"Thy Word Is Truth"
INTRODUCTION
(1) The only reason for accepting any religious doctrine. I want to begin this study by asking a very important question: “What is the only real good reason for accepting and following any particular religious doctrine?” The true answer is: the only really good reason for advocating that a particular religious doctrine be accepted is that that doctrine is true! The Bible is God’s word; it is true! (John 17:17). God does not lie (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2).
God’s truth is not changed by what any man thinks of it. It is the definite body of doctrine which is the Bible. And—it can be learned by ordinary men and women.
(2) The Lord Jesus Himself said, “. . . and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Thus, He made clear that His truth is a definite body of doctrine, that men can learn it, and that by it men can be made free from their sins and thus—becoming children of God. So, the really important question about a given religious doctrine is, “Is it true?”
But, we are living in a time when many men hold that this question is really not very important. As a matter of fact, however, no more important question could ever be considered by any human being. If the question as to whether Christianity is true is not important, then one could be a Buddhist, an agnostic or even an atheist and still be pleasing to God. But such is not the case; to be saved one must believe and obey the truth.
What does it mean to say that a sentence or a statement is “true”? A sentence is true if when it says something is the case, it really is the case. A sentence is false if when it says something is the case, it really is not the case.
(3) Jesus made clear that God’s word is truth. Jesus said, in praying to God, the Father, “. . . thy word is truth” (John 17:17). What that word says has been, is, or will be is just what has been, is, or will be.
(4) Now for a little while I would like for us to consider some very crucial matters about truth!
I. FIRST, I SHOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TНАТ TRUTH CANNOT BE DILUTED WITH THE ADDITION OF MERE HUMAN DOCTRINE AND STILL BЕ АССEPTABLE TO GOD
In Revelation 22:18, we find the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book . . .” God’s word is inspired, complete, all sufficient, and authoritative” (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 John 9-11). The word of God needs no help from any mere human being to make it what it ought to be. God’s word, the Bible, is already what it ought to be! And I want to plead with each of us to submit his life to Christ by submitting to His word, and thus to lay hold on the exceeding great and precious promises, which are set forth in that word.
II. A SECOND CRUCIAL THING ABOUT TRUTH IS THAT MEN CANNOT TAKE AWAY FROM IT — DIMINISH FROM IT — AND THE RESULT STILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD
Jesus said, “. . . and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:19).
At times, men are prone to be selective in their approach to studying the Bible. They are unwilling to study all of the Bible, unwilling to face up to all that it teaches. Rather, they select only certain passages which instruct men to do certain things which they are willing to do, but they simply refuse to read or to listen to passages which instruct them to do things which they are not willing to do. But the passage I have just read makes it clear that such an attitude and such actions are not pleasing to God. Through Moses, God said to Israel, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 4:2). Again, God said, “What things whatsoever I command you, that shall ye observe to do. Thou shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32; see also Revelation 22:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:6). It is clear that the word of God is perfect—it does not need anything that any of us can do to it! It does not need anything added to it, it does not need anything taken from it, it does not need anything that it already has to be changed! As that truth now stands, it is able “to furnish man completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). The Bible is all sufficient. May each of us learn to love and to trust God’s sacred word.
III. THE THIRD IMPORTANT THING ABOUT TRUTH IS THAT ONE CANNOT PERVERT THE TRUTH AND STILL BE PLEASING TO GOD
In writing to the churches of Galatia, the apostle Paul expressed his amazement that the brethren there were forsaking the true gospel for another, that is, for a perverted gospel. He said that there were some among the Christians of Galatia who would pervert the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7). He then went on to point out if either men or angels should “preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” (Galatians 1:8). To pervert means to change one thing into another. When one perverts the gospel of Christ he is making something else out of it. He is twisting it into something else. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). When one misinterprets that gospel—that is, when he holds that it means something which it does not really mean—then the result is that he is holding to another gospel, that is to a gospel of a different kind—one that will not save men from sin, but one which, as a matter of fact, will result in their damnation. Such a gospel, then, is not the power of God unto salvation, but the power of the devil unto damnation (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). But there are many in the world today who urge us to accept a view that a perverted gospel is just as effective in the saving of the soul from sin as is the one true gospel of Christ. But we must not believe such a contention for even a moment. The Lord Jesus Christ is not going to judge us by our interpretation of the gospel, but by the gospel itself! He is not going to judge us by merely what we think the gospel means, but by what the gospel actually does mean (John 12:48; Acts 17:30, 31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). The gospel teaches just what it teaches without regard to what any man thinks about it. Let each one of us remember that we will be judged by what the Bible really does teach, not by our interpretation of it. Remember it was Jesus Himself, who said, “He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my saying hath one that judgeth him, the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
IV. NOW, A FOURTH THING TO WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION IN REGARD TO TRUTH IS THAT IT (THE TRUTH) IS THЕ EXCLUSIVE MEANS TO SALVATION FROM SIN
That is, the truth is the one and only way by which we can be saved from sin. In a positive way, the Bible makes clear that those who both believe and obey the truth will be saved. Jesus taught that a person who both hears and obeys His word is like a wise man who builds the house of his life upon a solid foundation of rock (Matthew 7:24-27). According to the apostle Peter, the souls of men are purified in their obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22-23). Let us all remember that it was Jesus, Himself, who said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make ye free” (John 8:32).
