1 t r u t h slide 81 cults class 2. 2 the statistics! according to pollster george barna: –only 9%...

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T R U T H slide 81

Cults Class 2

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The Statistics!• According to pollster George Barna:

– Only 9% of “born again” teenagers believe that absolute truth even exists

– At least 60% of the children from evangelical homes are estimated to leave the church once they leave home

• Reasons:– No answers from the church for the

hard questions asked by our youth– Indoctrination of our youth in

secularism and evolutionism– No real teaching on the Truth!

What is truth? John 18:39

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

The Truth is Within You

Truth is Inconvenient! Truth is power

Truth is out of style!

Truth is lost in translation!

There is no truth!

Truth is stranger than fiction!

I am Truth!!!

They can’t They can’t

BOTH BOTH

be true!be true!Rev. Billy Graham – Rev. Billy Graham – God Exists!God Exists!

Madalyn O’Hair – Madalyn O’Hair – God Does NOT God Does NOT Exist!Exist!

The Law of Non-Contradiction

Humanistic reasoning vs. ultimate truth:

• Since:• 2+2=4• 2x2=4• Humanists conclude;• 2+3=5• 2x3=5

• Humanistic reasoning ignores some absolute truths!

• Those that use presumptive logic come to invalid conclusions.

• Objective truth takes the facts, not you own idea of the facts.

• Many people simply take their idea - they say things like…

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Objections to Objective Truth

1. There is no such thing as truth!

2. You can’t know truth!

3. All truth is relative!

4. It’s true for you but not for me!

5. No one has the truth!

6. All truth depends on your perspective!

7. Just love and tolerate different views

1. True love corrects those in error2. God is truth, and God is love, and

Jesus is the Word, thus, love and truth are not mutually exclusive but tied together!

1. True love corrects those in error2. God is truth, and God is love, and

Jesus is the Word, thus, love and truth are not mutually exclusive but tied together!

Just ‘love’ and tolerate different truth claimsJust ‘love’ and tolerate different truth claims

The Golden rule:

• Mat 7:12-15 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

• Mat 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

• Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

• Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

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• Mat 22:37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

• Mat 22:38 "This is the great and foremost commandment.

• Mat 22:39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

• Mat 22:40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

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Let’s reason through this:

• All the law and the prophets and every command in scripture is all about love. The commands ‘hang’ – get their power, get noticed, from a heart of love.

• If you obey the law without love, it profits you nothing!

• If you have all the gifts, without love, it profits you nothing – so all the gifts hang on love as well! We don’t nullify the gifts and say all we need is love, just like love doesn’t nullify the commands but empowers them!

• I Cor. 1310

• Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

• Mat 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

• Mat 5:19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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This Truth hasn’t changed – love is all about obedience to God’s

Word!

• Exo 20:6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

• Deu 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

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• Deu 11:1 "You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.

• Jos 22:5 "Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

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• Jos 22:5 "Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

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• Neh 1:5 I said, "I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

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• Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

• Joh 14:24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words

• Joh 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

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• We are commanded to love God first. How do we demonstrate our love for God?

• By keeping His commandments!• For those who say we just need to love and

not obey the rest of the commands in scripture, they are liars and have listened to the voice of the enemy, ‘did God really say you can’t _____________’, ‘Just love – that’s all you have to do’.

• Case in point:17

• I know a group of ‘Christians’ who refuse to pay taxes.

• Why should we pay taxes?

• Mat 22:21 They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

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• Rom 13:7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

• Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

• Rom 13:9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

• Rom 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

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With their reasoning we would conclude:

• We don’t have to pay taxes – that was a command is scripture but all we have to do is love our government, not pay taxes.

• They make the commands in scripture meaningless!

• They pick and choose what to obey out of convenience or personal ideologies or societal norms!

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They teach ‘God is not the author of confusion, but ignore the next

verse:

• 1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

• 1Co 14:34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.

