FIVE MARKS OF TRUTH!
2 Timothy 2:15-26
INTRODUCTION: One of the major marks of our day is the wide spread idea that truth is subjective. Most today would agree with Pilot of old that no one can truly know the truth: John 18:33-38.
I. MODERN THOUGHT: HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE!
Our society has in the last one hundred years moved for having a God centered view of our world to a man centered view of our world. This is nothing new to our world but it is new to our nation: Romans 1:18-21; Romans 1:28-32. We have moved from being a nation that trusted in God and in God’s Word as our source of truth, to being a nation that now trusts in man as our source of truth. We are being told to trust what science tells us is truth: Jeremiah 17:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. We as a nation used to base our truth on the Word of God as the basis of all truth. Now we have become a nation of pragmatist basing our truth on works best for us as the time. Psalm 15:1-5. At one time in our nation you could agree with a hand shake and people kept their word because they feared the Lord. Today, even with a written contract men no longer keep their word because they do not fear the Lord.
II. OUR PRAGMATIC SOCIETY!
In our society today whatever works best for me, no matter what God’s Word may say about it that is what the majority are going to do. Today, the question asked by the majority is does Christianity really work? It works for those who want to live for God’s glory but not for those whose main goal is self-glory and the pleasures of this life. We as a society have moved from reason to feeling as the basis or our truth. We have moved from a society living a life of convictions to living by our own opinions. Proverbs 11:3. If there are no absolutes; if God has not given mankind a Word from Himself to mankind then every opposing view that men hol have an equal footing.
III. FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUTH!
We must proclaim the following five characteristic of truth to the next generations or they will have their thinking molded to the world’s way of thinking. 1.) Truth has Objectivity! John 14:6; John 17:17. Truth cannot be discovered by going deeper into ourselves: we are not the source of truth. Truth does not have its basis in how I feel about things. Truth exists outside of mankind. 2.). Truth is Universal! Jesus our Lord claimed to be the truth for all mankind: John 14:6; Proverbs 11:3; James 1:5-8; 1 Peter 3:15. 3.) Truth is Exclusive! John 14:6: truth along with being objective and universal is also exclusive! The Bible says you must be born again and it is the only way to eternal life with God: John 1:12-13. It doesn’t get any more exclusive than that and truth is exclusive. 4.) Truth is Knowable! John 8:31-32. God Who is the truth is not playing hide and seek with us. He wants us to know the truth! John 16:12-15. If truth is knowable and God wants us to know the truth why cannot many people understand God’s truth? 1 Corinthians 2:14-16; Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 119:99. 5.) Truth has Value! Truth is true rather you believe it or not. John 14:6. However truth has value only if you believe the truth and act upon that belief. Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?