Truth Matters

The Truth Has Value

Proverbs 23:23 (ESV)

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

It’s important to realize that buying something means that it has value to you and you wish to possess it in your life. To sell it, means that it no longer has value to you and you wish to remove it from your life.

“Buy truth, and do not sell it;”

There are many things in our world that claim truth. But what is truth?

This is a question so many in our culture today are asking.

Unfortunately, many are concluding that there is no truth.

Namely, that truth is some abstract idea that is pliable based on the feelings or perceptions of an individual.

With this in mind, suppose you examine an apple and determine that it’s red, sweet, smooth and crunchy. You might claim this is what the apple is. To put it another way, you've made truth claims about the apple and seemingly made statements about real properties of the apple. But immediate problems arise when you apply the world’s “pliable” definition of truth. Let's suppose your friend is color blind and when she looks at the apple, she says that the apple is a dull greenish color. She also makes a truth claim about the color of the apple but it's different than your truth.

The world’s pliable definition of truth would claim that you are both telling the truth. However, by definition this cannot be; as anything that contradicts a truth is, by definition, a lie.

The problem is that Truth is an objective concept

Truth must conform to an outside objective standard by its very definition

Instead, we are being taught to believe that it is subjective,

That truth changes based on the individual

however, this leaves us with no truth, only a chaotic mess of contradicting lies.

Particularly for Christians, it is important we understand the Truth.

Jesus warns us in

Matthew 7:15 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Have no doubt, the wolves are infiltrating the Christian church more today than ever in America.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Mormon’s

The Mother God Church (World Mission Society Church of God)

Passion Church’s

and Prosperity Church’s

All of them claim to be Christian, while

Adding to Scripture

Taking away from Scripture

or Twisting Scripture in ways to conform with their ideas.

Not to mention the Atheists, Agnostics, and New Agers who will outright attack the validity of the Bible.

For this reason, I am going to give you a foundation from which to make your stand against these attacks, because Truth matters…

If the Bible is not true, we’re all wasting our time.

In view of this, there are three fundamental areas of evidence we are going to discuss today concerning the truth of the Bible:

Fulfilled Prophecy,

Scientific Support,

and Historical Evidence.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive and complete list but merely examples to launch you into deeper study if the need arises.

Fulfilled Prophecy

Biblical Prophecy is reliable

First of all, we are all familiar with psychics, horoscopes, the Magic 8 Ball, and other things that “predict” the future.

However, we also know they are

unreliable,

extremely vague,

reliant on information we give them,

and often just downright wrong!

But this is not the case with Biblical prophecy.

There are many prophecies recorded in the Old Testament that come true in the New Testament and even afterwards.

Unlike modern psychics and attempts at prophecy, these predictions are specific, not generalizations.

The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2

For example, in Micah 5:2, 700 years before Jesus, Micah prophecies the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Christ will die among criminals, offer them forgiveness, and be buried in a rich man’s tomb - Isaiah 53:9-12

In like manner, Isaiah 53:9-12, written around 800 years before the crucifixion, makes three specific prophecies about Christ’s death. Isaiah says that Jesus will:

Be buried in a rich man’s tomb

Die among criminals

Offer them forgiveness

Isaiah 53:9–12 ESV

9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus foretells of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem - Luke 21:20-24

Not to mention Jesus’ own predictions, like the seige and destruction of Jerusalem recorded in Luke 21:20-24.

Luke 21:20–24 ESV

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Josephus, an eye-witness historian documented that in 70 AD, Rome laid siege to the city of Jerusalem in order to squash Jewish rebellion.

He describes probably the greatest slaughter of ancient history, estimating over 1 million Jews killed and adds that the city was not only sacked and burned, but that it was ordered that anything remaining is to be demolished.

Only a stretch of wall and some towers were left standing to remind the Jews of Rome’s power.

Israel will rise as a recognized nation - Jeremiah 30 - 31

By the same token, Israel ceased to be a recognized nation in 720 BC when the Assyrians crushed it

Approximately 600 BC Jeremiah 30 - 31 predicts that the shattered nation of Israel will be re-instated as a nation of the world.

