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Tag: John

Acts of the HOLY SPIRIT
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
Gospel of John 3:8 – Jesus Christ teaching on the Holy Spirit
Introducing the Third Person of the Trinity:
Acts 1:
Ascension of the Lord Jesus
The Holy Ghost – In AWE of the Spirit!
The Holy Ghost in Acts – KJV
ACTS in the Spirit
Introducing the Third Person of the Trinity:

Acts 1:

Luke tells us that his first book, the Gospel, was about Jesus Christ and that this second account, Acts, will be about what Jesus accomplished through the Apostles AFTER His ascension into heaven.

We look for the actors (so to speak) who Luke records doing the crucial early works of the Church. Peter immediately comes to mind as well as Paul.

What most Christians may have missed in Luke’s chronicles of the first three decades of Church history is that mysterious Person we first met in the Gospels, the ungraspable Image of God in the Holy Spirit.

Luke tells us that during forty days after His resurrection Jesus appeared to many (in addition to the Apostles).

4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, …

Here, mentioning the Father and the Person of the Son, Luke records the words of Jesus to the Apostles as they must have testified to our author of Acts:

“Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water,

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4b NASB
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God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” – Gospel of John 4:24 ESV

Baptism

And I remind us that baptism [baptizō] ‘produces a permanent change.‘

The Apostles and others are about to be overwhelmed by a permanent change of the Spirit, a baptism receiving the third Person of God, the Holy Spirit. Luke records this cleansing baptism like no other, more that a baptism of water for repentance only.

Ascension of the Lord Jesus

The palpable tension of the Apostle’s encounters with the risen Christ, their beloved friend and Master which concluded Luke’s Gospel now builds once again. Luke records what happens next with this risen Jesus (who they could touch, who shared bread and wine with the Eleven), even the same Jesus who now continued to teach them more for the past forty days.

Christ Jesus again establishes the providence and authority of the Person of God the Father.

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
Acts 1:7 CSB

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses^G3144 ..
Acts of the Apostles 1:8a NASB20

μάρτυς – Witness – (to the ACTS which Luke is about to unfold)
- martys [gk.] [Strong’s 3144] Definition:
- a witness
  1. in a legal sense
  2. an historical sense
    
    one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
  3. in an ethical sense
    
    those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death
Luke is witness through the Apostles not only of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, but a convincing witness to the Holy Spirit as Luke records God’s great acts of power only possible by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.
Roger@talkofJESUS.com

Jesus was taken up as the Apostles watched!

Luke records that this Son of Man, risen in flesh and blood from the grave, had been with them — forty days — and then powerfully and mysteriously Jesus rises into the clouds as they look on (actually, up) in awe!

The Holy Ghost – In AWE of the Spirit!

How would your have reacted to this powerful, yet unexplainable rising of the Lord Jesus into the clouds?

You may find Luke’s account from the King James Version of the Bible helpful in describing your FEAR and AWE of this historical event which also includes angels of God.

The Holy Ghost in Acts – KJV

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Luke records what fear and expectation Jesus planted in their hearts prior to the Lord’s ascension. Jesus compares this power with what they had received from John the Baptist.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:5 KJV – Jesus promising the Apostles a baptism of the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost)

ἁγίου πνεύματος – hagios pneuma – the Holy Ghost

Unless you have a question for me by way of comment, we cannot get into some of the more mysterious depths of discussion about that which we cannot see and understand even less, the Person of the Holy Ghost. For to speak of the Spirit yields little fruit in the hearts of those ‘christians’ who have not yet received the Holy Spirit.

So allow me to define BOTH GREEK WORDS and you can take it from there.

hagios – HOLY
- from ἅγος hágos (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint.
pneuma – spirit

KJV translate this as:

GHOST
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(May I just add that our imagery of the Holy Spirit descending sometimes obscures the awesome power of the third Person of the Trinity, that is, the Holy Ghost.)

