Truth Anchors Us

Anchored in Truth: Finding Security in God's Promises

Introduction

Do you believe in absolute truth? Are you willing to consider with me this morning that there are certain things that are absolutely true in this world? There are many people that you know this morning who would be unwilling to walk this road with us. They do not believe absolute truth exists. And yet they’re absolutely certain that the Bible is not right. I want to talk to you today though about what truth really is and which one it is that really matters. This isn’t ground breaking stuff as in a new news bulletin. It’s been firm and fixed for a very long time. I want to talk to you this morning about an anchor for my life. I want to tell you the anchor is the same for all of us. We don’t get to pick and choose. We get to trust and obey. There really is no other path to true happiness. I want you to pay close attention to this next sentence please. We are saved by faith and blessed by obedience. Let’s say it again, we are saved by faith and blessed by obedience. One more time for those in the back, we are saved by faith and blessed by obedience. There have been many both inside and outside the church who’ve gotten shipwrecked by getting that one twisted around backwards. If you hear nothing else I say this morning, be sure you get that one firmly fixed in your mind. We are saved by faith and blessed by obedience.

1. Remember the Mercies

Psalm 25:6 “Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.”

God’s Mercy

New every morning

Lead us in truth

Remember to wait

God’s Steadfast Love

Refuses to let us go

Points us to the cross

Immovable anchor

Anchor that Holds Us

Mercy and love anchor us

Unchanging throughout history

Firmly establishes us - Saved by faith, blessed by obedience

God’s mercy saves us. This is the foundational truth of the Gospel message espoused by Paul and every other Christian leader throughout all time. More importantly, it’s what Jesus taught us. The truth is Jesus is the Word made flesh who came to live among us, so that He could die on our behalf. We are saved by our faith in that statement alone. Our obedience simply leads us to a place where God’s mercy and kindness can bless us. It has no part in our actual salvation. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God, is that I depend on the sacrifice of Jesus for every good thing that comes my way. I didn’t do it, I didn’t earn it, and I certainly don’t deserve it. I received it by faith and so He accepted me and redeemed me so I could go and do things that bless me and glorify Him. We can in no way afford to remember it is His mercy that saved us and will continue to sustain us.

2. Plea for Divine Direction

Psalm 86:11 “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”

Teach me your way

Help me to understand your ways

Strengthen my faith in your salvation

Help me grasp your way

So I walk in truth

My daily delight becomes you

My daily thoughts turn to you

My feet remain on your path

Unite my heart in awe of You

Unify my hearts desires

Give me a secure heart

So I live in Awe of you

The truth that sustains us also reminds us to continue to cry out to Him. Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We were made for a purpose. God has stuff He wants us to do. He’s creating opportunities for you to practice obedience so you can receive more of His blessings. We all need grounded in this truth and have our hearts firmly fixed in awe of the God who was willing to die so that we could live.

3. Summary of Truth

Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

God’s Word = Truth

All God’s instruction is true

All God’s promises remain true

Anchors to stand firmly

Righteous rules endure

None of His direction changes

We can rest in His Word

His Truth anchors our salvation

Truth is eternal

Not up to you

No unique discovery

Remains solid through every storm

At the end of the day when you add all His truth up Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Our duty to God for the gift of His salvation is our obedience. Obedience always comes after the sacrifice. They brought in the sacrifices to atone for their sins, but then were expected to walk out and live in obedience and not keep repeating the same old stuff. The expectation for us is the same. Jesus didn’t save you solely to keep you out of permanent separation from Him (hell). He saved you so you could go and live an obedient life, bringing others into a relationship with Him and permitting Him to then further bless you and the life you are living. Are you anchored to the Truth? That’s where the journey of faith begins.