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They also reject this verse:

• Tit 2:5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

• Βλασφημεω blasphemeo• Thayer Definition:• 1) to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile,

calumniate, blaspheme, not honored,• 2) to be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at• It is blaspheme not to obey the teachings of

scripture!

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Did Paul correct false doctrine, even in the ‘non-essentials’?

• YES! Almost every letter written by Paul was to correct false teaching or practice!

• Case in point• There are many today who are ah-

millennialist – they say the resurrection (rapture) has already taken place and we will Christianize the world and then Jesus will come to establish His everlasting kingdom. Among those are Hank Hanegraff.

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Here is how Paul dealt with those who teach this false doctrine:

• 1Ti 1:18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

• 1Ti 1:19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

• 1Ti 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

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What was their blaspheme?• 2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to

God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

• 2Ti 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

• 2Ti 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

• 2Ti 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.

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We must correct false doctrine!

• 2 Cor. 10:5, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready … “

• We must obey the commands in scripture!

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Knowing Jesus is everything!

• On judgment day, it won’t matter how ‘good’ you were.

• The only thing that will matter is did you make Jesus Lord and Savior of your life!

• If you’ve done that – you know Him, and He knows you!

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Jesus said…

• Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

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How do you know Christ?

• By studying His Word!• By praying• By good Christian fellowship• By loving Him• By Obedience!

His Word is absolute Truth. If it is not reliable, we have nothing to base our faith on. Truth must originate outside of the mind of finite man! It must come from God!

• Joh 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

• Joh 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.

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• The Word of God is Truth and the commands are imperative!

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Truth• αληθεια aletheia Thayer Definition:• 1) objectively 1a) what is true in any matter under

consideration

• 1b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth– 1b1) in the greatest latitude

– 1b2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention

• 1c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians

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You can find the Truth!

• The Bible is the ‘Word of God’.• (1Jo 2:14) I have written to you, fathers, because

you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

• • (Rev 1:2) who testified to the word of God and to the

testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.• • (Rev 1:9) I, John, your brother and fellow partaker

in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

• 2Jn 1:1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

• 2Jn 1:2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

• 2Jn 1:3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

• 2Jn 1:4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.

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• (Heb 13:7) Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

• (Heb 4:12) For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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• (Rev 6:9) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

• Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

• Pro 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!

• Pro 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

• Pro 30:6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

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Jesus said

• Luk 8:21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.“

• Luk 11:27 While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed."

• Luk 11:28 But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."

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• Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

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Why was Paul ordained to preach?

• Col 1:25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

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The Word of God is living and active in transforming those who

obey it and believe!

• 1Th 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

• “used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled to obedience by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul”

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We are born again by the Word of God!

• 1Pe 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

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Sanctified – washed – by the Word of God!

• 1Ti 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

• 1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

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• Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

• Eph 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

• Eph 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

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Faith leads to obedience to the Word of God!

• 1Pe 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart

• 1Jn 2:4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

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• False teachers/churches so we only need to agree on the essentials!

• They have developed their own doctrine/teaching/tradition rather than simply being obedient to the Word!

• Mat 15:6b …you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition/doctrine.

• Jas 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,

• Jas 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.



• αμαρτωλος hamartolos

• to deviate from truth, miss the mark of God’s commands, sin. - erring from the divine law, practicing and teaching false doctrine.

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This is serious!

• Vs. 20 let him know that he who turns a man who teaches or practices anything contrary to the commands of Christ in the Word of God in error rather than in sound doctrine will save his soul from death!

• The soul dies at the second death, the final judgment!

• We NEED to correct false teaching!


And now the problematic portion of this text:



• What? We can’t ‘cover’ sin! In the New covenant, sin is cleansed and forgiven, not ‘covered’!!!

• Have you ever wondered what this really means?