READ just some of these definitions from Strong's G4151 for Pneuma below:
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Outline of Biblical Usage
1. the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
  1. sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the “Holy” Spirit)
  2. sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of “Truth”)
  3. never referred to as a depersonalised force
2. the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
  1. the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
  2. the soul
3. a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
  1. a life giving spirit
  2. a human soul that has left the body
  3. a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel
    
    used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men
    
    the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ
4. the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
  1. the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.
5. a movement of air (a gentle blast)
  1. of the wind, hence the wind itself
  2. breath of nostrils or mouth
ACTS in the Spirit

Luke will have much more to say about this mysterious Person of the Trinity and crucial character in his historical account of Acts.
- And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
  - Acts 4:31
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:32
- And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us
  - Acts 15:8
- And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
  - Acts 19:6
Although contemporary ‘christianity‘ characterizes the Holy Ghost less fearfully, in order to see his emphasis on the Person of the Holy Spirit let’s close Luke’s AWE–filled [awesome] introduction to ACTS from the KJV:
- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. – Acts 2:38
to be continued..

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
September 21, 2021
Creeds, Catechism, Confessions & Christ – What does your church teach?
Credo, meaning, “I believe.”

Catechism – Teaching Church Doctrine summarized by Questions & Answers, formal teaching of Doctrines to members of a Church utilizing verbal recitation of questions and answers.

Creed – I believe this.. Confession of Faith – We (the church) believe this.. & Catechism – Our church teaches these Doctrines: 1.. 2.. 3.. etc.

Last week in our series on Doctrine I defined and shared a brief look at Creeds. We discovered that a Creed is simply a brief statement of what you (supposedly) believe. And while some churches ritually repeat these as part of worship, every church has an underlying defined set of beliefs preached to the masses and taught to the uninitiated.

Creeds, Catechisms, Confessions & Christ – What do you believe?

Confession that Jesus is κύριος – Lord would have been a first Creed of the Way (Christians).

What does your church believe?

After glancing at a few Creeds and Confessions of faith do you now know more about what you believe and what your church believes and preaches?

New believers and children are far more likely to have heard the catechism of your church than a casual weekly ‘worshiper’ gathering for its music and preaching. YES, every church has a catechism (whether veiled, indoctrinated or responsibly taught to its members).

You likely have a few questions of your own (& please do not hesitate to share your question via a comment to this post).

Christian Catechism 100

Allow me to ask you just a few questions you might have heard and can answer from a catechism of your church.
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Some will recognize that a 100 series in teaching addresses pre-requisite knowledge; therefore your answers may come more readily to these selective catechism questions than from a 'Catechism 803'theology course. 

Note that your children may be taught more than these in their second or third year of 'Sunday School' or a Christian Academy you have chosen for them in lieu of a 'public' school indoctrinating ALL with world-class 'education.'
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Do YOU know the answers to your children’s’ catechism questions?
1. What is the Trinity?
2. Who is the Holy Spirit?
3. What is the Law of God and what does it require?
4. What is sin?
5. What is idolatry?
6. What happens when we die?
7. Will all be saved to eternal life?
8. Who is Christ?
9. What is the resurrection?
10. How does Christ redeem me from sin?
Bonus Question: What makes the Bible Holy?

What do YOU believe?

Catechism? You get the idea from these sample questions above.

Catechism is teaching.

Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.

Preaching and Teaching

Christians hold to and teach a reasoned faith.

Through our study of the Holy Bible, Christians Creeds and Confessions of Faith we grow in our confidence in the Lord God and Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit we continue in the confidence of our salvation God has predestined for those faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

But before we look at Catechisms, let’s briefly define preaching and teaching, comparing their distinct yet parallel roles in the lives of the Church.

Preaching

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim H7121 liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim H7121 the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
KJV Strong’s H7121 matches the Hebrew קָרָא (qārā’). “preach*” AND “H7121“ Yeshaiya (Isaiah) 61:1-2 [WLC link]

Hebrew definition – to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim;
- preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
- from קָרָא qârâʼ, kaw-raw’; a primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person (metaphor); to call out to
but we preach^G2784 Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness,
Strong’s G2784 – κηρύσσω kērýssō, kay-roos’-so; of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preacher(-er), proclaim, publish. – 1 Corinthians 1:20 NASB20
- Greek definition used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers
Teaching

Now note from this New Testament letter of Paul to Timothy (written in Greek) some particular similarities and differences between preachers and teachers. (We will not dig into the many doctrines covered in these few verses.)

