THE TRUTH -- GOD'S WORD

Our world desperately needs truth, in all areas of life. Without a standard which is certain, there can be no measuring of progress or criteria of judgment. As God's creatures living in His world, we look to God's Word as the final standard of truth in matters spiritual and moral.

Body

I. What is the truth?

   A. It came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

   B. God the Father's Word is truth (John 17:17).

   C. The Holy Spirit is truth (I John 5:6).

II. Where do we get this truth?

   A. The Spirit of truth guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:13).

   B. The Scriptures make us wise to salvation through faith in Christ (II Timothy 3:15-17).

   C. The church is the pillar and support of the truth (I Timothy 3:15).

   D. God saves through the proclamation ("preaching") about Christ (I Corinthians 1:21).

   E. Searching the Scriptures produces faith (Acts 17:11, 12).

   F. Through words spoken about Jesus, men learn the way of salvation (Acts 11:13, 14).

III. What can the truth do for us?

   A. It makes us clean (John 15:3).

   B. It makes us free, through faith in Christ (John 8:31, 32).

   C. We are begotten by it (James 1:18).

   D. It purifies our souls (I Peter 1:22, 23).

   E. It enables us to walk with God (Psalm 15:2).

   F. It enables Christians to stand (Ephesians 6:14).

   G. It can protect us from sin (Psalm 119:9-11).

   H. It helps us grow up spiritually (Ephesians 4:14,15).

   I. It can give hope (here, the Old Testament; Romans 15: 4).

   J. It draws us to Christ by God's power (John 6:44, 45).

IV. What is the result of rejecting known truth?

   A. Alienation from God's life (Ephesians 4:18, 19).

   B. Allowed to believe a lie and be damned (II Thessalonians 2:10-12).

   C. Destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

   D. Taken captive by Satan at his will (II Timothy 2:25, 26).

   E. Lost when judged by Jesus' words (John 12:48).

   F. Death of the soul (James 5:19, 20).

   G. Makes void zeal apart from faith in Christ (Romans 10:1-4).

V. What is the truth concerning sin?

   A. All have sinned in the past, and come short of the glory of God in the present (Romans 3:23).

   B. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

   C. Without shedding of blood there is not remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

   D. Jesus carried away our sins in His death (I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5, 6).

   E. We are baptized into Christ on the basis of faith (trust) in Him and His work of salvation (Romans 6:3, 4).

   F. We keep every spiritual blessing in Christ so long as we continue in faith (Colossians 1:21-23).

Conclusion

Because truth is from God, it is most important that we grow in it, obey it as we learn it, and continue to trust in God who gave it. May this lesson encourage us all to do just that.

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