In a negative way, we note that the Bible makes clear that if one does not believe the gospel he will be damned. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Also, according to the apostle Paul, those who do not obey the gospel will suffer eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). This passage is so plain and so simple that none of us can have the slightest justification in not understanding the truth set out therein. Bear in mind, that Paul does not condition eternal damnation upon failure to believe and obey some mere human creed or tradition. Rather, he conditions eternal damnation upon failure to believe and obey the gospel of Christ! Further, it should be noted that he does not say that it is merely probable that damnation will occur if one does not believe and obey the gospel; he plainly teaches that all who do not obey the gospel of Christ will be punished eternally. Let no one, no matter how pious he may seem to be, deceive you into believing otherwise. Therefore, I urge you, to show your faith in and your love for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by believing and obeying His precious word, the Bible. There is no other way you can show faith in and love for Him.
V. THERE IS A FIFTH GREAT POINT ABOUT GOD’S TRUTH: THAT IS, THAT NO ONE CAN PREACH ANYTHING OTHER THAN “THE” GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND STILL BE PLEASING TO GOD
The Lord Jesus Christ did not commission His disciples to preach merely some religious message! He specified the one message which he wanted preached—that is, the gospel! (Mark 16:15-16). The apostle Paul made it clear that any man who preaches any other message will rest under the curse of God (Galatians 1:6-9). But, it seems that it is becoming fashionable to hear it proclaimed that doctrine is not really important. There are, it seems, thousands of teachers who would have us to accept the view that the only truly important thing is to be religious and to have a pious attitude. They tell us that as long as we are religious, sincere, and zealous in that religious activity, that all will be well! But, this is simply not the case! To make this point clear, I call your attention to some very important words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself,
Enter ye in by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth unto destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby, for narrow is the gate, and straightened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, therefore, by their fruits, ye shall know them. Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy by thy name and by thy name cast out demons? And by thy name do many mighty works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:13-23)
So, Jesus made clear that one can be religious, he can be sincerely religious, he can be devoutly and fervently involved in religious activities and still not be one who is saved from his sins! And so, while it is true that in order to be pleasing to God one must be pious, it is equally true that one must also both believe and obey the truth!
VI. THERE IS A SIXTH THING ABOUT TRUTH TO WHICH I WISH TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION: IT IS A FALSE VIEW OF TRUTH TO HOLD THAT IT CAN BE RIGHTLY REGARDED AS TRUE BY ONE PERSON, AND FALSE BY ANOTHER
Every precisely stated proposition is either true or false. If one man says that the statement, “Jesus Christ died for our sins” is true, but a second man says that that same statement is false, then it is certainly absurd for a third man to say, “The statements of both the first man and the second man are equally true.” This is simply not the case; the statements are contrary. Truth is objective, which means it is not subject to the mental states of those who seek to consider truth. If the statement, “Jesus Christ died for our sins” is true, as indeed it is (1 Corinthians 15:1-5), then that statement is true for everyone, no matter what his attitude toward it might be. When the apostle Peter declared on the day of Pentecost that God had raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Acts 2:24), this statement was true and remains true in spite of the fact that some people rejected it, as some did later in the city of Athens. Centuries before any man now living was born, the Bible taught just exactly what it now teaches. The fact that you and I have been born, and that we have grown to adulthood with certain attitudes toward the Bible and have drawn conclusions as to what it teaches, does not change the Bible. Truth teaches just what it teaches, without regard to what any of us think about it. The Bible teaches: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised again from the dead the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It does not matter how many people reject this truth, it does not matter how many people say it is false that Jesus Christ arose from the dead, such does not change the truth which is taught in the Bible.
