Welcome back, my dear friends. The past couple of months we’ve studied the foundational Christian truths in God’s Word surrounding God’s Grace. This month in The Next Step, Living Your Life through Jesus, I would like us to take a look at what the Bible tells us about Truth and Righteousness — two more truths that are essential to your understanding of what it means to live the true Christian life.
What is Truth?
This is the very question that Pilate asked Jesus (John 18:37-38), during His trial just before He was turned over to the mob to be crucified.
Pilate said, “So you are a king?”
Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked.
Growing up, I was taught to “believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see.” I always thought that was pretty dumb advice, most people don’t lie and how can you fool my eyes. Well 60 years later and now a Christian, here’s what I’ve learned about that advice. It’s true, believe none of what you hear and none of what you see. It’s sad to say, but Christians have to guard their hearts from being broken by the very worldly truths we once believed about individuals or things that more times than not turn out to be nothing but a lie.
Why will you never find the truth in this world we live in? Listen to what Jesus told a crowd who had gathered around Him in the Temple.
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father\’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies. John 8:43-44 (GNT)
This is the satanic world you and I live in, run by the father of all lies, Satan.
In my Lesson 3, Rewired to Love Part 2, I said the world we live in is nothing more than a false reality created by Satan to serve him much like those individuals in the movie, The Matrix, and as God’s Word tells us, we are no longer to copy the behavior and customs of this world nor should our thinking conform to that world. (Romans 12:2)
Listen to what the Prophet Jeremiah said to the people of Judah;
I listened carefully, but you did not speak the truth. Not one of you has been sorry for your wickedness; not one of you has asked, ‘What have I done wrong?’ Each of you keep on going your own way, like a horse rushing into battle.” Jeremiah 8:6 (GNT)
So as Pilate asked, what is truth? If everything in this world is based on a lie, what way can you find truth and how can you really believe and trust it?
During the Last Supper on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples:
“Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. You know the way that leads to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?”
Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. John 14:1-6 (GNT)
Jesus said over 70 times throughout the Gospels, “I tell you the truth” before He spoke. So it is just plain common sense to me that if you are truly seeking the truth to live by in this lost world, there is only one place you will find it — Jesus Christ.
Let’s return to the conversation Jesus was having with the crowd who had gathered around Him in the Temple and find out why they didn’t understand what He was saying.
“But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe me. Which one of you can prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why do you not believe me? He who comes from God listens to God\’s words. You, however, are not from God, and that is why you will not listen.” John 8:45-47 (GNT)
If you remember in Lesson 9 “How to Dress for Success”, I told you that the first thing you put on in the morning is the belt of truth buckled around your waist. So each morning remind yourself what the truth is. The truth that you heard and believed, which led you by faith to trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and making you a child of God. Renew your mind each morning with this thought so that you are ready to face this world and the “father of liars.”
Where Can I Find the Absolute Truth?
Satan has established a number of philosophies for the unbelievers of this world to follow when it comes to defining Truth:
- Relativism, says that all truth is relative and that there is no such thing as absolute truth.
- Skepticism, simply doubts all truth.
- Pluralism, says that all truth claims are equally valid.
Common complaints from those who live by Satan’s philosophies against Christians claiming to have absolute truth in matters of faith is that such a stance is “narrow-minded.” Another objection to absolute truth is that it is arrogant to claim that someone is right and another person is wrong. A third charge against those holding to absolute truth in matters of faith is that such a position excludes people, rather than being inclusive, and finally it is offensive and divisive to claim one has the absolute truth instead, all that matters is sincerity.
During His Sermon on the Mount, I believe Jesus best describes Satan’s worldly philosophies this way.
“Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (TLB)
Absolute Truth must then originate from somewhere. For over 2,000 years we’ve had God’s Absolute Truth to turn to, His Holy Word, the Bible and to date not one of His promises or predictions has proven to be a lie. Although many unbelievers have tried, none have succeeded in proving anything other than this — the Bible is truly the only word of absolute truth you can depend on.
The Palmist tells us;
“God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” Psalms 18:30 (NLT)
My dear friends as believers and followers of Jesus Christ you now know where to get the absolute truth in order for you to live your life through Jesus Christ. But, you have to read it and follow it. The more you seek the absolute truth of God through His Holy Word, the Bible, the more understanding of the truth will be given to you. I guarantee it. How can I say that? Because Jesus Himself said it.
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. Matthew 13:12 (NLT)
How will you know if you’re receiving and understanding God’s truths? As I’ve said before, you have your own personal Bible teacher on truth right inside of you.
But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what will happen in the future. The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me by telling you what he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will tell you what he receives from me. John 16:13-15 (ERV)
If you’ll just read what I call God’s Instruction Manual on Absolute Truth what will happen? Listen to what Paul told the Ephesians:
Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Ephesians 4:14-16 (TLB)
Finally, my brothers and sisters, you are to hold tightly to the truths of God’s Word and not let go. Burn them into your heart so that you will be ready for Satan’s attacks against you by those who live by his philosophies of truth.
Listen to Paul’s instructions to his dear bother in Christ, Timothy.
Hold tightly to the pattern of truth I taught you, especially concerning the faith and love Christ Jesus offers you. Guard well the splendid, God-given ability you received as a gift from the Holy Spirit who lives within you. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (TLB)
Righteous Living
Let’s move on now to understand what it means to pursue true righteousness as you live your life through Jesus. To be righteous is to be right with God. How do you become right with God?
“So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1 (TLB)
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are truly righteous in the sight of God. Remember justification is God’s declaring those who receive Christ as their personal savior to be righteous/saved (Romans 5:17-19).
In Lesson 9 “How to Dress for Success”, I told you that the Breastplate of Righteousness is the second piece of clothing you’re to put on when getting dressed to enter world we live in. A breastplate shields your vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. But, it’s the Breastplate of Righteousness which guards your heart and emotions against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.
Without God’s righteousness inside of you, you’re left with only your Old Nature’s self-righteousness. We avoid the temptation to become self-righteous when we understand that true righteousness begins with godly humility.
“he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him.” Psalm 25:9 (TLB)
Jesus talks about self-righteousness saying it is nothing more than a false façade that unbelievers wear on the outside for all to see, unlike the believer whose righteousness exists on the inside and comes from God. He compares self-righteousness with the Pharisees of His time.
“How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but are full of bones and decaying corpses on the inside. In the same way, on the outside you appear good to everybody, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sins. Matthew 23:27-28 (GNT)
To pursue true righteousness means you must recognize that you cannot please God in your sinful state. You cannot try to justify yourself by your good deeds, instead you need to seek the mercy and grace of God to transform your mind in order to understand true righteousness.
“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.” Romans 12:2 (GNT)
How can you know for sure what is good and pleasing to God? By walking in the Spirit as the Apostle Paul directed the Galatians.
I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures. When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you need no longer force yourself to obey Jewish laws. Galatians 5:16-18 (TLB)
When you’re focused on seeking the will of God and walking in the Spirit, your life will produce this kind of fruit in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; the Fruits of the Spirit will begin to blossom inside of you without any effort. The world around you will begin to see those fruits; you will become more loving, kind, patient, forgiving, and caring of others.
Finally my friend, the secret to living a righteous life is to conform to the image of His Son, your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul gives us a bit of common sense to live by:
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:25-26 (NLT)
Join me next month as I bring my series “The Next Step – Living Your Life through Jesus” to a close. We have one final foundational Christian truth in God’s Word to understand, the most important Commandment of all. I’ve entitled it “All You Need is Love”
Until next month, my friend, may His mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.
