The word "truth" is found in the gospels 105 times. Of those, 80 times it’s used by Jesus to say, "I tell you the truth!" This would suggest that truth is significantly important to Jesus. In Matthew 7 Jesus warns, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Just a few verses later he adds, "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’" In Matthew 24:9-14 Jesus warned that in the end time many would turn from the faith, that there would be many false teachers, and much deception. In Mark 13:23 he warns us to be on guard against such things! In John 14:6 he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me!" Jesus is not one way among many. He is the way. He’s the only way. Finally, in John 8:31, 32 Jesus stated the following to those who believed him, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." He speaks of being set free from sin. It is only if we know the truth. It is only if we hold to his teaching. Does it matter what you believe? According to Jesus it most emphatically does!

The Apostle John was just as emphatic! Read 1 John 2:20-27. He makes such statements as, "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ." This is how important it is to believe the truth about who Jesus is. He was not just a historical man who lived 2000 years ago. He was not just a prophet. In fact John here also said, referring to any who would deny that Jesus is the Christ (one anointed to rule over the future kingdom of God), that such a man is the antichrist, that he denies the Father and the Son. John also warns us in 1 John 4:1, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." The spirits we should test are those teachers or any power or even organization that is out in the world teaching in the name of the Lord. John would instill in us a strong sense of caution. Don’t believe everything you hear just because it’s taught in the name of the Lord. Does it matter what you believe? John would certainly say that it does. See also 2 John 1-11 and 3 John 1-4.

What about the Apostle Paul? He would surely concur with both Jesus and John. In Acts 20 he warned about savage wolves working from within the church to distort the truth and draw people away. He added, in verse 31, "So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." In Galatians 1:6 he cautioned his readers, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all."

Paul expressed his frustration with the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 11:4, "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough!" Paul isn’t speaking here about far out religions. He’s talking about perversions within Christianity!

How important is truth? Consider the value of a $20 bill. While it may not be worth what it once was, it’s still worth $20 at today’s marketplace. What about a counterfeit $20 bill? A counterfeit $20 bill is not worth the paper it’s printed on, although if you don’t know that it’s counterfeit, you would be fooled into thinking it’s worth $20. A counterfeit fools people because it’s similar to the real thing. Likewise there are all sorts of religious teachings in the world, that may even be similar to the truths of the scriptures. The challenge before people of faith is to study the scriptures to determine from them the truths which God has revealed. Following are four questions that may help in discerning scriptural truthfulness of any religious teachings:

1. Is there a solid Biblical basis for the teaching?

2. Is the teaching based on just one or a few unclear passages?

3. Is the teaching consistent with the rest of scripture?

4. Does the teaching go against reason or logic?

 

It has been said that the best way to not be taken in by a lie is to be very familiar with the truth. We encourage you to study the scriptures. Together we’ll discover the good news and the hope that God offers all his creation. There may be a surprise or two. It may challenge you to think outside the box. We’ll soon post this and past articles on our web site. If it is true, that it really does matter what you believe, and the scriptures are rather emphatic that it does, then what are the basic doctrines or teachings of the scriptures? They would have to include the truth about who God is, how many Gods there are, who Jesus is, the nature of man, what the gospel is all about, what we have to do to be saved, etc. In our next issue we’ll begin with God. What does he reveal about himself? Is he one? Is he three? What does the Bible say about the trinity? How does it all add up? Are all the various Gods of all the various religions really one and the same? As always, we welcome your responses and questions.