the job.

4)      How to be involved in the church.

5)      How to be a good citizen of my nation.

6)      How to control my emotions.

7)      How to fight sin.

8)      How to be ready for death.

9)      How to be saved in the last day.

10)  How to share the message of salvation with others.

b.      All we have to do is study and learn to access the truths that God has given in order to navigate through the darkness of this world.

 

 

 

III.             TRUTH IS A ROCK THAT ENDURES

 

A.    There are many things that men can do to the truth.

1.      They can ignore it.

2.      They can speak against it.

3.      They can deny it.

4.      They can disobey it.

5.      They can try to destroy it.

 

B.      The one thing, however, that can never be done is to remove it from the earth.  Truth will always endure (Matt. 24:35).

 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 

C.     Two quotes:

1.      “The word of god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible, a collection of honorable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish” (Albert Einstein, died:  1955)

2.      “The Bible.  That is what fools have written, what imbeciles commend, and what rogues teach and young children are made to learn by heart” (Voltaire, died:  1778).

3.      NOTE:  Both of these men have been dead for years.  The Bible continues to thrive in our society and throughout the world (I Pet. 1:24-25a).

 

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth.  But the word of the Lord endureth forever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

IV.             TRUTH IS THE ENEMY OF THE WORLD

 

A.    Let’s begin this point by noting again that Jesus is truth.  Now, let’s read John 1:10-11.

 

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

1.      The world created by the Christ rejected Him,

2.      His own people, the Jews, did not receive Him.

3.      He was their enemy and they put Him on the cross of Calvary.

 

B.      In like manner, mankind can hate the truth that Jesus came to reveal.

1.      Proverbs 1:29

 

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

 

2.      Isaiah 30:9

 

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord.

 

3.      II Thessalonians 2:10

 

And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 

C.     Truth is man’s enemy because:

1.      It holds men accountable to a standard.

2.      It involves submission to God’s will instead of one’s own will.

3.      It reminds men of their wickedness and evil.

4.      It demands that men change.

 

V.                TRUTH IS A JUDGE THAT SENTENCES

 

A.    Two verses:

1.      Psalm 96:13

 

Before the Lord:  for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth:  he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

 

2.      Romans 2:2

 

But we are sure that the judgement of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

 

B.      After one has been judged, there is only one of two sentences that he will hear.

1.      Well done, or, Thou wicked and slothful servant

2.      Enter in, or, Depart from me

3.      Inherit the kingdom, or, everlasting fire

4.      Glory, honor, immortality and peace, or, indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish

5.      Rest or torment

6.      Heaven or hell

7.      A city which hath foundations whose builder and make is God, or, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Again, the answer to the question:  “What is truth?” involves many different elements.

 

B.      When one comes to see what truth is, he should come to the conclusion that truth is certainly not something that one should play with.

 

C.     It should definitely be honored, heard, and heeded by all those who come in contact with it.

 

D.    The question for all of us is this:  “What will we do with the truth?”