Cover

• καλυπτω

• kalupto

• Thayer Definition:

• 1) to hide, veil

• 1a) to hinder the knowledge of a thing, to stop it from continuing to be taught or learned


Remember the definition of ‘sin’?• 1Ti 5:20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in

the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning

• αμαρτανω hamartano :• 1) to be without a share in

• 2) to miss the mark and thus not have part of the reward

• 3) to err, be mistaken, to fall away from truth

• 4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong in practice or doctrine

• 5) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, to not obey God’s commands, to sin


We can’t cover sin – but digging deeper we find the real meaning

of this text:• Thus, when we reprove and correct false

teaching, we ‘cover’ = hinder the knowledge of a thing and prevent it from continued to be taughta multitude of ‘sins’ = to wander from the teaching of scripture and the commands of God!

• So, we hinder the false teaching from continuing to lead people to disobey the clear teaching of scripture! – We don’t ‘cover’ sin!


• Tit 1:13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

• Tit 1:14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

• We need to correct, reprove, and warn those who ignore the teaching of scripture!

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We are accountable to the Truth!

• Eze 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

• Eze 33:7 "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

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• As watchmen, we need to teach and obey the full council of God’s Word – Truth!

• That’s what Paul did:

• Act 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

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It’s all about obedience to the full council of God’s Word – Truth!

• Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

• Eph 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; • Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now

you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

• Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

• Eph 5:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

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God’s commands clearly tell us what is pleasing to God!

• Every Word is essential!

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• Duet. 8:3b that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (ESV)

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Truth is the Word of God!

• 1Jn 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

• The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God – Truth!!

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• 2Jn 1:3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

• 2Jn 1:4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.

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We must be saved AND come to the knowledge of the Truth!

• 1Ti 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

• 1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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It is grace and the knowledge (experiential, obedience to) of the Truth…

• 2Pe 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

• 2Pe 3:15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

• 2Pe 3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

• 2Pe 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

• 2Pe 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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• 2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation

• This is saying there is only one interpretation of Scripture and it is what God intended when He had the scribe write it.

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I Corinthians 2:12-14

• NIV: (12) We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. (13) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (14) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

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I love this…

• Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Deconstructionalism

• The text never means what it appears to mean

• All writers had ulterior motives• Biblical writers were prejudiced

and influenced by the times in which they lived

• Everyone has colored glasses that they can never remove

Of course such claims do not apply to the writings of biblical critics. They always make exceptions for themselves. They do not have colored glasses on, they do not have ulterior motives, and they are not being influenced by the culture in which they live. In effect, they are inspired the Bible is not---in other words their writings are the absolute standard

When a culture is declining

• A sense of abandon, people yield to their impulses at the expense of their well-being

• Truancy, escapism, retreating in the world of distraction and entertainment

• Sense of drift• Sense of guilt, self-loathing, moral

abandon• Uncritical tolerance

The church in decline

• “We cannot understand the Bible alike”• “The more I study the less I know”• “Everyone is guilty of believing some

error”• “You would do the same thing in the

same situation—so don’t judge”• “Love takes precedence over rules”• “Spirit of the law not the letter”• “Gray area”

Truth

• It’s all about Truth!

• Why did Jesus come into the world?

• This is the most important question we can ask – and prayerfully answer tonight!

• Jesus answered this question for us!

• Jesus said, for this reason I came into the world, and this is why I was born….

• Read John 18:33-36

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• Joh 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

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We testify of the Truth

• We are His hands and feet extended, and thus we are here to testify of the Truth!

• And this is why Jesus came!

• So that the cults, the world, and everyone may know the truth!

• Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life!

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• Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth’ over 75 times!

• Joh 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

• Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

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Pilate asked…

• Jesus said I came to testify of the Truth…

• John 18:38 Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?“

• This is the most important of all time!

• Jesus & the Word of God is Truth!

• All of the Words of God!

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• Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

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• Joh 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

• Joh 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

• Joh 17:16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

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The time is now to stand for Truth!

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

• Joh 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

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• Joh 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

• Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

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• Jesus came to set the captives free, and He does that by giving us the Truth!!

• Joh 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

• Joh 14:16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

• Joh 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth,

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• Joh 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

• Joh 16:14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

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• 1Ti 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

• 1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

• 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

• 1Ti 2:6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

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We must stand firm in the Truth!

