Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 54 – The essence of God – Truth. 1Co 2:9-10; Rom 1:25; Joh 4:23; 17:17; 8:32; 3:33.



Class Outline:

Title: Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 54 - The essence of God - Truth. 1CO 2:9-10; ROM 1:25; JOH 4:23; 17:17; 8:32; 3:33.  

 

I: Veracity - Being self-existent and eternal God is the only source of absolute truth. God can never be in error.

 

Without divine revelation of the truth from the Scripture by means of God the Holy Spirit then we will be deceived.

 

1CO 2:9 but just as it is written,

"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,

And which have not entered the heart of man,

All that God has prepared for those who love Him."

 

1CO 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

 

What the deceived Gnostics and Docetists believe to mean that matter is an illusion, God intends to reveal that the truth of what He has prepared for the believer cannot be seen by rationalism or empiricism, but can only be supernaturally revealed by God the Holy Spirit. 

 

Thayer defines aletheia the noun (truth) as follows; "verity, truth, what is true in any matter under consideration."

 

In reference to religion in general, the word denotes "what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man."

 

This would be the revealing of false doctrines that make up the world’s religions.

 

ROM 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.

 

ROM 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

 

In Christianity, “truth” refers to what is revealed about God, His purposes through Christ, and the duties of His children.

 

The number one duty of His children is to love one another.

 

JOH 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

 

JOH 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

 

There is a truth to this love that is often overlooked and intentionally buried by satan and that is how it comes to the believer.

 

ROM 4:25 He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

 

ROM 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

ROM 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

 

ROM 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

 

ROM 5:4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

 

ROM 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God [agape] has been poured out [gushed out] within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

The truth is that God the HS produces the love and the more knowledge of God you have [taught by God the HS] the more love you will have for Him. The key is the first part; you have been completely forgiven of all sin. You are justified before God forever.

 

When used of the body of truth in Christianity, it refers to the truth as taught therein respecting God and the execution of His purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposed alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles, the inventions of the Jews [Rabbinical interpretations that are false], and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers.

 

JOH 4:23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

 

JOH 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

 

It is used also of that candor of mind which is free from affectation [feigned or unnatural behavior that is meant to impress others], pretence [false claims], simulation, falsehood, deceit.

 

In other words, God wants you to be the real deal.

 

1CO 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

 

ROM 9:1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

 

ROM 9:2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.

 

Sorrow is completely justified in certain cases. You don’t always need to be given the right doctrinal talk by another who is trying to undo your sorrow. Jesus was a man of sorrows. He wept over Jerusalem. I can just see some self righteous Christian telling Jesus all the doctrinal reasons why weeping is not necessary.

 

EPH 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

 

EPH 6:14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

 

By this the believer under the truth of God makes no apologies for who he is. What freedom there is in truth?!

 

EPH 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. 

 

JOH 8:31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

 

JOH 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

 

 “Truth” is also used of sincerity of mind and integrity of character, also of a mode of life in harmony with divine truth.

 

1TI 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

 

1TI 4:2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

 

1TI 4:3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

 

1TI 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

 

1TI 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

 

1TI 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

 

1TI 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

 

The verb avlhqeu,w[aletheuo] means to speak the truth, GAL 4:16; EPH 4:15.

 

GAL 4:16

Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?

 

EPH 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

 

EPH 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ,

 

EPH 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

 

There is another word alethinos which is also translated by the word "true," but which has an added content of meaning that throws further light upon the places where it is used.

 

avlhqino,j[alethinos - adjective] = true with the added content of showing the real, true, and genuine item.

 

Like all adjectives it modifies nouns and where this is used the noun is identified as that which is unadulterated, real, and genuine as opposed to semblances, fakes, or simulated replicas.

 

The word alethinos, used twenty two times in John's writings and only five times in the rest of the N.T., means, "that which has not only the name and semblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name."

 

It is particularly used to express that which is all that it pretends to be, for instance, pure gold as opposed to adulterated metal. It is opposed to that which is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated, and pretended. It is what we mean by the expression, "that’s the genuine article."

 

Alethinos contrasts realities with semblances. It is opposed to that which is imperfect, defective, frail, and uncertain.

 

JOH 1:9 There was the true [alethinos] light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

 

JOH 5:35 He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

 

JOH 6:32 Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread [true bread] out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.

 

PSA 105:40

They asked, and He brought quail,

And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.