How Can I Know What is True

How Can I Know What is True?

A. Where Do You Look for Truth? Pilate said, “what is 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’s Word says”

2. The truth revealed by God – God’s three present revelations

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 for faith and practice)

B. How Does God teach me truth?? (the analogy of a school)

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 does not contradict the context or other Scriptures – 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. Prove it! Can you prove from the context that it is saying something else?

b. I can prove it is saying exactly that! Here are the facts of the context

c. If you can’t overturn these facts, then what basis have you to say it is “my interpretation”

rather than God’s Word?

D. Five Golden Keys that unlock all other doors of truth – a skeleton, basis, foundation

for discernment

I. The Golden Key of Final Authority

A. The Claims of the Bible - “the most important Baptist Doctrine”

1. It claims to be inspired by God – 2 Tim. 3:16-17

2. It claims to be God’s personal interpretation not man’s – I Pet. 1:19-20

3. It claims to be the final authority for faith and practice – Isa. 8:20; 2Tim. 3:16-17

B. The Biblical Evidence for Inspiration

1. Prophetic evidence for supernatural origin (8 prophecies and state of Texas)

2. Scientific evidence for supernatural origin (DNA, countless number of stars, water,wind cycles)

3. Archeological evidence for supernatural origin

4. Experiential evidence for supernatural origin (Saul of Tarsus, countless others)

C. The Bible claims to be the finished revelation of truth from God – Rev. 22:18-19

1. The Prediction of Bible prophecy – Isa. 8:16-18

a. The elements of completion – The Law AND the testimony (Rev. 1:1)

b. The means of completion – Isa. 8:17-18 with Heb. 2:12 – The Apostolic ministry

c. The promise of completion – Jn. 13:16

d. The apostolic understanding of their task – 2 Pet. 3:16-17; I Jn. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19

2. The Cessation of the Apostolic Office – I Cor. 15:8

a. There are Biblical qualifications for that office – Acts 1:21-22

b. Paul claims to be the “last” to meet these qualifications – I Cor. 15:8 (Gr. “escha” last of all)

c. There are “signs” of an apostle – 2 Cor. 12:12

- raising the dead and restoring limbs whole – Acts 3:1-8;

- laying hands to impart sign gifts – Rom. 1:11

b. The entire New Testament was written by or under apostles

3. It reads as a complete and finished book (a book with a beginning and end)

D. The Five Historical tests to determine what is written by inspiration

1. The Test of Truth or non-contradiction – I Jn. 4:6; I Cor. 14:33

a. 100% prophetic accuracy -

b. 100% historical, archeological, geographical accuracy

c. 100% scientific accuracy

2. The Test of Life changing power – Jn. 6:63; Rom. 10:17; I Thes. 2:13

3. The Test of Prophetic or Apostolic origin – Eph. 2:20

4. The Test of Divine Inspiration – “Thus saith the Lord” or claim of inspiration

5. The Test of Acceptance by Divine Caretakers of Scripture – Rom. 3:1-2; I Tim. 3:15

E. The Two Biblical Tests of what is spoken by inspiration

1. The Test of Lying Signs – Deut. 13:1-4; 2 Thes. 2:9; I Jn. 4:1-6

a. The nature of God, Christ and the gospel are litmus tests (Benny Hinn on salvation)

b. signs and wonders never the absolute proof that God is speaking

2. The Test of Prophetic fulfillment – Deut. 18:21-2 (Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts)

F. Belief systems and Principles that deny the Scriptures as the Final Authority

1. Religions that elevate other holy books above the Bible – Mormonism, New Age

Christianity, Moslems, eastern religions

2. Religions that elevate other authorities above the Bible

a. Roman Catholocism – Bible is subjected to councils, tradition and Papal decrees

b. Restoration Religions – Bible is subjected to modern prophets or “inspired” councils of

men (J.W’s, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.)

c. Pentecostalism – Bible is subjected to the authority of experience as the final validation for truth

– Isa. 8:19-20; 2 Thes. 2:9

KEY TRUTH – The Bible is the final and ONLY authority for faith and practice

II. The Golden Key of The Gospel Hope – 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

KEY TRUTH: All religions are accursed that do not teach and preach the Old Testament

Gospel which is a gospel of grace without works

III. The Golden Key of The Great Commission – 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

a. No authority to go with another gospel

b. No authority to administer another baptism

c. No authority to teach another faith and practice

d. No authority to reproduce another faith and order

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

same doctrine and Practice, same reproductive cycle of this sameness)

C. The Clear Principle of UNITY or like faith and order – unified in all four aspects

D. The Clear Genesis Principle of Reproduction AFTER ITS OWN KIND

1. Limits of kind – SAMENESS

2. Limits of reproductive cycle – go, baptize, teach…go

3. Age long continuance of cycle – “I am with you..till the end of the age”

E. Doctrinal and Historical Identity of Christ’s churches

1. Originate with no man but Christ

2. Originate in no other time but Christ’s physical ministry on earth

3. Originate in no other country but Palestine

4. Originate no other kind but like faith and order

5. Terminate at no time until end of the age

Conclusion: All N.T. Churches originate from churches of like faith and order and reproduce churches of like faith and order. Churches that originate outside or depart from this cycle of reproduction are not N.T. Churches but are polluted churches (Acts 28:29-30; Rev. 18:4)

Note: Here is a clear and explicit command and promise of scripture that guarantees the reproduction of New Testament Churches until the end of the age. All other churches have their origin in Acts 20:29-30 and Rev. 17-18.