2 Timothy

.. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
2 Timothy 1:11 NASB20
- κῆρυξ – a preacher – a herald, i.e. of divine truth (especially of the gospel):—preacher.
- ἀπόστολος – an apostle – a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders
- διδάσκαλος – a teacher – in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man
  - From διδάσκω (G1321) – .. to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, to impart instruction,
    
    instill doctrine into one.. to explain or expound a thing, to teach one something
Catechism & Teaching Doctrine

The Creeds, Catechisms and Confessions are useful study tools to assist in understanding the Scriptures and in teaching Bible studies to others. These documents help to reaffirm the tenants of the traditional, historic Christian faith.
BlueLetterBible.org – source for most definitions of this post – RH

Why Catechisms MUST reflect Biblical Authority ABOVE all Church authority

The following article and resource originally ran on July 8, 2018. A few weeks later, Pope Francis announced a redaction of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church..
RESOURCE: Traditional Catholic Catechisms [Updated]

Catechisms included here reflect the doctrines and teachings of traditional Christian Protestant Denominations. – RH

Luther’s Small Catechism of 1529

Luther wrote his little catechism for parents to instruct their children in the faith just as he wrote his larger catechism as remedial instruction for pastors. Catechism in its Latin form means “book of instruction.”

From its Greek roots, catechism means literally “sounding down in the ears” or, more pointedly, “indoctrination” in the Christian faith.
source: St Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

For Martin Luther, basic catechesis (doctrinal instruction) in the Christian faith refers to teaching children (and their parents!) the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the biblical basis for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confession.
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Although the complete Catechisms may be read on secure links, ONLY a few EXAMPLES of KEY DOCTRINAL TEACHING can be included in this brief post. - RH
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Heidelberg Catechism of 1563
- 128 questions & answers; later,129 questions and answers were divided into 52 “Lord’s Days” with a view to the Catechism’s being explained in one of the services on the Lord’s Day.
Here is the typical Q & A format with Scriptural references supporting the Authority of each answer:

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
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PAUSE: IF you yourself have never heard this or considered this life and death question, 
NOW might be a good time to pray for an answer (prior to reading the Scripturally supported ANSWER below). - RH
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Answer:

That I with body and soul, both in life and death,^a am not my own,^b but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ;^c who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins,^d and delivered me from all the power of the devil;^e and so preserves me^f that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;^g yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation,^h and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,ⁱ and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.^j
Answer to Question 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism – a-j notes to Scriptural references

Scripture References:

(a) Rom 14:7-8 (b) 1Co 6:19 (c) 1Co 3:23; Tts 2:14 (d) 1Pe 1:18-19; 1Jo 1:7; 1Jo 2:2; 1Jo 2:12 (e) Hbr 2:14; 1Jo 3:8; Jhn 8:34-36 (f) Jhn 6:39; Jhn 10:28; 2Th 3:3; 1Pe 1:5 (g) Mat 10:29-31; Luk 21:18 (h) Rom 8:28 (i) 2Co 1:20-22; 2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13-14; Rom 8:16; 1Jo 3:3 (j) Rom 8:14; 1Jo 3:3

Heidelberg Catechism of 1563: The First Part – Of the Misery of Man

Here is ANSWER to my combined QUESTION #3 above from Questions 3 & 4.

Trinity and True Faith

Let’s cut to the chase (so to speak). Scripture WARNS of false preaching and false teachers in the last days.

Again, from 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money.
- They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful.
- They will consider nothing sacred.
- They will be unloving and unforgiving;
- they will slander others and have no self-control.
- They will be cruel and hate what is good.
- They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
- They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.
Stay away from people like that!

Heidelberg Catechism of 1563: The Second Part – Of Man’s Deliverance

Trinity and the true faith of Scripture as expressed in Creeds caution the church (or the saints {small ‘s’} in these life and death matters. For these are matters concerning ETERNAL LIFE with the Lord or the God-given punishment of Hell and Death deserved by ALL.
- Question 12: Answer: God will have his justice satisfied: and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or by another.
- Question 16. Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?
- Question 17. Why must he in one person be also very God?
Here (among other doctrines) is where false teachers DENY TRINITY & refuse to teach the Very Truth of Scripture.

