Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 October 2006 — Page 15

Page 38 • The Muncie Times • October 19, 2006

RELIGION

You Have a Right to Know the Truth

By Eddie Jones

What is Truth?

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Truth Defined The word “truth” defined by Webster simply means: “Quality or state of being true, genuineness, and agreement with a standard that which is true.” Jesus stated, “I am the way, the Truth and the life” (John 14:6) John emphasized.” Thy word is truth” (John 17:17) The Bible God’s Word is man’s ultimate source of truth. The Divine Inspiration of Truth The Bible is no ordinary book that can be understood by mere human reasoning. God’s Word came to us by divine revelation and must be received in the same context that it was originally given. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16) Truth Has No Private Interpretation God’s Word is absolute! It contains no contradictions, has no double standards and shows no favoritism. What is true for one person is true for all. “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is on any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God

spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20, 21). The Purpose of Truth Truth deals with man’s relationship with God. It gives us the plan of salvation with instructions for Christian living. “Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls: (James 1:21). The Spirit of Truth When He, the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) is come. He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). But we must try the spirits to see if they are of God (1 John 4:1) Every spirit must work in agreement with the written Word. How to Understand Truth Phillip asked the Ethiopian eunuch, who was reading from the prophet Esaias, “Understands thou what thou readest?” He answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:30, 31) Proper guidance, in agreement with the Word of God, will bring understanding to those who really desire to know the truth (Romans 10:14-17) How to Know Truth from Error Paul cautioned, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). John Revealed. “We the Apostles are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is

not of God heareth not us. Heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6) The Absence of Truth Although a person may be sincere the lack of understanding or the absence of truth is dangerously misleading; because a half truth is a half lie! “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12) Truth Cannot Be Changed The Lord declared, “Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it (Deut 4:2) John warned, “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city” Rev 22:18,19) Truth Cannot Be Separated From God We cannot receive Jesus as our Savior without receiving the truth (God’s Word), for they are inseparable. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1) “And the Word (which was God) was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the

Father), full of grace and Truth (John 1:14) Truth Is Man’s Final Authority Jesus stated, “He that rejected me, and receives no my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48) John revealed the final judgment: “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books (66 books of the bible) were opened and the dead were judged out of those thins which were written in the books according to their works” (Revelation 20:12) Realizing the authority of God’s Word over us, we need to know the truth and apply it to our lives. The Key to Understanding Truth Truth can only be understood when we properly align all scriptures that deal with each subject Isaiah declared. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little” (Isa 28:10). Once truth is revealed, it is always truth! Truth never takes away from, never replaces and never destroys truth. Truth always builds upon, strengthens and agrees with truth. Paul instructed, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of

Truth” (2 Tim 2:15) Truth Established A wonderful life changing experience is waiting in God’s Word for every honest heart who is willing to receive all the truth! The following are principles of true Bible salvation” The Grace of God By Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8) Grace is the unmerited favor of God toward man; made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, grace is the basis by which salvation is provided. But, grace alone cannot save a person. It can produce nothing in our lives until we exercise faith” By grace are ye saved through Faith” We have access to God’s grace through our faith (Romans 5: 1,2) Faith is the condition of the heart through which salvation that grace has provided can be applied. Faith in God and His Word “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved and thy house” Acts 16:31) The truth is established that faith in God is essential to salvation. But faith alone cannot save an indicontinued on page 39