Things We Can Do For the Truth
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Intro
Intro
Text - 2 Corinthians 13.7-8
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
Title - Things We Can Do For the Truth
Background
Background
The Bible speaks of truth in a different way than the world does:
Secular truth is -
Secular truth is relative
Secular truth is subjective
Secular truth is impersonal
On the other hand, Bible truth is -
Bible truth is absolute
it is not negotiable, and unchangeable
Bible truth is universal
it applies to everyone and at all times
Bible truth is objective
it has purpose
Bible truth is personal -
it is God’s nature
it is personified in Christ
Bible truth is best described as -
factuality - truth conveys a sense of being in accordance with fact or reality, as opposed to being false or in error.
reality and genuineness - truth is used to describe that which is real and genuine, as opposed to fake or only an imitation
faithfulness, reliability, firmness - in O.T. truth is understood as “faithfulness”
The “Truth”
the body of true teachings and revelations from God.
the person of Christ.
There are three (3) types of people in the world in relation to the Bible truth:
those who do not know the truth
those who know the truth but reject and resist it
those who know the truth and embrace it
Which one are we?
Point #1
Truth is - everyone has certain knowledge of truth, especially today.
Point #2
Most people - the sinners - already know the truth but resist them, either directly or indirectly.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
the Pharisees would not believe in spite of the facts surrounding Jesus and His teachings
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
See also - 2 Timothy 3.6-8
Point #3
God desires all men to know the truth because of its saving power
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
See also - 2 Thessalonians 2.10
Point #4
All men are accountable to the truth of God!
hence, salvation and judgment
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
As Christians, who know the truth and believe the truth, what are we to do?
Read the text - 2 Corinthians 13.7
Be “genuine”!
Be “genuine”!
Don’t do things - not doing evil, doing good - just for the sake of appearances (to look/appear good)
Note - these words in verse 7
approved - grk DOKIMOS, genuine
disqualified - grk ADOKIMOS, phony, bogus, not real \
see - 2 Cor 13.5-6
Do the right thing because that’s who you are - a genuine believer and child of God
believer - means you acknoledge the truths of God in your life
child - you follow your Father’s will
It is honorable!
it honorable before men
it give honor to the truth
Examples
Manifesting the truth in ministry - not just preaching it
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
practicing the truth in life
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
walk in the truth - as fellow workers for the truth
3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,
6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The world today is so full of fake things -
fake gospel/christianity
fake news
fake lives
fake wealth
fake happiness
fake love
We have the ultimate reality - God revealed in Christ!
let us live the ultimate reality
let us honor the truth
let us help people know the truth
SONG - Here I Stand (chorus only)