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September 15, 2022 8:00 am
You must understand that that means that you are not going to be able to be friends with this world you're not going to be able to be popular with people who hate the very principles upon which her salvation is built. That's not possible. Hello and welcome back to founding pastor of truth Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio hi Bill right today as Don continues teaching God's people were going to bring us the second half of the message titled in defense of truth which will compare and contrast the so-called truth espoused by modern culture with the absolute truth found in God's holy word the life, let's join our teacher now for today's lesson from the fruitful truth is that which was real before you were born, which is true now and will be true after you are born the meaning of Scripture know it doesn't matter what Scripture means to you what we want to know is what Scripture met before you were born and what it will mean after you die. That's a way of saying the truth is transcendent and goes beyond what any individual thinks we have such high opinions of ourselves were so convinced that what we think is everything in the world concept of truth humbles that pride of man. Says truth is bigger than you are and you need to align with truth, not truth aligning with you.
Truth could say another another application of it. Truth is personal integrity that keeps one's commitments. He's a truthful man is a way that could be used to say he's a man who keeps his word. Psalm 15 addresses.
That is one of the aspects of of true godly character.
Truth is personal integrity that keeps one's commitments. Truth is character that acts with no hidden agenda character that asked with no hidden agenda.
You know people like that. You are always wondering what's really behind the words that they say right. What are they really getting at, what did they mean by that thing that they said to me well truth is character that's without an agenda. The meaning of Scripture know it doesn't matter what Scripture means to you what we want to know is what Scripture met before you were born and what it will mean after you die. Truth is bigger than you are and you need to align with truth, not truth aligning with you. Truth is personal integrity that keeps one's commitments. He's a truthful man is a way that could be used to say he's a man who keeps his word, truth is character that acts with no hidden agenda. John eight.
Truth is spiritual reality which sets 13 truth is that which is genuine or accurate truth is reality. In contrast to what the situation may seem to be on the surface it goes and it has influence on human character, and it is that which is real. The way things really are now with those simple principle stated. Let's consider them in light of the very nature of God himself shall we. Because truth leads us to God and Christ. So turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus 34 with me. In Exodus 34 verse six God is revealing the nature of his glory to Moses and he does so by by declaring his attributes to Moses as he passes by and in verse six you read this. Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and proclaimed the Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.
Yet he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, as God is revealing his glory to Moses. One aspect of his glory.
One of the radiating beings as the light hits the prism and shatters into the broad spectrum of color, one at one of the glories, one of the perfections of God is his truth that he is truth himself, and you see that in that a four runner of Jesus Christ being full of grace and truth. So, God himself is defined in terms of truth is you go on and will we won't turn to these passages, but Psalm 31 verse five says that God is the God of truth. Christ himself is full of grace and truth. John 114 and 17.
What about the Holy Spirit turned to the gospel of John chapter 14 John 14 truth, truth, truth, truth, truth John 14 verse 16 will start their is Jesus speaks about the coming Holy Spirit. He says I will ask the father and he will give you another helper, that he may be with you forever. That is the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him or know him, but you know him because he abides with you and will be in you. The Holy Spirit is known as is identified by Christ himself as the spirit of truth. You see that same language in chapter 15 verse 26 if you would turn their John 15 verse 26 when the helper comes, whom I send to you from the father. That is the spirit of truth who proceeds from the father. He will testify about me. John 16 verse 13 but when he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
For he will not speak on his own initiative and you can look at first John 46 it talks about the spirit of truth in the spirit of error. In other places like that. Beloved. Here's the point. Here's the point you look at the Godhead, father, son and Holy Spirit, they are identified in terms of truth. Sometimes I get frustrated with the limitations of human language and the inability of my own time to express the things that need to be said. This is one of those moments. This is one of those moments, the very nature of the eternal God is is described and defined in terms of truth.
Truth revealed in Christ. Christ the actual revelation of God. Do you see what were saying. Truth is fundamental to the eternal essence of the most holy thrice holy triune God.
God does not exist apart from truth. Truth is, is fundamental to his essence. So what you need to see and what we need to start grasping more fully is the spirit of the age in which we live is an attempt to assassinate God himself. If you deny truth you are denied. Father, son and Holy Spirit. If you have denied truth you've taken away the hymns we sang earlier, there is no need to talk about holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. If he's not the God of truth if it's just a matter of subjective experience and what one person thinks over against another. All of this collapses, and so if we are to defend the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are to proclaim the true God out of Scripture.
We must uphold the principle of truth had not been not yield an inch of ground on that territory. No matter who hates us, no matter who abandons us no matter who leaves none of that matters. Compared to the transcendent importance of this principle of truth itself. You have no salvation without truth. You have no God without truth. You have no Bible without truth.
Scripture does not permit it. And so the time comes for Christians for the church of Jesus Christ to decide which side of this line, it's going to stand on his truth exist or not is truth about your feelings or something greater than you. That's how central it is. That is how fundamental the significance of truth is that leads us to our third and final point, we need to deal with the standard for truth. The standard for truth. If truth exists, and it does then we must know where to go to find it.
