Truth - Believe It or Not

Aug 21, 2022    Ron Barnard

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:31-36 NLT

What if we believed and live the truth.

Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.” 2 Timothy 2:16-19 NLT

The day we see the truth and cease to speak is the day we begin to die. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. Winston Churchill

Truth as a concept is in most cases under-appreciated and in every case under attack?

There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one. - C.S. Lewis

Truth has lost a lot of its credibility and impact even in the family of faith?

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20 NLT

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NLT - Also John 1:12
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT - - Believe it or Not

We were created to live connected to God and accountable to His Word!

We’re cool with that concept as long as we get to pick which parts apply!

Most people find facts irritating. Facts interfere with our systems of denial. Walter Bannard

When it comes to God’s word, pick and choose is no better than completely disregard.

Christianity without a love for Biblical truth leaves us languishing instead of living!

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21 ESV

To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.- Right is Right even if nobody does it. Wrong is wrong even if everybody does it. G.K. Chesterton

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 ESV

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV

Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut, make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law, cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me. Matthew 10:34-37 MSG

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:38-39 NLT

Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23 ESV

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy. Warren W. Wiersbe

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:19-20 ESV

God loves us enough to guide us in truth and His truth is enough to make us free.