How Can I Know What is True?

 

A. Where Do You Look for Truth? 

     1. Who is the Authority for truth – Gen. 2:14 (the creature or the Creator)

          a. The subjective realm of countless confusion and contradictions “I Think”

          b. The verbal indicators – “I think”  VS “God says”

     2. The truth revealed by God - illumination

          a. The universal light of conscience – Rom. 2:14-15 (moral absolutes)

          b. The universal Light of creation – Rom. 1:21 (His power and Godhead)

          c. The special light of written revelation – Isa. 8:20 (revealed truth)

 

B. How Does God teach me truth??

     1. God teaches me through His Spirit  (I Cor. 2:10-14; Jn. 16:13)

          a. The Spirit’s textbook is the Bible  – Eph. 6:16; Jn. 17:17; Isa. 8:20

          b. The Spirit’s example is Christ  – Jn. 14:6; Jn. 16:13; I Jn. 2:6

          c. The Spirit’s school is the church – I Tim. 3:15

          d. The Spirit’s instructors are the ordained – I Cor. 3:3-9; I Tim. 3

          e. The Spirit’s classroom is the mind and heart  – Mt. 13:10; I Jn. 2:29

     2. God teaches me through responsible means  –

          a. Requires prayerful study – 1 Pet. 3:15; I Tim. 2:15

          b. Requires  the work of rightly dividing – I Tim.2:15

              - requires study of syntax

              - requires study of historical background

              - requires study of immediate context of thought development

              - requires study of word meanings

              - requires proper use of rules of Interpretation – golden rule

 

“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic (absolute) and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.”

 

C. How I can Know I am on the right track –

    1. When my interpretation is without confusion or contradiction – I Cor. 14:33

        a. Consistent with immediate and overall context

        b. When the unclear is being interpreted by the clear

        c. When I’m not pitting one scripture against another

    2. When you can properly respond to those that say “that’s your interpretation”

        a. Is God the Author of confusion (conflicting interpretations or meanings)?

        b. This means the right interpretation must fit all the facts of the immediate context?

        c. Here are the facts of the context, now why do you disagree?

        d. Here is what God says about those who oppose His word – Isa. 8:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Golden Keys to Essential Truths

 

Intro: God has provided a clear skeleton of truth that is easy to see

 

I. The Great Commission Key – Mt. 28:18-20

 

A. All flavors of Christians agree this is “THE GREAT” commission

B. The Clear Principle of SAMENESS – whatsoever I have commanded

     1. The limits of delegated authority – is within the boundaries of SAMENESS

     2. The designated areas of sameness (same gospel, same baptism, same God,

                   same doctrine and Practice, same reproductive cycle of sameness)

C. The Clear Principle of LIKE FAITH AND ORDER

D. The Clear Principle of Age Long Reproduction of Like faith and order

 

KEY TRUTH:  Any religious faith and practice that has apostasized since Christ or

                       originated since Christ cannot be the one originated by Christ

 

 

II. The Gospel Key – Gal. 1:6-9

 

A. No other Gospel but ONE – Gal. 1:6-9

B. N.T. Gospel is the same ONE of the O.T.

     1. Same gospel – Acts 10:43; 26:22-23; Heb. 4:1

     2. Same Savior – Acts 10:43

     3. Same way – Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12

     4. Same Spirit – Rom. 8:9; Gal. 3:1-5; Jn. 3:3-6

C. All religions teach One of two possible basic ways to be saved  – Mt. 7:13-14

     1. These two ways are in complete contradiction to each other

     2. The majority of religions agree concerning one basic principle for salvation

     3. The Scriptures present these two possible principles as works and grace

D. The True Gospel is by Grace WITHOUT works – Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:5-6

E. Grace cannot be interpreted or defined to include works – Rom. 11:6

     1. God’s standard for entrance into heaven is perfect works – Mt. 5:20; 44

     2. Man’s depravity makes him unable to meet that standard – James 2:10; 3:23

     3. Christ’s life and death are void if works are required – Gal. 2:    Rom. 10:1-4

F. Church doctrine cannot be part of Gospel Salvation

     1. Church originates in N.T – I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 3:5

     2. Gospel originates in O.T. – Acts 10:43

 

 

III. The Final Authority Key

 

A. The Scriptures are the Final Authority for faith and practice

     1. Because they are inspired by God – 2 Tim. 3:16-17

     2. Because they are not personal interpretations – I Pet. 1:19-20

     3. Because they claim to be the final authority – Isa. 8:20; 2Tim. 3:16-17

 

 

B. The Bible is Complete and Finished

     1. The book reads as a completed book

     2. The Bible predicts completion among the apostles – Isa. 8:16-20

     3. The Bible is supernaturally confirmed

          a. Prophecy

          b. Archeology

          c. Science

     4. The offices of prophet and apostles has ceased (gifts that make them such)

 

C. The Five fold Test for Determining what is Scripture by Jews and Church (Rom. 3:1-3; I

     Tim. 3:15)

     1. Completed under supervision of Prophet or Apostles

     2. Claims to be the Word of God

     3. Historically accurate and doctrinally consistent with other Scriptures

     4. Life changing power

     5. Confirmed by His divine institutions (Temple, church)

 

IV. The Faith Key – Jude 3

 

A. The Scriptures clearly indicated that a system of doctrine was passed down – Mt.

      28:19-20 with Acts 2:41

 

B. Churches were established in “the faith” – Acts 16:3-4

 

C. The Faith stablized the church doctrinally – Eph. 4:13-16

 

D. Key Biblical Principles in determining the doctrines of “the faith”

 

                    (a) All Doctrines that are stated as non-negotiable: Every doctrine and practice that the Bible explicitly or implicitly demands or limits by precise definition or forbids to transgress must be considered part of the “all things” Christ commanded  and  an essential of  “the faith”.

                (b) All Permanent and Unique Features of Original Christianity that distinguish it from other World Religions.  All Christians should agree that there are permanent and abiding features of Christianity that separate it from all other “ways.”

          (c) All Doctrines that are necessary to preserve “the faith.” Every doctrine or practice that the Bible requires for the continued existence of “the faith” unto the end of the age must be considered as an essential of “the faith.”

                 (1) The continance and final authority of the Scriptures - SOURCE

                 (2) The continuance of the Great Commission cycle - CONTINUANCE

                 (3) The continuance of the Church – DEFENSE

 

 

 V. The Unity Key – Eph. 4:3-6

 

A. Essentials for a working unity to exist

B. Truths that cannot be compromised or rebellion against God is the result

C. Christ does not pray for unity at the expense of essential truths – Jn. 17:17