Why It’s More Important Than Ever That Christians are Practicing Students of the Bible (Part 1)
The truth has incredible power..when you know it.
Ever since I started reading the Bible many decades ago, it became pretty obvious that God cares a lot about the truth.
In describing who He is and what He came to do, Jesus said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6, ESV)
Of all the things He could have said to describe why He came when He stood on trial before Pontius Pilate, He chose these words, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37b, ESV))
One of the most famous passages in the entire Bible is John 8:32, ESV: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
Godly truth liberates us to be and do God’s holy, wonderful plans and purposes.
Truth is the nature of God and is essential to His liberating and healing power.
On the other hand, Jesus said that the enemy is a liar.
In addressing a group of hypocrites who were verbally attacking Him and what He taught, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44, ESV)
Wow! The character of the devil, the opposite of God, involves lying and murdering, and they are often tied them together.
The lies of the enemy bury, reject, or distort the real truth, leading to murder, destruction, and bondage.
Jesus said God’s words are truth.(John 17:17, ESV. When enlightened by the Holy Spirit to those who hunger and thirst for it, empowers, liberates and heals us. It transforms, sanctifies, guides and so much more.
Truth from God’s word carries the life, nature, and power of God because Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and He is the truth.
We can define truth as “the way things really are, the actual state of things.”
We humans have very limited knowledge about how things really are
.In her book Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark, Sarafina El-Badry Nance writes,”Everything we know-everything we see–is just 5% of everything in the Universe.”.
Even with all scientists have learned and continue to learn, we know maybe, just 5% of it. That means there is an awful lot we just don’t know.
We have limited information and often, the information we have is not correct .But the One who created it all and holds all of it together, down the tiniest quark and the largest star knows EVERYTHING.
He knows the truth in every area of existence. Even more than that, to the core, His nature is truth. He cannot lie.
The Most Important Factor in our Behavior
Both God and Satan know the greatest factor in how we feel, speak, and act is what we believe to be true. What we believe to be true in our core, our subconscious, our inner man is the most powerful force in how we live.
If I believe in my core (not just information, but a deeply held belief) that God is good, then I will open my soul to Him and develop a relationship with Him. If, however, I believe He is cruel, unjust, and uncaring I will avoid Him, or accuse Him, maybe even hate Him.
What I deeply believe is true will guide my life.
It’s hit me again recently that the writers of Scripture, especially the New Testament were repeatedly, constantly focusing on what we believe They never taught, “this is my truth” or “have your truth”, they taught “this is God’s truth, THE truth.
They understood deeply that what we believed to be true was of vital importance. Repeatedly they addressed false teaching and false beliefs, declaring “this is what God says is truth.”
All of us, including Christians, have some truths and beliefs that are more important to us or that we hold on to more than others ,God gives each of us deeper insights in some areas than others based on His purposes and plans for us.
But if we want to live the abundant, truly free lives God desires; all of His truth must be humbly received and pursued like the most valuable thing on the planet. (Proverbs 2, ESV).
The Enemy’s Starting Point
The devil’s greatest power, the starting point of his goal of killing, stealing, and destroying (John 10:10a) is his deception.
Realizing the power of truth and deception is of massive importance. If we don’t understand his goals and tactics, then it’s easy for him to deceive us.
In Part 2 we’ll look at his goals and tactics, repeated with various shades and colors, so we can recognize them, defeat them, and experience increasingly freer lives in Christ.
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