Truth Is?

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

                                                                                       (John 8:31-32 KJV)

What is truth? Seems like in the world today it is acceptable to have many versions of the truth. But, can there really be many versions? 

I had a few rough moments when I was going through seminary. One particular professor wanted me gone. I had dared to debate him publicly over something he said. He professed that there could be two completely opposing interpretations of scripture and both interpretations be perfectly valid. I disagreed. I viewed this as sacrificing truth for unity. 

The truth should never be sacrificed. Whether it has to do with spiritual truth or truth that pertains to the world it should never be sacrificed for then we will function according to the lies that we perpetuate. We will be in bondage to these lies. When it is then distortion of the truth; out right lies becomes accepted as truth. When we hear calls for unity we must ask ourselves if these calls to unity require us to accept as truth what is not the truth? Are we willing to accept lies for the sake of unity? Are we willing to live our lives miserable and drowning in the lies that we have been told and accept for the sake of unity?

St. Paul suggested otherwise. It does our neighbor no good to speak lies to him or her. Deception will not bring us together. Only the truth can unite us. If we are to be one, we ought to be truthful. "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." (Eph 4:25)

Neither freedom nor unity come from lies. Half truths and gross exaggerations are lies. Lies only lead to more bondage; bondage to the lies themselves and to the ones who taught us the lies and who we believed. 

Know the highest and best truth of all. Know that Jesus the Christ is the truth who lived and died and lives for you. He is the only truth that can truly set you free!

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

By Faith; Not By Good Works

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

                                                                                     (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)

John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address said: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” Indeed, we should be wondering what we can do for others and not be asking what others can do for us. That is basic to Christian ethics. However; that being said, when we are sharing the Good News with others, what they can do for others has nothing to do with their salvation. What we do for others is important; but, it is not the Good News! The Good News is what Jesus has done for us so that we might inherit eternal life in our Father's presence; in the Kingdom of God.

Nobody is going to be saved by their good works. It is only by faith in the life-giving sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, that we are saved. To be sure, good works will follow that faith. But, those good works are the fruit of our faith. It is not by our works that we are saved. 

If someone has fallen out of a boat into the great stormy sea will it do them any good for you to tell them to swim harder? Or, would it bring them more relief to throw out, on a rope, a life preserver so that they will not drown? 

Jesus is our life preserver. He and only he can save us from drowning in our sinful ways. The Good News is not about how much we do. The good news is what Jesus has done and continues to do for us. Jesus saves us from the stormy seas; stormy seas often of our own making.

May God grant you faith in Jesus Christ our Lord who has done all for you; even giving his life for you on the cross at Calvary. 

God's Peace - Pr. J