Truth, Lies and Something
in Between
The word "truth" is the state of fact that is real or
actual. In mathematics we use symbols to
represent the real world. Often a statement is true simply because we define it
as true. For example, when people are using the decimal system, the statement
"1 + 1 = 2"
is true because we define 1
to represent a single item, and 2
to represent a couple of items. Two singles make a double. The statement is
true, within the decimal system, because we define it to be true.
What is the source of truth?
The Bible reveals that truth comes from God alone. It is an attribute of God. He is called the “LORD God of truth.” (Psm. 31:5) and the “True God.” (Jer.
10:10) Our Lord Jesus Christ
prayed to His Father: “And this is eternal life, that they may know
You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have
sent.” (Jn. 17:3)
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn. 14:6) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.” (Jn. 1:14) “For the law was given through Moses, but
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn.
1:17)
On the opposite side of truth Jesus said to those who wanted to
kill Him: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father
you want to do. He was a murderer from
the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in
Him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks
from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (Jn. 8:44)
Truth and lies are at the opposite and extreme ends. Truth is of God and comes through the Lord
Jesus Christ, but lies are of the devil.
The devil is very cunning and deceptive and he can change the truth into
a lie.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them,
for God has shown it to them. For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they
did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they
became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made
like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among
themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served
the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (
Is truth important? Does it make any difference
what one believes? Is there any direct connection between one's religious
belief and his eternal destiny? Is accurate knowledge essential to salvation?
Many persons assert that religious belief is unimportant, that theology is
nonessential. They declare that it makes no difference what one believes as
long as he is sincere and has good intentions. They insist that all religious
roads lead to God, that the roads men travel may be varied, but the ultimate
destiny for all is the same. They teach that all religious men are going to the
same place, that is heaven. Is this the truth?
One often hears and reads about the similarities
amongst the three great religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Here is the truth. New Testament Christianity is vastly superior
to Judaism, Islam, or any other religion, in the following ways:
1. It worships the One True God of the
Holy Bible—not Allah.
2. It accepts the completed revelation
of God—the Holy Bible – not the Quran.
3. It proclaims the Lord Jesus Christ
as the One True God – not Mohammed.
4. It preaches salvation through the
remission of sins by the blood of Jesus Christ.
5. It
preaches justification by grace through faith—not by works of righteousness.
6. It worships God “in spirit and
truth.” (John 4:24).
7. It acknowledges the true Messiah has already
come in the flesh – not future
The idea that all religions are equal with Christianity is foreign to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6-7)
or another way to God and salvation. Christianity is a “narrow way” and a
“strait” or confining gate that leads to everlasting life. (Mt. 7:13-14). The common delusion that God is an
affectionate, free and easy-going grandfather figure who accepts anyone and
everyone—even those who are in rebellion to Him—is heresy.
The concept of Christian ecumenism stems from
the idealism of uniting all Christian denominations and congregations into one
visible body. In His prayer for the
unity and oneness of His disciples our Lord first prayed to the Father: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word
is truth. As You
sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their
sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be
sanctified by the truth.” (Jn. 17:17-19) The World Council of Churches consisting of
congregations and ministers that have differing, conflicting and heretical
doctrines that lead people to damnation is not what our Lord was praying about.
How often we hear well-meaning Christian
ministers with good intention preach that we should lay aside our differences
and love one another. If the differences
in doctrines that are essential for salvation still exist then there is no real
unity. We cannot ignore unity of faith
and belief.
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary
principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the
doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and
of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is
impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly
gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good
word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them
again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God,
and put Him to an open shame. For the
earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful
for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears
thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be
burned.” (Heb. 6:1-8)
In His prayer to the Father our Lord said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word
is truth.” And He promised, “Then Jesus said to
those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My
word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free." (Jn. 8:31-32) The Word of God that is the Holy Bible is
the truth. “God, who at various
times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has
in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
things, through whom also He made the worlds.” (Heb. 1:1-2) The devil knows fully well that if he can
distort the truth in the Bible believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will be
misled and fall into condemnation. There
are several versions of the Bible that are not translated word for word from
the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts but are paraphrased according to the
views of the translators. The New
International Version (NIV) is one of them.
The King James Version (KJV) may not be the perfect version but it is
translated faithfully word for word from the most reliable manuscripts.
There are many peripheral doctrines, teachings
and practices in so-called Christian congregations that are outright lies. The slogan that “You can go
to any church and still be saved and go to heaven.” First of all, nobody can be saved by joining
a church. “And he brought them out
and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31) This teaching that every
person that is called a Christian can be saved contradicts with what our Lord
Jesus Christ said: "Not everyone who
says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness!'” (Mt. 7:21-23)
Many false ministers teach you do not have to
keep all the Ten Commandments. They say
all you have to do is keep nine commandments and you’ll be fine. This is their escape clause for not keeping
the Fourth Commandment that is to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Ex.
20:8-11) What does the Word of God
say to this? “If you really fulfill the
royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and
are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said,
"Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but
you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” (Jas. 2:8-11) “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness,
and sin is lawlessness.” (1 Jn. 3:4) “Blessed are
those who do His commandments, that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and
idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” (Rev. 22:14-15)
Our Lord Jesus Christ questioned the scribes and
Pharisees: "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of
your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother';
and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit
you might have received from me is a gift to God"-- then he need not honor
his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect
by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you,
saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their
mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And
in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " (Mt. 15:3-9)
We need to be very careful to distinguish the
truth from the lies and human traditions in Christmas and other so-called
Christian holidays.
Truth, in the absolute sense of that which is real and complete,
is the opposite of a lie that is false and incomplete. Truth and lies are expressed in the speeches
of people of different faiths and character.
After a person has believed in Christ he or she has become a new
creation “according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak
truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” (Eph.
4:24-25)
May God bless
you
For
comments please write first to: arkpw@sbcglobal.net
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Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the
President of ARK International. |
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