• Eph 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

• Eph 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,

• The first part of the armor of God is Truth!!

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• The last piece of the armor?

• The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God – TRUTH!!!

• Truth is important!

• Yet in the last days we know that many will fall away from the Truth!

• People will develop their own idea of Truth.

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• 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

• 2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

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• Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

• Act 20:30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

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• Rom 2:8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

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• Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

• ‘Tradition of men’ – law, ordinance, creed, teaching, doctrine

• This is a warning to stand on the word of God, not what men have taught you!

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• 2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

• 2Th 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.


Wickedness

• αδικια

• adikia

• Thayer Definition:

• 1) injustice, of a judge – falsely judging doctrinal truth

• 2) unrighteousness of heart and life

• 3) a deed violating law (Jesus commands) and justice, act of unrighteousness


Traditions

• παραδοσις

• paradosis

• par-ad'-os-is

• From G3860; transmission, that is, (concretely) a precept; specifically the Jewish traditionary law: - ordinance, doctirne, teaching of scripture, tradition.


• Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

• Rom 16:18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.


Dessinsions

• διχοστασια

• dichostasia

• dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah

• From a derivative of G1364 and G4714; disunion, that is, (figuratively) dissension: - divisions, (modern) denomoniations, dessenting from the clear teaching of scripture, holding to teaching from men rather from God’s Word.


People have called me a Biblicist, like it’s a derogatory term!

• What that means is that I only teach the Word of God and obedience to every command not already fulfilled by Christ’s finish work on the cross.

• It’s all about truth and obedience to the Truth!

• What is pleasing to God? That we keep His commands instead of man’s ideologies!

• Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.



• But many just try to pleaseculture in order to get theminto ‘church’.

• We call it ‘seeker sensitive’

• I call it compromise…

http://www.ordinarypastor.com/?p=4410

We will please the Lord!

• We are Biblicists! We will love, teach, and practice the Truth of God’s Word in it’s entirety! Two weeks ago God told us to be like David -


• David didn’t bow to the unfaithfulness of the whole nation but stood strong in the strength of the Lord!

• He did not entangle himself with the things of this world but defied the gravity of mediocrity and compromise and stood for truth.


2Ti 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2Ti 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of

everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. • εμπλεκω

• empleko; from to weave in, to entwine, i.e. to involve with: - entangled

Php 3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are

enemies of the cross of Christ, Php 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame,

who set their minds on earthly things. Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from

which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Php 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by

the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Those who deny the revelations of God are called FOOLSPsalm 14:1-3

1 For the director of music.

Of David. The fool says in

his heart, "There is no God."

They are corrupt, their deeds

are vile; there is no one who

does good. 2 The LORD

looks down from heaven on

the sons of men to see if

there are any who understand, any who seek

God. 3 All have turned

aside, they have together

become corrupt; there is no

one who does good, not even

one.

We w

ill f

ollo

w G

od’s

W

ord

!

Even if the command in scripture doesn’t line up

with culture or society, we will follow it!

The gifts, head coverings,

enduring to the end, teaching the full council

of God’s Word.We will be obedient!

I Tim. 1:3 - As I urged you when I

was going to Macedonia, remain at

Ephesus that you may charge

certain persons not to teach any

different doctrine (didaskalia),

(Context Acts 20:28,29)

Bible Doctrine Is To Stay Pure

Gal 1:8 But even if we or

an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we

preached to you, let him be

accursed.

We need to teach and live the Word of God above

tradition!1Ti 4:13 - Until I come, give attention to the reading of Scripture, to exhortation and *teaching (Didaskalia).

2Ti 4:2 - preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and *doctrine. 3 For a time will be when they will not endure sound *doctrine …

1Ti 4:16 Hold on to yourself and to the *doctrine ; continue in them, for doing this you shall both save yourself and those who hear you.

• 1Jn 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

• 1Jn 4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

• 1Jn 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

103

• 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.