Further, just as surely as the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and was resurrected from the dead, just that surely it also teaches, from the pen of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”
There are some who tell us that there are many Gods and that as another, or perhaps no God at all. But the Bible says there is one God. There are those who tell us there are many Lords—many saviors—and that one savior is as good as another. And some men tell us there is no savior at all. But the Bible says there is one Lord! One Lord Jesus Christ, our one and only Savior. And the same Bible teaches that there is one baptism, immersion in water, unto the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 10:47,48) and that there is one faith, one gospel message, and one body or one church (Ephesians 1:22, 23). While many teachers tell us that there are many faiths (and one is as good as another), many churches (and one is as good as another) the Bible teaches there is one faith, one baptism and one body (that is, one church). Every person who truly believes and obeys THE GOSPEL is added by the Lord to the church for which He died (Acts 2:47; 20:28). Jesus Christ adds no one to any other church.
VII. IN THE SEVENTH PLACE, I WANT TO DISCUSS IN SOME DETAIL THE FACT THAT TRUTH CAN BE LEARNED
You can learn from the Bible what is necessary to salvation from sin, and you can learn what is necessary to living the Christian life, so that you will receive the crown of life that is, go to heaven when this life is over (Mark 16:16; Revelation 2:10).
Quite often these days, I hear the view set forth even from some religious people that no one can really be certain that he knows the truth. Those who advocate this view urge us to acknowledge that we can only seek the truth—that we cannot ever come to know it. In short, they are telling us that we can only look for the truth, but that we cannot ever really find it. Or, they say, if we should somehow or other find it, you could not ever know that you had found it!
But I want to plead with you to reject that view and to accept the answer to this question which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave. He said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). You see, Jesus made clear these points: first, it is possible for men to know the truth. Second, it is not only possible for men to know the truth; at least some actually would come to know it. And, third, truth is not merely a goal to be sought, it is an instrument by which salvation from sin by the blood of Christ can be obtained (1 Peter 1:22-25; Romans 5:8-9).
But, it seems that many people are not satisfied with the plain statements of Jesus—especially is this the case with many professors in seminaries and universities and with many ministers in the pulpits. When they hear someone set forth the view that ordinary men and women, boys and girls can learn what the Bible teaches as to what lost people must do in order to become Christians, they object by asking such questions as, “Are you claiming to know everything? Are you claiming to be infallible? Since people differ as to what the Bible teaches, how can anyone be certain that what he believes is the truth?”
Let us consider these questions raised by such skeptics. Those who ask such questions are actually implying that if no one knows everything, then no one knows anything at all. But, let us note that it does not follow that just because one does not know everything, he does not know anything at all! Of course, there are many things which I do not know—but there are at least a few things which I do know. For example, I know that I live in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. I even know the name of the street and the number of the house where I live. I know the name of the street and the number of the building in which I work. Each morning, I know how to make my way from the house in which I live to the building in which I work. And, each evening I know how to make my way back home again. In short, I know some things! But the fact that I know the few things which I have mentioned does not mean that I know everything, or that I claim to know everything. In the same way, I know that the Bible is the word of God, and that it teaches certain things. For example, I know that the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30-31; Matthew 16:16). I know that the Bible teaches that Jesus died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). I know that the Bible teaches that the lost person must both believe the gospel and be baptized, that is, be immersed in water unto the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
There are many other things which I know the Bible teaches but, of course, I do not know everything the Bible teaches—it is a well of information the depth of which no man will ever fully plumb. But, we can know what to do to be saved and how to live so as to stay saved. Remember Jesus Himself said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
There are some other passages which shed light on the question as to how men can learn the truth. Among these is Hebrews 10:26 which says, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sin . . .” Note the statement, “after we have received the knowledge of the truth.” What better evidence could we have for the fact that the Bible teaches that men can know the truth?
Again, I ask you to read 1 Timothy 4:3, which says, “. . . forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.” Note the statement, “them that believe and know the truth.” The Bible clearly—without doubt—teaches that men can know the truth. Truth is absolute and attainable.
