M.Kasperson Sermon 6/11/16 “What is TRUTH”  

Good afternoon everyone:    The word "truth" has a personal relational perspective in our culture today and has a variety of understandings.

Oscar Wilde    “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

John F. Kennedy   “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.”

Fyodor Dostoyevsky  (19th Century Russian Author of Crime and Punishment)

 dos toe yefs ski

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” ,

In John 18 -  Jesus was before Pilate and said, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38     Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Clearly, Pilate perceived a different truth than what the Pharisees presented!

It’s that ”different truth” we will talk about today

SPS: Today we will take a look at the word TRUTH and discover that the definition of biblical truth is forgotten in our culture and is necessary for our salvation

Let’s start with our own common mindset defining the word “Truth”

It’s like lawyers in court arguing both sides of the case to find what is true and what is false – just that God does this better than us

So truth to us is what?

The New Bible Dictionary  2. Truth in the absolute sense of that which is real and complete as opposed to what is false and wanting

When we hear the word truth we think       “aaaw yes Proven True”!

I think everyone would agree that this is a common mindset and you can add to it the phrase “God’s word is True” and still be within the definition

But, does the bible have a bigger definition for the word truth???

The First dimension of a bigger truth:

Truth includes the morality of a person or God and the consistency and dependability in providing reliable character.

 

For example Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.[1]

The New Bible Dictionary:

The word Met or Muna - Hebrew for truth, occurs 126 times in the old testament it is used in two senses

1. the intellectual of facts which may be ascertained to be true or false
2. far more commonly,  the moral actions or truth as the attribute of a person.

For example :  

Joseph’s brothers detained in prison

From Genesis 42:16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you;

i.e. whether  they are dependable, consistent, of reliable character

This reliability is basically an attribute of God –

So God is the standard of truth which includes a dimension of elapsed time. You can use the time to test things revealing the truth – I have used it many times to uncover the hidden things in relationships.

Truth with an eternal expectation from David

Psalms 31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.[2]

God’s truth is boundless

Psalm 108:4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens,

         And Your truth reaches to the clouds.[3]

Harpers Bible Dictionary says: For the Hebrews, Truth was moral and relational, not intellectual

Meaning we should pair the morality of a person or God to the perception of truth over the passage of time associated with them. Separating the information from morals for intellectual use is not supported in the Old Testament and just proving truth or lie is very limited application and only a component of the word truth.

2)_The second dimension of a bigger truth:

TRUTH is you are the image of God - it’s your daily goal in everything you do

John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. [4]

James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.9

We are going to be like HIM through truth as it builds within us!

There are 4 Greek words for truth in the New Testament

Aletheia (truth non-concealment), alethes (Constant or Valid), alethinos (Sincere) and aletheuo (to speak the truth)

The Greek words also include the Old Testament sense of the morality of the source being valid true and consistent over time. God being the perfect source.

So armed with a better understanding of how the Bible uses the word Truth, let's look at how our culture looks at truth

Some quotes:

“Nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery.” 
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky    dos toe yefs ski

 “No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” 
― François de La Rochefoucauld

Today we all have a big challenge sorting through popular ideas and trends, here are just a few:

1. In Our Culture truth or validity are just not as important

Baby boomers trained by television images develop worldviews that value subjective religious paths rather than objective beliefs – searching for something to fit their views

Your Personal god or the quest for a designer god or boutique religion

 (from UCG  “is the bible true?”)

2. The Sincerity Myth – Simply by believing something it is true will make it real in your world. Here’s how it works

‘Among Younger people, if a classmate sincerely (i.e. truly) believes her unborn child is human, friends will call the child a ‘baby’ and congratulate her. But if she doesn’t, they call it a ‘fetus’ and encourage her to have an abortion.  

This is such an obvious fallacy. Can we really make something true just by believing it?

When it comes to concrete, familiar objects no one falls for the sincerity myth, no matter how sincere we are.

(from UCG Article “Your Truth, My Truth, or THE Truth” by David Treybig)

3.  “The world we live in teaches that truth is what we make it – that good and bad are relative and that there are no absolutes, only equally valid opinions. But the Bible teaches truth is God’s Word – that good and bad are defined by Him and that there are eternal and unchangeable absolutes, uninfluenced by opinions.” 