• They say, ‘If I teach that no one will come to my church’

• They are putting societal ideals and culture above God’s Word!

104

Paul says…

• Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

• Everyone who is of God hears the truth, knows the truth, defends the truth, and obeys the truth!

• This is why Jesus came to the earth!!!

105

Jesus said…

• Joh 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.

• Jesus next statement is of paramount importance:

• Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

106

• 1Jn 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

107

We are in a battle!

• Pastor’s today say ‘those truths don’t apply to us’

• Just like Satan in the Garden:

• Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

108

• Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

• Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

• Col 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

109

• Joh 8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.

• Joh 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

• Joh 8:45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

• Joh 8:46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?

• Joh 8:47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."

110

• Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

• Luk 18:8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

111

• (Psalms 119:105)

• Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

• (2 Peter 1:19)

• So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

112

• Many will fall off that narrow path in the last days.

• The will not listen to the Truth of God’s Word.

• They say it is relevant today!

• They are pleasing men and decieved!

113

• Rom 7:11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

114

• Heb 3:12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.

• Heb 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

• Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

• Heb 3:15 while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."

115

Remember last week we talked about the lie from Satan that many churches teach today?

• That doesn’t apply to us – it was cultural!

• Either every command of God in scripture is true and good, or none are!

• It is time to stand for TRUTH!!!!

116

• 1Ti 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the TruthTruth.

117

So how do we deal with those who reject the full council of

God’s Word?

• 2Ti 2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

• 2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

• 2Ti 2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

118

• Col 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

• Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

119

• We truly are in a battle for TRUTH!

• From the beginning the enemy attempted to distort, negate, and have mankind and the church neglect the Truth of God’s Word.

• We are told in the last days many will abandon the truth for a lie and apostatize against the clear teaching of scripture.

120

II Thess. 2:1-13

• Our faith is in the Truth claims of God!

• It is not in men or denominational creeds!

• It not in societal norms!

• It is in the Word of God!

121

122

So what is faith?

• Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

• Webster Greek def: “The sense of the verb, from which that of rope and binding is derived, is to strain, to draw, and thus to bind or make fast. A rope or cable is that which makes fast.”

• The Hebrew and the Greek suggest a trust or belief in a known truth, validated by evidence that would lead to a conviction.

• It is not a ‘blind leap’!

123

• Heb 11:1 Now faith (the solid rope that holds something together – the belief in a known truth) is the assurance(concrete foundation) of things hoped for, the conviction(evidence, proof) of things not seen.

• Faith in Jesus Christ is valid and reasonable!We derive our evidence from the Bible and personal experience!

• If the Bible is not true, we have no basis for faith!

Belief + Proof=FaithBelief + Proof=Faith

124

Many Pastor’s have preached that you should be a Christian by blind faith. Even if the Bible is not reliable and even if Jesus didn’t raise from the dead.

The Apostle Paul doesn’t agree…

125

Everything rests Everything rests on the validity of on the validity of the Bible and the the Bible and the Resurrection! Resurrection!

1 Corinthians 15:13-20a - "IFIF there is no resurrectionno resurrection of the dead, THENTHEN not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

126

1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.”

127

1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”

128

1 Corinthians 15:13-20a1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “But Christ has – “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” indeed been raised from the dead”

Heb 4:12 For the word of God isHeb 4:12 For the word of God is living and activeliving and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and

intentions of the heart.intentions of the heart.

Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our flower fades, But the word of our God God stands foreverstands forever..

129

The Bible’s version of Christianity is not about a

religionreligion – but a relationshiprelationship!

John 1:12 "Yet to all who receivedreceived him, to those who

believedbelieved in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

130

Not All Religious Viewpoints Can Be Right!

1. What you believe will affect how you live!

2. Not all religious viewpoints can be right!

Law of non-contradiction:

“Two opposing views can not both be right”

131

Can All Religious Viewpoints Be Right?

No! Someone has to be wrong!

“Either Jesus is the Messiah or He isn't.”

