A Knowledge of the Truth
Intro.
1. "Why are we so sure we know the truth?" "We could be wrong!" "Good, sincere brethren disagree…how do we know we are right?!" "You are too simplistic, Joe." "Nobody has 100% knowledge."
2. These statements cast doubt on:
a. Our ability to correctly know the truth of God, and
b. Our ability to teach truth without doubt, ambiguity or uncertainty.
3. When we give up the proposition that we can understand and obey "the whole counsel of God" we have undermined faith in Christ & His gospel to save us! (Rom. 1:16; Acts 20:27)
I. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS AND HIS TEACHINGS - Matt. 22:16
A. We Know Jesus Is True - Jno. 7:18.
B. We Know Jesus Teaches The Way Of God In Truth - Jno. 12:49-50; 14:6.
C. We Know Jesus Teaches Without Partiality - Lk. 20:21.
D. We Know Jesus Gave His Teachings To His Apostles - Jno. 16:12-15.
II. WE CAN CERTAINLY KNOW THE TRUTH JESUS TAUGHT - Jno. 8:31- 32. (And, we can know it with certainty!)
A. We Can Be "Established In The Present Truth" - 2 Pet. 1:12 (1 Pet. 1:22-25).
B. Like Paul, We Can Be "Teachers…In Faith And Truth" - 1 Tim. 2:7.
C. We Can Understand The Knowledge Of The Apostles - Eph. 3:3-5.
D. We Can Know The Truth Like The Early Saints Did - 1 Jno. 2:21.
E. By Our Conduct We Know If We Are "Of The Truth" - 1 Jno. 3:18-19.
III. BY A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH…
We know God and come to God - Jno. 1:1-3, 14-18; 14:6.
We are given competent testimony & called by God to have faith in Jesus - Jno. 19:35; Rom. 10:16-17 (Jno. 6:44-45; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 1:8).
The Son of God frees us from sin - Jno. 8:31-32, 36.
We are brought to God's salvation - 1 Tim. 2:3-4.
We are identified as Christians, separated from sin - Heb. 10:26.
We know how to behave ourselves in the church - 1 Tim. 3:15.
We receive God's blessings with thanksgiving - 1 Tim. 4:3.
We are corrected & brought to repentance, thus escaping the devil's snare - 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
We have fellowship with God - 1 Jno. 2:3-5; 3:24.
The word of God abides in us - 1 Jno. 2:12-14 (Jas. 1:21).
We "test the spirits, (to see) whether they are of God" - 1 Jno. 4:1.
IV. TO SAY WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF GOD'S TRUTH IS TO:
Indict the power of God to communicate His will - Deut. 30:11-14 (Rom. 10:6-8).
Deny the power of truth - 2 Tim. 3:5-7 (Rom. 1:16).
Imply that Bible study is ultimately futile - 2 Tim. 2:15.
Imply we cannot know whether we have gone beyond the doctrine of Christ - 2 Jno. 9 (Gal. 1:8-9).
Make contending for the faith impotent, useless & self-serving - Jude 3.
Make giving an answer for our hope an arrogant exercise - 1 Pet. 3:15.
Conclusion
1. Truth is a great blessing from God which directs our path - Psa. 119:105.
2. Do not believe or accept the uncertain sounds of unbelief which undermine faith in the truth and understanding of God's holy word! - Psa. 119:104, 130