A Message From the Sullivan church of Christ WHAT IS TRUTH? Setting Forth the Truth According To The Bible
There are those, and maybe you fall into this category, who just want the truth — nothing more and nothing less. You have a desire to learn and do the truth, but yet, you need some guidance in your quest for truth. Maybe you are confused because of all the religious diversity that exists in our world today. You say to yourself, “There is only one Bible; there is only one Word of God, and yet, there are so many different churches that teach and practice things completely different.” This has to be very frustrating for the one who is honestly searching for the truth.
Jesus plainly said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). There are two things that Jesus said about truth.
1.) We can KNOW THE TRUTH. Jesus said so. It ought to be comforting to the truth seeker that truth is knowable. And, if truth is knowable, then it is attainable, and not only attainable, but understandable. One couldn’t “know” truth if one couldn’t “understand” truth. Truth is within your reach!
What is truth? As Jesus stood before Pilate, being on trial, Pilate asked Jesus, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18: 37). This is when Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth” (John 18:38)? The Bible answers the question, “What is truth?” In John 17:17, Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” According to Jesus, the truth is the word. This is the Word of God. Whenever we are talking about the truth, we are talking about the Word of God and vice versa. When we have learned the truth, we have learned the Word of God (see Ephesians 17).
2.) The second thing Jesus taught in John 8:32 is that the truth “shall make you free.” “Free” refers to salvation. It is used to refer to the deliverance of sin. You know, error does not make one free. Jesus said only the truth will accomplish that. Listen to the words of Peter from 2 Peter 3:16-17:
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Note some things Peter said: 1.) Peter tells us that there are some people who “wrest” the scriptures. The word “wrest” means to “torture” or “twist.” Peter described some people who torture or twist the Scriptures. Of course, the "scriptures" is simply another name for the Word of God, which is the truth. 2.) In verse 17, Peter called this “error,” and those who engaged in the twisting and torturing of the Scriptures are referred to as “wicked.” So, we clearly learn that there is such thing as “error.” 3.) Peter said that we are to “beware.” Of what, Peter? He said, “lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked.” 4.) In verse 16, what did Peter say would come upon those who twisted the Scriptures? He said, “destruction.” Please note that error brings “destruction,” not “salvation” or “freedom.” Only the truth will make us free.
May I ask at this point: IF IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT ONE BELIEVES, THEN THE WORDS OF PETER AND JESUS ARE MEANINGLESS! My friend, it does make a difference what we believe and practice in religion. One must believe and practice the truth!
The question is, “Do you want to know the truth; do you want to obey the truth?” Paul would say in I Timothy 2:3-4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” God wants all men (men being a generic term) to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. God does not want you to be lost. By only coming to the knowledge of the truth will bring about salvation, or as Jesus put it, “the truth shall make you free.” Now, what if a person comes unto a knowledge of error, that is believes and obeys error, instead of the truth? Will his believing and obeying error save him? Not according to Jesus, Peter, and Paul. Do you believe this?
The truth seeker is not interested in what man has to say. Man can be wrong and indeed has been wrong. The truth seeker will be like the noble Bereans of Acts 17:11 — “These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” And so, the truth seeker will not simply take the words of the preacher as truth. The truth seeker will investigate the Word of God to see whether or not those things are so. The only thing the truth seeker wants is what God has taught in His Word!
With this before us,
WHAT IS TRUTH CONCERNING SALVATION?
Every Person In New Testament Times Obeyed The Same Gospel:
1.) People HEARD God’s Word (see Acts 2:37; 8:5; 10:33; 18:8; Romans 10:14, 17). Without ever hearing God’s Word, we would never know what God expects of us. 2.) People BELIEVED God’s Word (see Mark 16:16; John 8:24; Acts 2:37; 18:8; Hebrews 11:6). 3.) People REPENTED of their sins (see Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30). Repent means to change the mind. It is a change of mind about the way I am going to live. Repentance says, “I’m no longer going to live after the ways of the world, but after the ways of God.” 4.) People CONFESSED that Jesus was the Son of God (see Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32- 33). 5.) People were BAPTIZED (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12-13; 8:36-39; 10:47-48; 18:8; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; I Peter 3:21).
