| Recently,
in discussing a scriptural
matter with
a younger man, he
heatedly stated, ‘You
think you are right and
others are wrong’. He
was correct in believing
that I thought I was
right on this matter
because of what the Bible
teaches. But the implication
was that truth is
relative, a very common
assumption in our culture. What is true
for you may not be true for someone else; it
is said especially in moral and spiritual realms.
Many
would say, ‘You have no right to claim that
Christianity has the truth. What about all of
those sincere Hindus, Moslems and Buddhists?
What they believe is true for them’. Many
Christians are yielding ground on spiritual issues.
Some have stopped evangelizing Roman Catholics,
stating that they too believe in God. Some
Lutherans now affirm that the Reformation
was a mistake, and there are steps to
establish fellowship between the two groups. This
is a far cry from Martin Luther who called the
Catholic Church ‘a whore’ and the Pope ‘the
antichrist’. Luther believed strongly in salvation
by grace through faith, not of works. He
was willing to die for this truth.
At
Jesus’ trial, like many sceptics today, Pilate asked
Him, ‘What is truth?’, John 18. 38. Jesus had
said to him, ‘I have come into the world, that
I should bear witness to the truth’, John 18.
37, NKJ. Jesus claimed to be the Truth, John 14.
6, and He affirmed that God’s word was truth.
‘Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is
truth’, John 17. 17. In a world of shifting values
we proclaim that there is truth, and that this
is found in the word of God.
There
are many direct commands and teachings to
guide the life of the believer. Paul claimed of his
teachings that they were the commands of the
Lord, 1 Cor. 14. 37. The apostles claimed to
be models for believers to follow, ‘Be ye imitators
(followers) of me just as I also am of Christ’,
1 Cor. 11. 1. The early churches, under the
guidance of the apostles, are held up as models—‘you
became examples’, 1 Thess. 1. 7.
The
believer rejoices over the instruction of God’s
word; it is God’s truth:
With
my whole heart I have sought You:
Oh, let me not wander from Your
commandments.
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O Lord.
Teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119. 10-12, NKJ
Since
Satan is the father of lies and is constantly attacking
the truth of God, believers must stand fast.
Jude writes, ‘I found it necessary to write to
you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the
faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’,
Jude 3. The word ‘contend’ is the word used
of the intense competition witnessed in the
Roman arena. Jude would say, ‘Fight with all
your might for the truth of God’. God’s honour
is at stake, also the salvation of souls. Let
us not be intimidated by unbelief.
How
can we test error? Isaiah cries, ‘To the law
and to the testimony! If they do not speak according
to this word, it is because there is no
light in them’, Isa. 8. 20. Like the Bereans, check
what is heard by the word of God. Be faithful
in proclaiming this truth to others. God
told Jeremiah, ‘And he who has my word, let
him speak my word faithfully’, Jer. 23. 28. In
a world of darkness God’s word shines brightly,
guiding men to God. Paul’s word to Timothy
was, ‘Preach the word! Be ready in season
and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching’, 2
Tim. 4. 2.
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