The Truth of Christmas
December 25, 2012
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:16-21)
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Hope and Change
September 5, 2012
We have heard the words “hope and change” used frequently in trite and meaningless political slogans used to manipulate voting bases in the last few years. And we have heard this phrase used by charlatans to describe a utopian economic structure. But for the Christian, “hope and change” takes on a whole different meaning.
The Bible says, “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This is the only hope that the world has, and it is certainly not found in a political party, ideology or leader. Jesus is our only hope!
God’s Word also states, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). When the Lord raptures the saints away, that will be the greatest change the earth has ever seen. That is the change that I am looking forward to, and also the change that I have my hope in.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Another Gospel
September 2, 2012
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-8).
In our world today, the Gospel is being diluted and “watered down.” We are being told that “there are many ways to God,” and that followers of all religions worship the same God. Oh really?
Well, these beliefs don’t “line up” to what Jesus said. He stated emphatically, when He was here on the earth, “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).So that totally contradicts those who say that we must be “inclusive” and accept the other founders of other religions as equal to Jesus.
Also, Luke writes, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus” (Acts 3:13). And this verse is exclusive and unambiguous in its statement that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and also whose Son is the Lord Jesus. There is no getting around the truth of this statement from the inspired Word of God. It cannot be any clearer than this. There is no “wiggle room” or “gray area” here.
Here’s the good news: Jesus, who is the Son of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is coming soon! I love this passage which describes His soon return, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:11-16). These are the truths of the Gospel, and any other message is another gospel, “which is really no gospel at all” (Galatians 1:6). Without Jesus, there would be no Gospel or “good news.”
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica.
Truth
April 28, 2012
The world says that it is impossible to find “truth.” The news media, the world’s political establishment and even some church leaders do not subscribe to the belief in “absolute truth.” The Bible, however, has a great deal to say about “truth.”
In the New Testament, which was written in the Greek language, the word for “truth” is “aletheia” (αλήθεια). This word also means “reality.” But when one thinks about it, nothing is more “real” than the truth. So it makes sense that the word “reality” would be synonymous with “truth.”
Jesus said, regarding truth, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). This could be restated, “Then you will know the [aletheia, reality], and the [aletheia, reality] will set you free” (John 8:32).
Also, in John’s Gospel, the apostle, quoting the Lord, wrote, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus states unequivocally that He, and only He, is “the truth.” There is no wiggle room, here, for those who would say that there are “many ways to God” and that there is no “absolute truth.”
Here is the “bottom line.” If one chooses not to believe in “truth” that does not change the fact that it exists, and that it exists in the person of Jesus Christ. So my final statement would be this: “knowing the truth is knowing Jesus.”
If you are reading this post, and you don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord, let me encourage you now to pray to receive Him into your heart. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come live in you. Today could be the greatest day of your life.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Absolute Truth
August 14, 2011
There are some who say that it is impossible to find truth, or that it does not exist at all. Jesus, however, had more than a little to say on this subject. The Lord said, “‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished’”(Matthew 5:17-18). In this passage of Scripture, not only is Jesus saying that truth is found within the Word of God, He says that every “bit” of Scripture, down to the smallest detail, will come to pass. That is an amazing claim that Jesus makes, and, for us, that is very good news. For without absolute truth (God’s Word), humanity would have no “anchor.”
Personally, I think those who claim that truth cannot be found, really, don’t believe their own claims. They are trying to convince themselves (and others) that there is no such thing as “truth,” but, down deep inside, they know that they’re wrong. Once again, on this theme, as He prayed for His disciples, Jesus stated, “‘Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth’” (John 17:17). It cannot get any clearer than this proclamation made by the Son of God. We either believe what He said, or we choose not to.
If there aren’t things that are true absolutely, then everything “boils down” to relativism, or “whatever I think is right, is okay.” This type of thinking (“whatever works for me”) does not “fall in line” with Scripture. Jesus said, “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). If one’s belief, or lack of, does not come into agreement with God’s Word and the life that Jesus lived, then it is in error.
One day, there will not be any argument on this issue. The “truth” will be evident and without any doubt. John writes, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” (Revelation 19:11-13). When this day comes, truth will have triumphed absolutely.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