Where is the plumb line by which all other ideas and feelings are measured to know what is true or not. If truth is so fundamental, it is important to know where and how to find it. Why are we truth Community Church do start to see the significance of the name on the sign out front. There's a reason that we call ourselves by this name is not that every church should be truth Community Church. I would make it very confusing when you did a Google search right Windsor service truth that the problem I don't care what other churches call themselves, I'm just wanting you to understand why we identified ourselves in this way, it's because we are saying this is what we stand for. We stand for the very principle of truth in all of the implications that you find from that from Scripture and we deny that that which contradicts Scripture has any possibility of being true. No wonder people take offense at the name of our church if they disagree with Scripture were saying their lost end in lies in telling lies.
People like to hear that I'm okay with it I'm okay with that consequences. What I mean. So our church truth. Community Church affirms and practices that's really an important combination there is worthy of a sermon all its own truth. Community Church affirms and seeks to practice that the 66 books of the Bible are the only book of absolute truth. There is only one book in the world that tells you the truth, without fail, and without error and it is the holy Bible. The 66 books of the English Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek and Aramaic originals. Not that the English is the only translation but you get what I'm saying for us who are English speakers. We find it in the English Bible we have in front of us so we see truth in Scripture all expand on this in a moment. We also say that one of the aspects of truth is that there is only one way to God that in Jesus Christ alone can salvation be found that every religion that that changes and redefines Christ that denies his deity. Every religion that denies his humanity. Every religion that says there are other ways to God apart from Christ.
They are false damnable demonic satanic false religions that must be rejected and denounced for the sake of truth Scripture. In Christ, truth, and truth. But, beloved what you have to understand is, is that as you're making those fundamental affirmations is essential to understand that the responsibility to affirm truth and to defend truth means that you must simultaneously make denials as well.
If you go to the to the vests of the confessions in and catechisms in the history of the church, you'll find that they affirm and deny they affirm and deny. It's not enough to simply say we have a 10 point doctrinal statement that we affirm.
What I want to know is what you deny. If you're going to be so general about your affirmations. Tell me what you deny. Tell me what you think about Catholicism. Tell me what you think about the Pope tell me what you think about Mormonism. Then we'll see whether were on any agreement about truth or not because if your view of your little 10 point doctrinal statement accommodates Catholicism and Mormonism and you can call heretics and and and legalist like that Christians were not on the same page were talking a different language.
So we have to make denials so we deny as we make these affirmations we denied that any other religious book is true, we deny is satanic inspirations. The book of Mormon. We deny is satanic inspirations. The Koran we deny any book that claims that it is on an equal footing with the 66 books of the Bible we deny that there is no other truth Scripture stands alone solo Scripture.
Scripture is alone in its truth claims and anything Catholic tradition, the authority of the pope that tries to put itself on a plane like that.
They have just disqualified themselves as a religion, not every Bible teacher will agree with what I'm about to say but I'm going to say it. I said a week ago.
I do things on my heart and I intend to say them and I'm going to say this is the same thing dealing with the charismatic movement the tries to put their their personal modern-day prophecies on the same level of Scripture what you're saying is is if you have a another seat of authority and when charismatics come and say, God told me, and therefore you must do this or that God told me, and here's what is true we cannot talk that way and hold to solo Scripture, we cannot talk that way without without deceiving people and so we deny that any other religious book is true, we deny that any other religion can lead to heaven. That's what we say about truth. That's what Scripture says about truth solo Scripture is Scripture alone, not some modern-day prophet, not God spoke to me not, I prayed about it and I feel good about it and therefore this is true not of that none of that all of those things are just compromising dilute and distort the principle of truth postmodern thinking has no interest in the concept of truth, let alone the elements of truth, the spirit of our age is to deny that there is such a thing as absolute objective or universal truth. People seek truth based on their feelings, their visions, their inner voices, or their internal peace or what's quickly becoming one of my favorites and more conservative Christian circles.
Hey, I've prayed about this and therefore it must be true.
I've prayed about this and therefore my conduct is beyond accountability or correction. That's not true at that that is not true and that is a reflection of postmodern thinking, not biblical thought people seeking truth on feelings, visions, internal peace, if it feels right.
It must be true. Beloved, I know were used to hearing that and it's it's easy for many of us to slip into that kind of thinking ourselves, but we need to recognize it for what it is when we find ourselves thinking that way or being sympathetic to that thought. We need to recognize that is a temptation away from truth. The temptation to sin when we see that kind of thinking in our minds. We need to denounce it and say no that is not true. I reject that that is not what I affirm. I'm not going to allow my mind to think that way and there is no excuse especially for anyone is familiar with the Bible. There's no excuse for anyone who owns a Bible to fall prey to the world system in which we live.