Up until recently, many critics of the Bibles truth pointed to this prophecy as proof of the Bibles failure

After all, it had been over a two thousand years since Israel was a recognized nation, it must be a failed prophecy

On May 14, 1948, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaimed to the world the State of Israel; establishing the existence of a recognized nation of Israel for the first time in 2,668 years.

Biblical Prophecy has the mark of divine inspiration

In light of these examples, we can clearly see that the Bible’s prophecy has the mark of divine inspiration.

It requires a relationship with the eternal, all knowing God for a human being to be able to predict things and events that they would have no understanding of otherwise.

God gave us prophecy for the purpose of motivating and mobilizing the Church to live lives of Godliness; to inspire us to preach the Gospel to all nations before He comes.

Dr. Charlie Dyer, professor at Moody Bible Institute said:

“God gave prophecy to change our hearts, not to fill our heads with knowledge. God never predicted the future events just to satisfy our curiosity about the future. Every time God announces events that are future, He includes with His predictions practical applications to life. God’s pronouncements about the future carry with them specific advice for the ‘here and now.'”

Biblical prophecy is more than one-quarter of Scripture

Now, more than ever, it is vital for the Church and for the world to rediscover the power and purpose of Bible prophecy.

But the only way this is going to happen is if the people of God read the Word of God and study it seriously.

We absolutely will not hear Jesus say “Well done, my good and faithful one” if we ignore, skip, dismiss, or outright deny more than one-quarter of the Holy Scriptures.

Scientific Support

Science has never proven the Bible wrong

Next, let’s look at the measurable scientific evidence for the Bible’s truth.

If the Bible states a fact, and science verifies it, that does not necessarily prove that everything in the Bible is true.

Science cannot prove the Spiritual truths the Bible reveals to us.

However, it does prove that the Bible is trustworthy in general, and for this reason cannot be ignored.

To that end, science has never proven the Bible wrong.

There are some things in the Bible that science either has not or cannot verify, but science has never discovered any evidence that proves the Bible false.

Science was explained by the Bible before humans understood it

To demonstrate, let’s go through some things once thought false from the Bible that science has later supported.

Notably, Luke has been proven accurate by archaeology regarding 32 references of countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands; 95 references total, all of which have been proven by modern science.

In fact, modern historians consider the Apostle Luke as the greatest historian of ancient times.

Isaiah 40:22 describes the Earth as a circle;

Additionally, Isaiah 40:22 describes the Earth as a circle over three centuries before Greek astronomers first suggested that the Earth was round.

Isaiah 40:22 ESV

22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

Job 26:7 declares that the earth is suspended in empty space;

Similarly, Job is the oldest book in the bible, written sometime between the life of Noah and the life of Abraham; yet in this book it is declared that the Earth is suspended in empty space, 2600 years before man entered outer space for the first time.

Job 26:7 ESV

7 He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.

Job 36:27-28 describes how rain works:

Furthermore, Job 36:27-28 describes to us how rain works over 2,000 years before science was able to describe the water cycle in 1580.

Job 36:27–28 ESV

27 For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, 28 which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.

Science needs test results and scientific research; the Bible gets it right without all that

As a matter of fact, when you think about the natural world in which we live, everything breaks down to a very simple way to understand that the Bible is God’s Word:

Whoever designed, created and sustains the universe also understands it.

Whoever made the earth understands the earth.

Whoever created the animal life, the plant life and the human life understands it perfectly as its designer and creator.

And so, if they ever wrote a book in which any of this is discussed, they would get it right.

Therefore, if we find a book that gets it all right without mountains of test results and centuries of scientific research, we know who wrote it.

Historical Evidence

Last, most “indisputable” facts in history are based on less evidence than we have for the Bible.

For example, if we take a historical event, like the fact that George Washington was the first President of the United States, how can we know that this is true?.......

How much evidence do you think it takes to prove that something like that is true; does only one person have to record it, or a few?......

Significantly, when it comes to the Bible, we have a lot of historical evidence.

Not only do we have a lot, but we have it from several different sources.

We have more ancient manuscripts of the Bible than any other ancient document

Surely, most of us have heard of Aristotle?

He is a revered philosopher who lived and wrote around 300 BC.

However, we only have five copies of anything he wrote; just FIVE!