WHAT IS TRUTH CONCERNING BAPTISM?
1.) It is a BURIAL (see Acts 8:38; Romans 6:4-5; Colossians 2:12). 2.) It is for SALVATION (see Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21). 3.) It is for the REMISSION OR FORGIVENESS OF SINS (see Acts 2:38). 4.) It is for the WASHING AWAY OF SINS (see Acts 22:16). 5.) It is to get INTO CHRIST where all spiritual blessings are found (see Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 1:3). 6.) It is to get INTO CHRIST’S DEATH where He shed His blood that washes away our sins (see Romans 6:3; Revelation 1:5). 7.) It is to get INTO CHRIST’S ONE BODY, THE CHURCH, the place of the saved (see I Corinthians 12: 13; Colossians 1:18; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23).
WHAT IS TRUTH CONCERNING THE CHURCH?
In New Testament Times The Church Was Called:
1.) The church (see Ephesians 3:10). 2.) The church of God (see I Corinthians 1:2). 3.) The body of Christ (see Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). 4.) It is known as the bride of Christ (see Ephesians 5:21-32; 2 Corinthians 11:2). 5.) The house of God (see I Timothy 3:15). 6.) The church of Christ (Romans 16:16).
The Church Was:
1.) Built By Christ (see Matthew 16:13-19; I Corinthians 3:11). 2.) Purchased by Christ’s Blood (see Acts 20:28). 3.) Founded and Established on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2, especially verse 47).
The Church’s Members Were Called:
1.) Members (see I Corinthians 12:12, 27) 2.) Disciples (see Acts 6:1) 3.) Believers (see Acts 5:14) 4.) Saints (see Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7) 5.) Priests (see I Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) 6.) Christians (see Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16). 7.) Children of God (see I John 3:1-2)
The Church’s Organization:
1.) Elders, who are also called bishops, overseers, or pastors. Their duty is to oversee and shepherd the church, only on a local level (see Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-4; I Thessalonians 5:12- 13; Hebrews 13:17). 2.) Deacons, who serve the church (see I Timothy 3:8-13). 3.) Evangelists, to teach and preach the Word of God (see the entire letters of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus). 4.) Members, who use their talents and abilities to build up the church and glorify God (see I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:16) 5.) Jesus Christ is the only Head of the church, with the Headquarters of the church being where the Head is — In Heaven. The church has no earthly headquarters (see Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 8:1; 10:12). The Church’s Entrance:
All People Who Became Members of The Lord’s church Became Members In Exactly The Same Way!
1.) One must obey the Gospel (study carefully Acts 2:37-47). You will learn from Acts 2:37-47 that the same process that results in salvation results in the Lord adding one to His church. The New Testament knows nothing of one getting saved, and then joining the church of his/her choice. 2.) Baptism puts one into the one body, the church of Christ (see I Corinthians 12:13).
WHAT IS TRUTH CONCERNING WORSHIP?
The Bible Teaches We Must Worship IN SPIRIT (right attitude and sincerity) and IN TRUTH (according to God’s Word) — See John 4:23-24 17:17.
The Bible Teaches That One’s Worship Can Be Wrong or In Vain — See Acts 17:22-23; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 1:23.
The Lord’s church Engaged In Five Acts of Authorized Worship:
1.) Praying (see Acts 2:42). 2.) Singing, without the accompaniment of instrumental music (see I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). 3.) Giving upon the First Day of every week (see I Corinthians 16:1-2). 4.) Partaking of the Lord’s Supper every First Day of the week (see Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:20-32) 5.) Preaching and Teaching of God’s Word (Acts 20:7; 2 Timothy 4:2)
It is our plea that you will investigate all of the above scriptures and learn for yourself. Your eternal soul weighs in the balance! May God bless you in your quest for truth! If you would like to study further, please do not hesitate to contact us!