Bible Matters 378: Truth

Of all that is in the bible, you must know the truth.  Once you understand the truth, then God’s message of serving him, serving man and the gift of everlasting life offered by believing in him will be fully understood.  You repent and turn from your sin and as a born-again man of God look forward to being with him in heaven.  You must understand the truth. 

God has told you four times in the Old Testament and then seven times in the New Testament that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, you shall know the truth.  Jewish law required multiple witnesses.  Understanding the truth from multiple witnesses is mandatory!

Numbers 35:30 – Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Both God and Jesus sent witnesses out two by two, to be a testimony.  Once you understand the truth, you shall be set free!

John 8:32 – And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Following the first book of the bible, Genesis, the books in the Old Testament starting with Exodus were written for the children of Israel.  God realized that the world needed to be saved and with the New Testament.  You’ll hear the truth in his word.

John 18:37 – Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

He opened up his message of salvation also to the Gentiles.

Ephesians 4:14-17 – That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind

1 Timothy 3:14-16 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

There are twenty-seven books in the New Testament.  Some books are similar, most are written to different groups or individuals.  These books were written well after the events had occurred.  You need to guide your way through the scripture in order to understand the truth.  Paul told Timothy how to understand scripture in order to understand the truth. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Let’s breakdown these verses.

Paul said all scripture is given by inspiration of God. 

Inspiration – a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify them to receive and communicate sacred revelation.

Profitable – Yielding advantageous returns or results

Doctrine – The truth of the gospels.

For Reproof – Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension

For Correction – Retrenchment of faults or errors; amendment; as the correction of a book.

For instruction – Precepts containing knowledge.  Direction; order.

Righteousness – Pure of heart; conformity of the heart and life to the divine law. 

Paul essentially told Timothy that he must know how to breakdown a gospel verse, into its elements and then compare against other verses to censure for a fault and for correction.  Paul is telling Timothy to use the testimony of other witnesses and verses to obtain the truth of the gospel and is profitable for instruction unto righteousness.  Thus, no one verse can be used to establish doctrine! 

You been on the receiving end of a story and have had to judged the truth.  You likely served on a jury and had to listen to multiple witnesses testify under oath.  Each of those witnesses had a story to tell.  Their stories were not identical.  You had to formulate a story in your mind as to the perceived truth of the event on trial.  Following the presentation of the arguments, the plaintiff’s attorney and the defendant’s attorney each present a closing argument as to their perceived truth of the event.  Of course, these two closing arguments are different.  Now, the jurors go off into a room and the majority decide the truth and present that decision to the judge.  Every juror likely saw something out of the witnesses, that they felt to be credible testimony.  Something that they or even you thought mattered, may not even be part of the final decision or finding of truth.

God’s word is no different.  There are eight witnesses giving testimony as to the events leading up to the offer of salvation to the Jews and Gentiles by God.  When studying his word, each witness to comes to a different conclusion of fact or truth.  Thus, the world has ended up with thousands of religious denominations all based on one book with each witness proclaiming to know the truth.  In this trial, God wrote the story, witnesses told the story and God will judge your adherence to the understanding of the truth, your righteousness and purity of heart. 

Let’s look at this story from 10,000 feet. 

1. God created heaven and earth and all things thereon.

2. God sent Jesus to reset his salvation message from the Jews (Old Testament) to the Jews and Gentiles (New Testament.) 

3. God sent Jesus, born of the flesh, to be a blood sacrifice for sin.

4. Jesus lived and taught God’s gospel to twelve witnesses. 

5. Jesus gave you two commandments, Love God and love your Neighbor.

6. He gave you an ordinance to understand sin that offends God and prevents you from serving in his kingdom. 

7. When you believe in the blood sacrifice for sin and to show your love, you are told to repent, turn from your sin and to be converted from a lover of self to a lover of God’s kingdom. 

8. Now with a pure heart and being led by the Holy Ghost, you are told to go live a righteous life unto good works, for the glory of God by showing your love of the brethren with fervent acts of charity.  The pure in heart shall see God.

9. You are told to endure to the end and then judgement. 

Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Sprinkled within these salvation principles are the thousands of ordinances that man has imposed on people of faith, based on what they perceived as truth in God’s word.  If those ordinances keep your walk in the light for the glory of God, then do them!  A church home with loving friendship is necessary to keep your walk pure in the Lord and providing opportunities to serve God and man, loving one another fervently.  There is no gain in arguing between the jurors as to the truth, down to the smallest detail.  You are here for one purpose and that is to obey the truth and give glory to God and be a testimony to man in all you do!

1 Peter 1:22 – Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Mark 13:13 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

When you love God, you are to be his witness unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:7-8 – And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.