There's no excuse. Proverbs chapter 14 verse 12 says there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16 verse two says all the ways of a man are clean in his own site, but the Lord weighs the motives. Do you see beloved that what you think is not the final arbiter of what's true the way that you feel what your opinions are, that's not the final standard and that's the whole point of what were talking about. What is the standard for truth. That's the third point the standard for truth is not what a man feels inside. What a woman feels inside. But we say more than just the head. We not only deny the truth is found within.
We deny even the possibility of finding truth within our world system and many professing Christians are so enamored with their inner being so consistent so convinced that they can find truth in their own heart, that they don't even recognize what we need to say to them is that your mind and your feelings are utterly defiled and deceiving. Far from being a source of truth.
They are the path to deception for you, don't go there.
There is no truth. With the in your heart, especially your unregenerate, unsaved, unredeemed and renewed heart, your mind and your feelings do not and cannot guide you into truth, they lie to you. That's what Scripture says, Psalm 36 verse one transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart, there is no fear of God before his eyes, transgression, sin and iniquity. In other words that's what's in your heart. Jeremiah 17 nine probably the clearest and most famous verse of these things on this point, the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it. What other conclusion could we draw from Jesus's words in Matthew 15, out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication staffs, false witness slanders.
These are the things which defile the man. What other conclusion could we draw as Paul talks about the present wrath of God in Romans chapter 1 verse 28 when he says God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper what on earth makes any one that is half way minimally acquainted with Scripture think they can find truth in their heart so we deny not only that the heart is a source of truth, and that your opinions are competing truth. Source we deny even the possibility of it is one of the reasons that men need to be saved, that you need to be delivered.
You need to be delivered because you have within you. A mind that does not understand truth does not love truth that rejects truth and tells you lies apart from Scripture. Everything depends on the things that were talking about here today beloved principle of truth, glory of God the glory of Christ, exclusive salvation in the state and condition and safety of your own soul.
Everything depends on this. Proverbs 28 verse 26 says he who trusts in his own heart is a fool heart of man is corrupt, evil and full of falsehood and so beloved. There are consequences to that. That means that the feelings and opinion of men are irrelevant to assessing truth claims. What someone says that God spoke to them in their heart know Jesus, you know, get so sick of these kinds of things. The rage a few years ago. I don't know if it still is that there were supposedly a lot of lot of Muslims there were seeing Jesus stand at the foot of their bed and pose with Muslims are getting called and converted to Christ because I see a vision of Jesus at the foot of the bed and know they supposedly turn to Christ out of that this is this is just demonic deception is all that is because where displays come from what the Scripture say where does faith come from, is it through visions, not according to Colossians 2 don't believe a man who takes his stand on visions, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by what the word of Christ external to the man external to his inner perceptions. Scripture asserts its own truthfulness and no higher authority exists in anything that contradicts the higher authority is false by definition, Psalm 119, 142 your righteousnesses in everlasting righteousness, and your law truth verse 151 you are near old Lord in all your commandments are truth verse 160 the Psalm of your word is truth and every one of your righteous ordinances is everlasting. John 1717.
Your word is truth. Your word is truth. Your word your word. Your word and in this way God is recognized as a loan.
The authority is he's expressed it in his word.
So the word is the standard for truth. In like manner.
Truth is found only in Jesus Christ. Listen to these familiar passages. We said John 14 six I am the way and the truth and the life. There is salvation in no one else acts 412 for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved first Timothy 25. There is one God and one mediator also between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, not Mary, not Mohammed, not any other false teacher has nothing to do with Joseph Smith. First John 511 to 12. The testimony is this that God has given us eternal life in this life is in his son. He who has the son has the life. He who does not have the son of God does not have the life affirmation and denial. You have the sun you have the life you don't have the son you don't have the life this is clear cut and so beloved the standard for truth is the Bible alone, friends, what do you believe about the truth.
What do you say about Jesus Christ as your mind follow truth as it is found in Scripture, we follow the spirit of the age you follow truth and let it contradict your feelings and opinions answer the question.
Well beloved.
There is so much at stake for you personally.
As you respond that's nongreen with a loving yet firm warning about the dangers of embracing the spirit of the age that has ensnared our culture friend if you'd like to find out more about Don Greene and his ministry or you'd like to give a financial gift in support of this broadcast ministry. Just go to the truth. Pulpit.com when you get there you'll find information about Don as well as an opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation. It's your financial support. After all, that allows us to remain on the air so that these teachings can continue to go out to a lost and dying world once again visit us at the truth. Pulpit.com but right now, here again is done with the closing word as we close today's broadcast. I just want to thank the faithful staff and generous friends who make this broadcast possible I may be the voice of the truth pulpit but the teaching would not reach you without the partnership of many others behind the scenes so I say thank you to them and thank you to you who listen is a privilege for me to serve Christ by serving you in the teaching of God's word back so much friends on Bill right inviting you to join us next is Don Greene continues teaching God's people.
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