If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Gospel of John 10: Question of the Jews as Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of Solomon.

“I and the Father are one.”
The Word of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of John
- Question 22. What is then necessary for a christian to believe?
- Answer: All things promised us in the gospel,a which the articles of our catholic undoubted christian faith briefly teach us.
- References: (a) Jhn 20:31; Mat 28:19; Mar 1:15
What follows as the answer to Question 23 is THE APOSTLES CREED.
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
TRINITY, from the beginning – Father, begotten Son and Holy Ghost [or Holy Spirit].
- Question 25. Since there is but one only divine essence,(a) why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
- Answer: Because God has so revealed himself in his word,(b) that these three distinct persons are the one only true and eternal God.
- References:
  - (a) Deu 6:4; Eph 4:6; Isa 44:6; Isa 45:5; 1Co 8:4; 1Co 8:6
  - (b) Isa 61:1; Luk 4:18; Gen 1:2; Gen 1:3; Psa 33:6; Isa 48:16; Psa 110:1; Mat 3:16; Mat 3:17; Mat 28:19; 1Jo 5:7; Isa 6:1; Isa 6:3; Jhn 14:26; John 15:26; 2Co 13:13; Gal 4:6; Eph 2:18; Tts 3:5; Tts 3:6
Heidelberg Catechism of 1563: The Second Part – Of God the Son

Question 29. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus”, that is a Saviour?

Answer: Because he saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins;(a) and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.(b)

References: (a) Mat 1:21; Hbr 7:24-25 (b) Act 4:12; Jhn 15:4-5; 1Ti 2:5; Isa 43:11; 1Jo 5:11

Now the birth of Jesus the [From Gr Christos, which means Messiah (Heb for Anointed One)] Messiah was as follows: .. an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph.. that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He himself will save His people from their sins.”
The Gospel of Matthew excerpt from 1:18a,20b,d,v.21

This section of the Heidelberg Catechism of the 16th century asks students of true faith a question still relevant to you, to me and to every 21st century Christian:
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(I'll paraphrase question 32 to update the translation from German into the King's English used in the KJV.)
[Time to PAUSE & think through your reasoned Christian faith before you answer the KEY QUESTION below.]
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- Do YOU, my 21st century brother (or sister) in Christ have an answer of your Christian witness?
- Is the Doctrine (teaching or catechism) from which you learned your answer based on Holy Scripture?
Why are you called a Christian?
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References: (a) Act 11:26 
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Because I am a member of Christ by faith;
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References: (b) 1Co 6:15
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therefore I share in His anointing
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References: (c) 1Jo 2:27; Act 2:17
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so that I may confess Jesus’ name
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References: (d) Mat 10:32; Rom 10:10; Mar 8:38
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and offer myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him.
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References: (e) Rom 12:1; 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9; Rev 5:8; Rev 5:10; Rev 1:6
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As a Christian with a free and good conscience I may fight against sin and Satan in this life;
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References: (f) 1Pe 2:11 Rom 6:12-13; Gal 5:16-17; Eph 6:11; 1Ti 1:18-19 
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and after this mortal life, Christ may choose me to reign with him eternally, over all creatures.
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References: (g) 2Ti 2:12; Mat 24:34

*Complete Scripture will open in BlueLetterBible.org as you read each Question, Answer & Reference. I recommend it for your further prayer and study. RH
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The statement is trustworthy:
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we will deny Him, He will also deny us;
2 Timothy 2:11-12 NASB20

Are you a Christian?

Do you believe the teaching of the Holy Bible and the Word of God?

Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy;

and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John 22:11-13 NASB

“It is written in the Prophets: ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
John 6:45 NASB – The Words and Good News of Jesus Christ

What does your church teach?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life.
John 6:47 – The Word of the Lord

AFFIRM this DOCTRINE

DENY this DOCTRINE
September 4, 2021
Inerrant TRUTH: Our reasoned Biblical Faith
WHY would you study the HOLY BIBLE?