As a matter of fact, the man who claims that no one can know anything, contradicts himself in so doing. This is the case because in making this claim, he himself is claiming to know at least one thing—namely, that no one knows anything! You see, if he knows that no one knows at anything, then he is one person who knows at least one thing. But that is the very thing which he has just claimed cannot possibly be. Thus, he contradicts himself. Such are the ways of mere human wisdom as over against the wisdom of God as set forth in the Bible (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). The Bible does not make the foolish, self-contradictory mistake of claiming that no one can know anything. The Bible recognizes that men can learn God’s truth!
I also ask you to stop and think for a moment about another foolish aspect of the claim that no one can come to knowledge of Bible teaching. If it actually is the case that no one can learn the truth, then the Bible is not even a meaningful revelation from God to man. If indeed it is the case that none of us can ever really be sure as to what the Bible teaches about what to do to be saved and how to live the Christian life, then it would not really matter whether the Bible is God’s word or merely a human document, one which uninspired men had written. But we can all be thankful that such is not the case. The Bible IS the word of God, and it can be learned. We can come to knowledge as to what it teaches about what we must do in order to be saved. Thus, we are to study the truth (2 Timothy 2:15); we are to learn the truth (2 Timothy. 3:7); we are to believe the truth (1 Timothy 4:3; Mark 16:16); we are to obey the truth (Hebrews 5:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9); and, we are to preach the truth (Mark 16:15; Galatians 1:6-9).
We are to love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). If it were impossible for men to learn the truth, then the Lord would not have given us the responsibility to preach the truth! But that responsibility. Hear the words of Jesus, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Note that Jesus did not say, “Go ye into all the world and preach just some religious message.” Rather, He designated the particular message which He wanted preached: the gospel! Further, Paul, one of Christ’s apostles, said, “but though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” (Galatians 1:6-8). The fact that Christ requires of us that we preach the definite body of doctrine which is the gospel of Christ, and the fact that we can do so only by first studying and learning that gospel, makes clear that it is possible for men to come to a knowledge of the truth! Further, the fact that men can be saved from sin only by believing and obeying the truth makes clear that it simply must be possible for men to come to a knowledge of the truth. You can learn the truth. If you study the Bible honestly, sincerely, zealously, systematically, regularly—and striving all the while to apply what you learn to your own life—then you can learn the truth.
VIII. IN THE EIGHTH PLACE, I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS THE VIEW —HELD BY SOME— THAT SOMEHOW OR OTHER THERE IS SOME SORT OF “MIDDLE GROUND” BETWEEN TRUTH AND ERROR
According to this view, one does not necessarily accept error if he rejects the truth. But, it is very important for each of us to recognize that if one decides that a true statement is false, he has, then and there, accepted error. This is the case because the only alternative to truth is error. There is no middle ground between truth and error.
Jesus Himself made a statement which is relevant to this point when He said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth” (Luke 11:23). You see, Jesus both knew and taught that there is no middle ground between truth and error. There is no middle ground between being for Jesus and being against Him! Further, Jesus taught: “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other, ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Jesus knew that there is no neutral middle ground between serving God and serving mammon (loving money, loving the world). John taught, “If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Each one of us must make up his own mind as to whether he will love God or love the world; no one can love both. Each one of us must make up his own mind as to whether he will serve God or serve mammon. None of us can serve both.
It is the same—in principle—as regards truth. There is no middle ground between truth and error. But, we are being barraged with the view that it is a radical—even a “fanatical”—view to hold that one must learn and obey the pure, undiluted truth in order to be saved. Such people are like those who, if someone says of a certain liquid that it is a poison and another person says that it is a tonic, would ask us to dilute that liquid with water and drink it. But, consider just how foolish such a course of action would be. If the liquid is poison, it should not be drunk at all. And, if it is a tonic, then it should not be weakened with water. The question which people ought to be asking in such a situation is: who is right? Is the man who said that the liquid is a poison the one who is right? Or, is the man who said that the liquid is a tonic the one who is right? The question is not: who can make the most soothing compromise between extremes?”
CONCLUSION
Many (some of whom—sadly—are in the Lord’s church) continue to loudly proclaim that we must be tolerant of error and fellowship those who teach error. It is certainly true that we, as Christians, are to love all people (even our enemies, Romans 12:20, 21) and to manifest that love in deeds of kindness (1 Corinthians 13:1-7). But, while we are to love the sinners, we are to hate the sins (including that of teaching of false doctrine) which they commit. Sentimentality will turn neither sin into righteousness nor error into truth.
It is God’s truth—and only God’s truth which can free men from sin (John 8:32).
“Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). May all men so consider it.