KEY TRUTH: The New Testament promises a reproductive cycle of Churches that are of like faith and order which will reproduce after their own kind until the end of the age.

IV. The Golden Key of “the Faith”

A. The Bible commands Christians to defend something called “the faith”– Jude 3

1. It is something that was “once delivered” at a particular point in the past.

2. Mt. 28:18-20 refers to a specific point where matters of faith was delivered.

3. This commission was delivered as a PATTERN of faith and practice – Acts 2:41-42

a. Obedience to Great Commission pattern (GOSPELIZED as many as

received…BAPTIZED were baptized…INDOCTRINIZED continued steadfastly in the

apostles doctrine….CONGREGATIONALIZED ”

b. Both language and Grammar indicate that an established pattern is being expressed.

(1) Language – “continued steadfastly” – term “steadfastly” represents a Greek term that

literally means “to persist obstinately in” - Vincent

(2) Grammar – Periphrastic Construction – imperfect tense verb joined with present tense

participle. Both denote INCOMPLETE and ONGOING action. The

imperfect verb (esan – “they were continually”) demonstrates action that

began somewhere in the past (Mt. 28:19) which continues to some point in

the past future. The present tense participle denotes that the ongoing past

tense action continues at least up to the point of writing (Acts 28).

However, the Great Commission identifies the end of this action “end of the

world”

(3) Conclusion – both Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 2:41-42 demand a pattern of faith and

practice that New Testament Churches are “to persist obstinately in” until

the end of the age.

c. Hence, from this point on when the writer says the Lord “added” to a church it is in this

manner according to this established pattern – 2:47, 5:14;

d. When the numbers got too large to “add” they expressed it by the term “multiplied”

Acts 6:1; 6:7; 9:31

e. This pattern of orthodoxy is eventually called “the faith” – Acts 6:7; 13:8; 14:22; 16:5

B. Scriptural ordination requires conformity to the faith – Tit. 1:9,13; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:2;

C. N.T. Churches are characterized by “the faith” – I Tim. 3:15; Acts 16:3-5; Rom. 1:5; 16:17;

Col.2:7-8; Acts 20:27; Eph. 4:13

D. Opposition to “the faith” is grounds for church discipline – 2 Thes. 3:6

E. How can the essential doctrines of the faith be identified?

1. 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”.

2. 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.” – Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5 with Acts 28:22 (Acts 9:2; 24:22)

3. 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.”

a. The continance and final authority of the Scriptures – SOURCE of truth

b. The continuance of the Great Commission cycle – CONTINUANCE of truth

c.The continuance of the Church – DEFENSE of truth

Conclusion: N.T. Christianity defines itself according to this apostolic pattern of orthodoxy and rejects and separates itself from all who distort or depart from this pattern (I Tim. 4:1; Acts 28:29-30). Such are considered “polluted” forms of religion (Rev. 18:4). Seek out churches that originate with such a pattern and who “stubbornly persist” in such a pattern.

V. The Golden Key of the Bond of Unity – Eph. 4:3-6

A. There must be a common bond for anyone to work together, marriage, church

membership, kingdom work – Eph. 4:3

B. There must be a stable base or instablility results – Eph. 4:16

C. Seven essentials are required for the “bond” of peace – Eph. 4:4-6

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

E. Essential Truths that cannot be compromised for “unity” or rebellion against God is

the result

KEY TRUTH: There are Biblical essentials for ecumenical unity

Conclusion

These five keys provide a framework of truth that will doctrinally stabilize you and keep you from being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. They provide a skeleton of orthodoxy that will harmonize with any “truth” but contradict any “error”. If what you hear or experience that does not fit or harmonize with this basic framework then you know it comes from the “spirit of error.”

QUOTATIONS

Benny Hinn – Prophesies before the coming of the Lord all sicknesses will be removed from all of God’s children (educated in Roman Catholic schools by nuns) “I attended the College de Frere (College of brothers) and was taught by monks”

“This recalls the day, years ago when I heard Kathryn Kuhlman prophesy in her own inimitable way that the day would arrive, before the coming of the Lord, when the power of God would be so great that everyone would be healed. ‘There will not be one sick saint in the body of Christ,’ she declared…Of course, she never saw it come, but it will come. The Holy Spirit has convinced me of that.” – The Annointing, pp. 146-147

“Now hear this - I'm prophesying this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is about to appear physically in some churches and some meetings and to many of His people, for one reason - to tell you He's about to show up." (TBN Praise-a-thon, April 2, 2000)

“The fact is, if you decide knowingly and willingly – that’s the pivotal phrase – if you decide knowingly and willingly to sin, your justification flies out the window…Simply said, your continued justification is dependent upon obedience…” – The Annointing, p. 134