For inerrant truth!

Do we believe by faith? YES, but not a fantastical faith or unrealistic religious calling to that which cannot be known.

In most circumstances and communications, truth matters to me and also to you. Certainly God speaks only truth and the Bible is where ‘it is written’ by God, through men and confirmed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Truth matters to God as it ought to mankind of His creation.

A Perfect Lord God does not make mistakes, nor does He lie to a man (as men frequently deceive one another).

In review:
- GOD IS HOLY and
- THE BIBLE IS HOLY
- ONLY Scripture has God’s authority of Truth.
We have just studied several of His doctrines as students seeking knowlege and truth.

[Oops! I frequently make an error in knowledge. Did YOU catch it?]

Do we also make errors in TRUTH?

ONLY SCRIPTURE: The Highest Authority of GOD!

ONLY SCRIPTURE speaks to man with the Highest Authority of TRUTH.

THE HOLY BIBLE SPEAKS

Why would you study the BIBLE?

Share your question about scripture with other Christians at talkofJESUS.com

GOD speaks to man through the HOLY Spirit in what is written in Holy Scripture. Since man now seeks knowledge of good and evil, our first question of reasoned faith becomes where to look. Our logical pursuit of good also leads man to weigh God-given and God-evident truth.

Besides our own observations of evidence and fact, where will one learn truth without error?

Where do we find this unshakable faith in what GOD has said?

In the Holy Bible, which contains Inerrant truth of what God has said.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:17 KJV – prayer of Christ Jesus

The Highest Authority of the Lord God will confirm unequivocal inerrant truth ONLY in the HOLY BIBLE, if we will READ and Study the very Word of God.

KNOWING GOD

In his book, ‘Knowing God,’ J.I. Packer, after beginning, “..the Bible is his word,” in five theological points writes”

Godliness means responding to God’s revelation in trust and obedience, faith and worship, prayer and praise, submission and service. Life must be seen and lived in the light of God’s word. This, and nothing else, is true religion.
Knowing God p.20 – five basic truths #5

What is truth?

Most Christians will recognize the question of Pontius Pilate to Christ Jesus to which the Prefect of Judea from Rome expected no answer.

Like Pilate, we sometimes ask about truth rhetorically, expecting no answer or having no measure of relative truth.

Where can we find reliable Truth (with a capital ‘T’)?

The BIBLE is your source.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Gospel of John 1:14 NASB20 – Do you seek the Truth in the flesh?

Objective, Subjective & relative truth

Packer makes the important point that God’s truth does not change. [p.78]

Again, quoting Packer in KNOWING GOD:

Truth in the Bible is a quality of persons primarily, of propositions only secondarily. It means stability, reliability, firmness, trustworthiness, the quality of a person who is entirely self-consistent, sincere, realistic, undeceived.
KNOWING GOD, p.113

I like this definition of Truth. Don’t you?

Look back that this list of qualities of such a person. Then note what Packer says next:

God is such a person: truth, in this sense, is his nature, and he has not got it in him to be anything else.
J. I. Packer

To fully understand objective Truth (with a capital ‘T’) you must meet the Person of a personal God.

When God tells Moses to tell the people his Name, “I AM that I AM,” the LORD states objective truth.

Subjective truth on the other hand depends on the separate minds of mankind.

Therefore philosophers (theists and atheists alike) refer to subjective truth as the nature of a thing, essential attributes that which makes it what it is, or its inherent essential qualities.

All that to say, I think, therefore I am this or I am that. And that makes me what I am.

Perhaps God is required (the conclusion of theists) or perhaps not (even definitely not, say the atheists who deny the evidence, lack faith and cannot prove either theory).

In any case, the case of philosophers is subjective truth, conjecture, as it were.

Theories of Relativity

But it gets worse. From the varying opinions of men and acceptance of all possibilities (whether possible or not, whether true or not), we get:

Relative truth (Capital ‘R’ + very small ‘t’).

a parable of the madman who is searching for God

— Of course you think ‘God is dead,’ because you buried your BIBLE.
The theory.. truth.. morality, have no universal validity – source
philosophical doctrine (teaching) of the relativity of knowledge
theory, especially in ethics.. conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute..
That is to say, the theory of relativism, by accepting ALL truths (small ‘t’), teaches a philosophy of tolerance, void of moral values and insistent that only their truth is absolute.

