www.wearegateway.ca The Reality Is 1: The Reality About Truth Feb. 7, 2021 Real vs. Fake Questions: Does it matter? Does all truth matter equally? Do I have to know everything? Do I have to be right about everything? Do the opinions I form as I view the world around me change my view of God and what He has said? Do they bring me closer to what the Scriptures say or farther away from it? Issue #1: Culture Public opinion Perspective John 8:32 - “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. THEN you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Romans 14 • Don’t quarrel over disputable matters. • We must not judge those who view things differently than us. • We are answerable to God alone for our opinions and beliefs. • We should be fully convinced in our own minds about what we believe. • Whatever we do, we do for the Lord. • We will all give an account of ourselves to God one day. • We must never put an obstacle in the way of another believer. • We need to keep what we believe about potentially divisive issues to ourselves. • The kingdom of God is not about our opinions. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Truth eats culture for breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, supper, and bedtime snack. The reality is: Truth predates us. 1 Timothy 2:5 - God our Saviour wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Issue #2: Integrity & Morality Questions: Can we trust those in leadership regarding truth? Is truth inextricably linked to integrity? If someone is hypocritical or unethical, should we disregard everything they said? Can what I say be true or trustworthy even if I’m not? How should we react or respond to someone who fails? Page 1 of 2 Copyright © Gateway Church – London Inc. www.wearegateway.ca John 16:13 - Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Compass: this is what truth is like The reality is: Truth will always be true. Issue #3: Spiritual Foundation Mathew 7:24-27 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Believing Jesus and doing what He says: solid rock – will remain no matter what Not believing Jesus or doing what He says: shifting sand – will wash away Truth is reality that needs to be discovered by us rather than determined by us. Colossians 2:6-17 Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. When you were dead in your sins and in the old ways of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the record of the charges which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Everything you can know about reality, truth, ethics, morality and trustworthiness is found in Jesus! The reality is: Jesus is truth. “I am the truth.” (John 14:6) “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37) “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.” (John 3:21) Know Jesus, know truth; no Jesus, no truth. Hebrews 11:1-2 - Faith is the confidence of what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command. Hebrews 12:1-2 - Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Psalm 25 - Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long. Page 2 of 2 Copyright © Gateway Church – London Inc. .