Similarly, Tacitus was a Greek historian, who lived just after the death of Jesus, and is considered one of the primary authorities in ancient history.

We have what historians consider a lot of writings from him.

Who wants to guess how many?

(20).

Conversely, we have over 26,000 ancient manuscripts of the Bible…….26,000!

Comparatively, the number of ancient manuscripts we have of the Bible is HUGE.

We have a better expectation of accuracy in the Bible than any other ancient document

Although this may be true, just because we have a lot of ancient copies of the Bible doesn’t mean those copies are reliable, right?

To put it another way, who has ever played the telephone game. You know, where you whisper something into someone’s ear and it continues around the room until it gets back to you and you see how distorted it became? There’s an illustrated truth to that game. The further words get from their origin the more likely they are to be messed up.

Likewise, we must figure out where in the chain of passing along the words our documents are, so that we can determine how close the copies are to the originals.

Let’s consider some commonly accepted secular ancient documents first.

Our earliest copy of the writings of Aristotle date 1,400 years after he died;

the writings of Plato date 1,200 years after his death;

the writings of the historians Tacitus and Caesar date 1,000 years after their deaths;

the writings of the great author Homer date 500 years after his death.

Nevertheless, the Bible trumps all.

We have 230 manuscripts that date less than 500 years from their original writing; and some of the copies date MUCH closer.

We have a copy of the Gospel of John that dates to approximately 125 AD, within 30 years of his death.

Additionally, there is a copy of Matthew’s gospel that is believed to either be the original, written by Matthew himself, or was copied while Matthew was still alive.

At the same time, nobody doubts the accuracy of the other ancient texts I mentioned;

So of course, with all the historical evidence we have of the Bible, and the unique closeness of our evidence to the original writings; we can be confident in our expectation that the Bible is accurate.

We have confidence in the integrity of Jesus’ life and teachings

Equally important, even stringent historical critics that routinely raise questions about the authenticity of the Scriptures, surprisingly admit that there is no valid dispute regarding the authenticity and accuracy of the texts containing Jesus’ life and teachings.

The very texts where He declares that the Scriptures are the divinely inspired and infallible Word of God!

For this reason, the church has come to such a high regard for sacred scripture in direct link to the confidence the church has about the integrity of Jesus.

The Word of God is AMEN.

In fact, there is a very popular Christian saying that goes “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.”

How many of us have heard this or seen it on a decorative sign or a bumper sticker?

It’s a pretty good saying isn’t it?

Even so, I have to burst your bubble here.....I don’t agree with this saying because it’s a lie.

For instance, do you realize that you know Greek? Every time you say “Amen”, you are speaking Greek.

Amen is a Greek word signifying that something is true. But not just simply that it is true, there are 5 other Greek words for “true”, “Alithis” is the most common. Amen uniquely carries the sense of something being a divine truth that cannot and will not every change. We phrase this concept in English as “so be it”.

We typically use it at the end of our prayers or in response to something powerful a preacher speaks in a sermon. This is how the Jews commonly used it as well. A Pharisee or scribe would give a teaching from scripture and, if the congregation agreed with the teaching, they would say “Amen”. It was used as a response declaring that something that was said was from God and uniquely true.

Mark 1:22 (ESV) speaks of Jesus:

22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

The Jews were astonished at how Jesus taught because He didn’t teach and then wait for someone to confirm His teaching with “Amen”. Every time you see Jesus speak the word “Truly” (or some translations have it as “Verily”), the word He is using is “Amen”; and it is always BEFORE He teaches something, not AFTER.

Jesus taught with authority because He didn’t need anyone’s affirmation, He started His teachings with “Listen up because I am about to tell you an indisputable divine truth from God Himself, whether you like it or not”.

As a mater of fact, the saying “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” is a lie because we insert ourselves into the equation of truth.

Our faulty worldview thinking naturally insinuates that God is dependent on us to affirm Him.

In reality, the truth is “God said it. That settles it.”

God’s Word does not require anyone’s belief in order to be true

God’s Word does not need us to add anything to it in order to be complete.

God’s Word does not need us to take away things we don’t like in order to correct it.

God’s Word does not require us to make special interpretations of “reading between the lines” in order to find it’s meaning.

THE WORD OF GOD IS AMEN!

PRAYER