All gods and all religions are valid except any which proclaim absolute Truth {capital ‘T’) and One God with true authority of man. Relativists, as universalists, do NOT believe in the One True God of the Bible. In practice, though some may claim ‘god,’ their worship (if any) is idolatry. These false philosophers and teachers are, in fact, atheists.

God is NOT dead; only Truth, murdered by atheists.
Truth (capital ‘T’) may not exist

(they claim).

Refuting the absolute Truth of God denies facts in evidence.
Truth (capital ‘T’ absolute truth) is unprovable in the separate and sinfully separated minds of mankind.
(although relativists deny sin, morality & truth –
{see their denial by definition above})
What do you believe about Biblical Truth?

God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.
Psalm 53:2 [Foolishness and Wickedness of People.
(also Psalm 14:1–7 )] {v.1 is about the fool}

A man (or woman) can understand truth.

And we can understand [שָׂכַל] [to be prudent, be circumspect or wisely understand, prosper] in truth by seeking the Lord God by faith in Holy Scripture.

Once again, Packer, in KNOWING GOD, states:

True Christians are those who acknowledge and live under the word of God.
J.I. Packer in Knowing God, p116

Quoting Daniel, Packer adds: They submit without reserve to the word of God written in “the Book of Truth”..

“However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of truth.
Daniel 10:21a NASB20 [additional translations]

IF you seek truth in the Bible, you would do well to seek after God in the Scriptures included in this verse.
- In the Scripture כְּתָב from כָּתַב
- of truth אֱמֶת [firmness, faithfulness, truth] Contracted from אָמַן (H539)
But IF you do NOT seek Biblical Truth or the TRUTH written by God in Scripture, you will need to note the enemy of Truth mentioned in the second part of Daniel’s writing in 10:21b (also linked above).

Christians do believe proven facts; however science frequently claims THEORY as FACT.

Science is NOT the highest authority of Truth. God IS.
Roger@talkofJESUS.com

Therefore we do NOT believe certain THEORIES of scientists and philosophers which claim TRUTH, but are NOT FACT. These include:

First – false ‘facts’ we do NOT believe
- Evolution is theory built on the premise and philosophy that the created is god.
  - The Bible refers to such beliefs as idolatry, of which the most prevalent in man is idolatry of self.
- Naturalism is theory, not scientific fact.
  - Carbon dating conjectures calendars with complex limited variables, but beta testing of the late 20th century and calibration curves for calendar examples fail to prove origin of most things (let alone the world).
- Environmentalism is a movement and ideology..
  - which includes speculative theories of climate change.
- Physical cosmology, by definition is dependent on ‘the scientific theory‘
  - (without reference to what happened BEFORE the big bang!
  - or reasoning: Who (or what) caused it?)
- This list of FALSE so called ‘facts’ is NOT exhaustive.
Truth is illusive in the unproven theories of science which man mirrors as “fact.”
Roger@talkofJESUS.com
“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! .. Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
Isaiah 45:9a,c NKJV

Seek TRUTH in Scripture

Start with Scripture studied and taught with precision and clarity
AND grow in your faith by its inerrant TRUTH.
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Gospel of John 8:31b-32 NASB20 – The words of Jesus to those Jews [who knew scripture well &] who had believed Him

If you continue..

I have shared opposing views of inherent truth today. In fact, IF I have not provoked some reasoned thought about the Truth of the Bible I have missed the mark.
- Do YOU really believe THAT about the Bible?
- Does Scripture convey inerrant truth?
Please COMMENT & SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

NEXT: We will ask you some pointed doctrinal questions about the inerrancy of Scripture from a panel of distinguished theologians of the late 20th century. Until then, may the Lord bring the clarity of reasoned faith to your heart as you respond to this Saturday Doctrinal Post on talkofJESUS.COM
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To be continued... 
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August 7, 2021