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Even religious observers knew Jesus taught the truth and that this involved the two greatest commandments: love of God and neighbor. Mark 12:32-34 -- The scribe said to him: "Teacher, you well said in line with truth, 'He is One, and there is no other than He'; 33 and this loving him with one's whole heart and with one's whole understanding and with one's whole strength and this loving one's neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 At this Jesus, discerning he had answered intelligently, said to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God." [All texts are from the New World Translation.]
If we want "truth" we have to look to Jesus. though God once spoke to the Hebrews and Jews by means of their prophets "He now speaks by a Son." (Hebrews 1:1) John 1:14-17 -- He was full of undeserved kindness and truth. 16 For we all received from out of his fullness, even undeserved kindness upon undeserved kindness. 17 Because the Law was given through Moses, the undeserved kindness and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ.
Worship that is acceptable to God must be in harmony with truth. John 4:23 -- the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth.
The truth liberates and does not enslave. John 8:32 -- the truth will set you free.
There is a great enemy of truth who left the truth. John 8:44 -- He did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him.
To have the truth one must approach God through Jesus Christ. John 14:6 -- I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus sent a spirit-helper to his apostles to equip them to write the New Testament. John 15:26 -- I will send you from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me.
It is a truth that Jesus returned to God in order to bring salvation to humankind. John 16:7 -- I am telling you the truth, It is for your benefit I am going away.
Jesus' inspired apostles and disciples were guided into all the truth that would be necessary for future followers. This was composed into the New Testament. John 16:13 -- The spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth.
Only by the truth of God's Word can we be sanctified or declared holy by God. John 17:17 -- Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth.
To possess the truth one must listen to Jesus by readings his words in the Gospels. John 18:37 -- Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.
"Worship God," the apocalyptic angel said to John. (Revelation 19:10) No others are to be worshipped. Romans 1:25 -- ... those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created.
One can disobey the Truth by practicing unrighteousness. Romans 2:8 -- ... who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger.
Truth causes one to be joyful and glad and applaud honesty. 1 Corinthians 13:6 -- (Love) rejoices with the truth.
We must be careful not to adulterate God's Word the truth and our conscientious conduct ought to reflect that to others. 2 Corinthians 4:2 -- Neither adulterating the word of God, but by making the truth manifest recommending ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God.
No matter what happens nothing can harm the truth and it will always prevail. 2 Corinthians 13:8 -- For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.
Some Christians, even the most sincere, may stumble and not always walk in harmony with the Truth. Galatians 2:14 ... when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news.
The Truth and the Gospel include the good news regarding our own salvation. Ephesians 1:13 -- ... the word of truth, the good news about your salvation.
By learning to be honest and then speak the truth to others we will mature as Christians. Ephesians 4:15 -- Speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.
Some Christians preach the Truth with wrong motives. Philippians 1:18 -- ... in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being publicized.
Satan can mislead or deceive us if we do not really love truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 --
because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. 11 So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
It is the will of God that people of all kinds gain salvation and come to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3, 4 -- God, whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.
The Church should support itself by the Truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 -- ... the congregation of [the] living God, a pillar and support of the truth.
Some Christians use the truth to take advantage of others by material gain. 1 Timothy 6:5 --... men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain.
Bible truth must be handled correctly and not misapplied. 2 Timothy 2:15 -- ... handling the word of the truth aright.
It is a deviation from the truth to say the resurrection has already taken place. The resurrection will not occur until Christ returns and then all will be raised "at the same time." (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17) 2 Timothy 2:18 -- These very [men] have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some.
Before on can know the truth accurately one must repent of past wrongs. 2 Timothy 2:25 --
... repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth.
One may learn and study and still not find heightened knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7 --
... always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.
The Bible predicted an apostasy or falling away from Bible truth. 2 Timothy 4:4 -- They will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories.
To be "born again" one must know the truth. James 1:18 -- Because he willed it, he brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be certain firstfruits of his creatures.
Though one ma have the truth in the beginning they may deceived from it. James 5:19, 20 -- My brothers, if anyone among you is misled from the truth and another turns him back, 20 know that he who turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Truth will always be associated with love and is a uniting force. 1 Peter 1:22 -- ... obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart.
If a person claims they have never sinned as a Christian they do not have the truth. 1 John 1:8 -- If we make the statement: "We have no sin," we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If someone does not keep God's commandments regarding faith and love, then that person does not have the truth. 1 John 2:4 -- He that says: "I have come to know him," and yet is not observing his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in this [person].
Truth is learned by reading the words of Jesus inspired disciples in the Christian Bible. 1 John 4:6 -- We originate with God. He that gains the knowledge of God listens to us; he that does not originate with God does not listen to us. This is how we take note of the inspired expression of truth and the inspired expression of error.
It is not enough to know the Truth, a Christian must also conduct is life in the Truth. 2 John 1-4 -- ... all those also who have come to know the truth, 2 because of the truth that remains in us, and it will be with us forever. 3 There will be with us undeserved kindness, mercy [and] peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, with truth and love.4 I rejoice very much because I have found certain ones of your children walking in the truth.
Nazarene Commentary 2000© by Mark Heber Miller
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