(From: the UCG Bible Study Lesson #2 the Belt of Truth)

We need to be aware of what is going on in our culture and avoid these 3 cultural views when practicing the truth.

Here are 3 truth application principles to use to keep us within the bible definition of truth

1. Consider the source – Since Truth has a moral, person and time-related requirement then you must check your source for truth
   1. Is the source consistent and reliable source for truth over time?
   2. Is the source objective and not influenced by the subjective?
   3. What morals or values does the source demonstrate?

 

2. Measure against the standard
   1. God’s word is the pure standard
   2. Measure against other reliable sources
   3. Make sure at least 2 or 3 reliable standards confirm it before you act on it.

 

3. When presenting truths remember your goal is to reflect and imitate God
   1. We are made in the image of God and need to act like it!

Some scriptures to reference I will read

1John 4:6-7 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.[5]

Jn 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”[6]

Jn 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”[7]

Psalms 138:2 Jerusalem will be called the city of truth

Truth is really more than just true or false you have a whole City emanating TRUTH! WHY so we can LIVE IT

(PEN) Are Your Living God’s Word the Truth?

When you hear the terms "Bible study" or "studying the Bible," what comes to your mind? Is it a picture of an energetic scholar, with spectacles and copious notes, pouring over commentaries, lexicons, and other biblical materials, searching out the pearls of truth in God's Word?

Perhaps "Bible study" conveys deeper understanding of God’s Word. But, the definition is incomplete. While detailed research can help grasp what it SAYS, it’s the LIVING of the Word that makes life complete.

Pentecost is a Special Event - for only those with the Word of God living in them.  Notice the Spec Event…

            (Exo 23:16) “the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of YOUR labors”(= symbolic of God’s Spir. crop)

            (1Co 15:20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those (Oh, there are more!) who have fallen asleep… 23  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming (7th Trumpet).  Who are “those to come”?

            at 7th Trumpet =  Rev 14:1-5 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand (= the “those”), having His Father's name written on their foreheads... (4)…these were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (= firstfruits of HIS labors – This Feast PIX first harvest of the Farmer’s precious fruit of the earth).  (5)  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.  PEN pix Ultimate Destiny a human could imagine but is incapable of doing so.  I.e.., Rev 20:6 “Oh how supremely blessed…1st Ress!”

            But wait! This Farmer has 2 Seasons, 2 harvests, 2 Crops. HWA “Import 2 realize Pentecost  = Sm Harvest!

Jas 5:7  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Jesus's parable – Sower and Seed - You are sown, early rains are watering you. How’s your barley stalk growing?

SPS

Rather than just understanding Word, a much deeper--more advanced--form of Bible “Living" is available 2 U…  Today, examine some pertinent directives from God to prepare us 4 what this Feast is all about. (Pentecost)

BODY

The Church of God = very good at presenting Truth. Long recognized 4 biblically accurate INFO.

I.e., “Plain Truth” / Church: “We have God’s Truth”/ “We know the Truth”/ We even know prophecy!

But, is Sp. knowledge enough? Let’s see: (1 Thess 5:21) "Prove* all things, hold fast that which is good."

 *("test by doing" I.e., try out; put to use, experience first-hand)

Festival of Harvest/Pentecost has long been assoc w/ Law & Holy Spirit. (i.e., Seed and Rain)

            Law = 10 Commandments (tradition says it was on Pent) – Our eyes R open to see true Laws of God.

            Holy Spirit = Helper to obey true Laws of God.

I.e., Jesus Himself – John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep

I.e., Commission 2 ministry: Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[a]

Combination of understanding commandments, plus help to keep them…

1 John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit (which) He has given us. 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world…

                        Who has gone out into world? (false teachers)  Why did they leave/separate?

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

Developing God's Holy Righteous Character = ultimate "Bible application." 

            Remember the Scripture… “Study to show yourself approved”? = KJV – Let’s read it in NKJV…

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. … 19 Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

So, Bible study is to move us to “those who are His”/ who “depart from iniquity.”