If He is not the only way to God, then He is a liar.Taken from: http://www.str.org

132

Objective Truth Does Exist!

1. What you believe will affect how you live!2. Not all religious viewpoints can be right!

3. Objective Truth does exist!

133

Biblical Objective Truth

The Bible teaches that truth does existsFor example:

John 14:6Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 8:32 Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth

shall make you free.”

134

Truth Is Not a Matter of Your Own Perspectiveor opinion or tradition, or even your own study:

For example:

“Above all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Pet. 1: 20-21

135

A Truth Statement Matches Its Object

“Satan is called a liar because his statement to Eve, “You will surely not die” in Gen. 3:4 did not correspond to what God really said, namely “you shall surely die (Gen. 2:17).”

Dr. Norman Geisler

136

Truth is That Which Corresponds to Reality

Jesus states in John 14:6 that he is the only way to God.

This is a true statement because it corresponds to reality and was verified by His conquering death in His resurrection.

137

• A right understanding of God (Truth) leads to a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ (Truth).

Jesus=Truth=The Word of God=Understanding=Logos=Intelligence

• This produces reverence for God• Wisdom begins with the fear(reverence) of God!• Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the

beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

138

Why is Truth so Important?

“If truth and reasonableness are not uppermost in our presentation of the truth to a pagan culture, already predisposed to regarding religion as a set of private feelings, then we will constantly hear this response. Well that’s fine if having those feelings helps you.”

Love God with all your MindJ.P. Moreland P. 30

139

Truth is not based on feelings!

• Truth is based on evidence

• Evidence is logical and rational

• Emotions are unreliable and often times wicked

• Jer 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

140

Truth is not based on feelings!

• Truth is based on evidence

• Evidence is logical and rational

• Emotions are unreliable and often times wicked

• Jer 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Strongs – heart - : “A form of H3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings”

141

Faith Must Have an Object to Have Merit!

1. What you believe will affect how you live!2. Not all religious viewpoints can be right!3. Objective Truth does exist!

4. Faith must have an object to have merit!

The object of our Faith is Jesus Christ and the Truth of God’s Word!

Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

Rom 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

142

We must stand for truth..

• Even if we stand alone

• Even when it is not politically correct

• Even when denominations refuse to do so

• The Bible is our sole source for faith and practice!

143

Jesus said…

• “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.”

• John 14:6

• How many ways can we interpret this?

Jesus Christ is the only way to God – period.

• This is our interpretation – is it valid:

Philippians 4:8• Finally, brethren,

• whatever is true,

• whatever is honorable,

• whatever is right,

• whatever is pure,

• whatever is lovely,

• whatever is of good repute,

• if there is any excellence and

• if anything worthy of praise,

• let your mind dwell on these things.

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Analyze and weigh your proposition (interpretation). Follow these steps:

• Identify all assertions made – are they supported solely by scripture? • Identify all qualifications and conditions – explain any symbolism or

special circumstances that lead your interpretation.

• Identify all stated and unstated assumptions – list them and explain how you came to conclusion for each one.

• Notice any connections between your interpretation, assumptions, and assertions.

• Decide which assertions are the main ones. • Raise questions about each assertion. • Are there any biases evident? • Any assumptions glossed over? • Anything else not stated? Any parts of issue or passage not discussed? • Is the logic clear, concise, and valid? • Are all consequences and ramifications of the conclusion explored? • Is your interpretation valid in light of all the above

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Is your interpretation valid? Check it: • Review your own biases and tendencies.

Be honest with yourself. Be sure your final interpretation is objective and clear.

• Be specific about the meaning. • State your interpretation carefully and

precisely. • Include appropriate qualifications. • Distinguish certainty from probability.

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Let’s proclaim the Truth!

• How do we start a revolution?

• Know the Truth, proclaim the Truth

• A revolution to bring the Church back to Biblical Truth.

• By studying Theology and Apologetics!This is our task. There is only one Truth.

1 t r u t h slide 81 cults class 2. 2 the statistics! according to pollster george barna: –only 9%...

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