1 John 1:5-6 And now I plead with you, lady (Church/10 Virgins), not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6 This is love (agape - Mindset of God Fam), that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

How can we walk in God’s commandments? (Remember trek out of Egypt? Walking. I.e., Way, Path, Race”)

            Heb 6:1-8 = 6 doctrines – Plus application, promises, and a warning.

            Heb 10:15-18 = “after those days” (not, “in that day”)

MHC: “God once wrote his laws to his people, now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them, courage to profess them, and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and with comfort.”

V.19-25  That’s the process enabling U 2 know, to walk in God’s Way/commandments. 

But, do I DO, or just KNOW?  Need to assess that…

V.26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

The Word of God can be combined w/ Helper = God begins to live in you and through you--changing and transforming your life into one acting after His own heart.

Jesus said His Words are spirit/life. John 6:63

He/His Word = our Sp. food, to be eaten and converted into spiritual character. V. 48-51

Bible reveals God family, laws/mindset, Plan of Salv. thru faith, repent, bapt, HS, overcoming.

When we actively incorporate the Bible into our lives, we acquire the mindset of Living Word. Rock.

            But, if we simply KNOW/HEAR, we build our house on sand. 

Here is an example of just knowing verses doing that can be a metaphor for how Christians pursue the truth

Flying a military jet a Navy Blue Angles F18 or an Army Thunderbird F16 requires a lot of involvement, training, and skill as it is very complicated to pull off precision maneuvers in midair with jets flying at speeds over 500 miles an hour. It’s very complicated

So complicated that not last Thursday but Thursday the week before on June 2nd two of them crashed. A Navy Blue Angel in Tennessee at an airshow and a Thunderbird also in Colorado air show. One Pilot was killed

The reason people come to these airshows is to see someone use their skills and training to perform complicated “Death Defying Feats”

You can’t just jump into the cockpit of these planes and fly you have to study and practice the very complicated maneuvers to fly them. Sometimes it seems the pilots have a gift to be able to do such stunts. 

Can be MUCH SAME w/ God's Holy Word the Bible. 

            1 – The Truth of the WORD Has great appeal for its power to transform lives, and bring one salvation (literally death-defying).

            2 – It’s complicated/complex; a challenge to fully understand it.

I.e., Can read it, research it, analyze it and even memorize key verses.


But, unless - apply, implement, fully live the Word of God… what profit is it?

HWA…, "Unless knowledge is used and acted upon, it is of no practical value."

I.e., Jesus - Parable of House – Matthew 7:24-27 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.”

How To Live The Word of God

God has revealed His powerful, invisible, spiritual laws He has set in motion to govern our lives: love, interpersonal relations, health, finance, success, etc.

Living the Word, both physically and spiritually (using the gift), is PROOF that God exists, Word is Truth, KOG is fact!

 

1. Let God speak to you, personally, thru Bible.  (Remember Sinai!)  JC: “You have been given Ears to hear”
2. Give respect and honor to what He’s saying. (Take your sp. Shoes off (Moses and Burning Bush). It’s the HOLY Bible!)
3. Think of all the ways you can apply God's instructions to every facet of your personal, family, social life.

Be a "Doer" – (James 1:22) “be DOERS of the Word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

4. Hurry up! (Psalm 119:60) I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments.
5. Follow Christ’s TRUTHS, given thru His appointed teachers. Ephesians 4:11-15; 2 Timothy 2:2

Teaching Truth = Responsibility of ministry: 2 Timothy 2:15 …rightly dividing the word of truth.

Conclusion

This Feast of Pentecost isn’t simply about the giving of the Commandments on Sinai (Ab. kept them long before).

This Feast isn’t simply about the Holy Spirit. Rather, its name =“Feast of Harvest of the firstfruits…”

It’s about 1st Resurrection; Firstfruits of Fam of God, who are growing fruit by LIVING/DOING His Word and using the Spirit and spirit of truth God’s Gift to us.

Listen to God, respect and obey His directives. Apply them every minute and produce fruit for Harvest.

Revelation 22:7 Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words…of this book… 12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work… 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (of New Jerusalem).

 

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Dt 32:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ps 31:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ps 108:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 15:26). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Jn 4:6–7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[6] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 3:21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 4:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.