Infite Truth Of The Gospel

1.	the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth.

2.	conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.

3.	a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.

4.	the state or character of being true.

5.	actuality or actual existence.

6.	an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.

7.	honesty; integrity; truthfulness.

8.	(often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life.

9.	agreement with a standard or original.

10.	accuracy, as of position or adjustment.

11.	Archaic. fidelity or constancy.

—Idiom

12.	in truth, in reality; in fact; actually: In truth, moral decay hastened the decline of the Roman Empire.

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13.  Faith, in faith

alētheia

Pronunciation ä-lā'-thā-ä (Key)

outline of Biblical Usage

1) objectively

a) what is true in any matter under consideration

1) truly, in truth, according to truth

2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly

b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth

1) in the greatest latitude

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

c) 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

2) subjectively

a) truth as a personal excellence

1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit

John 4:23  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (aletheia).

1. Samaritan woman at well
2. Jesus’ introduction into His Ministry
3. He speaks to her in terms she understands – she knew Jewish law
4. speaks of her (our) responsibility – worship in TRUTH

from the heart, for real, genuine,  - Jesus said: you will love God with all heart, mind, soul and love your neighbor as yourself.

John 8:32 - And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free

• You will know what is real and good (the way that God thinks) - THAT will give you the license to do what God would do

John 14:6    ⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth (aletheia), and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me

• Jesus calls Himself The Truth
• Consider: Moses asking God who he should say gave him instructions (burn Bush) God said my name is ” I Am” (implied all in all or everything)
• God describes Himself as what we would call “good Character traits”

1 John 4:8 (Amplified Bible)

⁸He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

Describes self as “truth, Love – all things good”

Philippians 4:7-9 (King James Version)

  ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
 ⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Meditate in dictionary = think to employ or engage your mind, renew

·        Many places Word (God) tells us to meditate on Word

·        Romans 12:1-2

 ¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  ²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

·        Joshua 1:8  This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good ^[a]success.

(meditation on Word said by God to be secret of success)

·        Psalms 1:2,4:4, 19:14, 39:3 and many, many others tell us to meditate on The Word in Old Testament and New

Solomon said when charged with building the house of God:

2 Chronicles 2:6    ⁶But who is able to build Him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain Him? Who am I to build Him a house, except as a place to burn incense in worship before Him?

           

·        Truth is infinite – man can’t contain or harness God (Truth) man can only know it the Truth  (God wants relationship with man)

 

2 Chronicles3:5-9   ⁵And the greater house (the Holy Place) he lined with cypress and overlaid it with fine gold and made palm trees and chains on it. ⁶And he adorned the house with precious stones for beauty; and the gold was gold of Parvaim. ⁷He lined the house (the Holy Place), its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.   ⁸He made the Most Holy Place, its length equaling the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits; he overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold. ⁹The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he lined the upper chambers with gold

·        Truth is precious – can’t be bought, we can try but our efforts are finite especially when

compared with God.

·        Truth is truth whether we believe it or not,

·       Jesus tells us to meditate on The Word. John1:1 tells us Jesus is the Word and God

·       God thru Paul tells us in Rom 12:1-2 to renew our minds or meditate on the Word

·       God thru Paul also tells us to think about all things good (God-Jesus-Word Of God)

It is apparent that Jesus speaks truth because He IS The Truth .He says to Meditate on the truths He speaks into our lives and meditate on the fact that He Is Tru

With Whom He Dwells

·        Pray

• Review:        

• 1.         God Chooses to draw near to us – up to us

2.          We hunger for what we feed on. Regularly feed on the Word.

3.         Protect hunger - meditate on Word daily.    -  Prov. 4:23 …guard your heart …   - (issues of life)

4          We need to want to be in God’s presence because of who He is – not what He can do.

5.            We need to have holy reverence – the fear of the Lord

·        Humility

Our text scripture has been James 4:8 – but lets look at what God say to us through James before and after this verse – the entire passage.

James 6-10   6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  10 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Lets also look at Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

1.            God loves humble people

2.            hates pride

·        Most have a misconception of Godly humility –

1.            as used here means to make oneself lower than the other person on purpose

a)    Blessed are the humble (Matt 6)

b)    He who is first will be last -

c)    Defer to others –

d)    We are supposed to put other’s needs as a priority – help people – James calls this “true religion”

·        Let’s  take a look at another form of Godly humility –

2.        

            agreement with God – being in tune with Him : example 1 Sam 17:26-28      

many confuse being in agreement with God with being conceited

1.            Little Shepard boy arrives on scene bringing supplies

2.            finds mighty warriors of Israel hiding behind rocks

3.            finds all are afraid of Goliath

4.            who is this uncircumcised Philistine? – (what is going on here?)

5.            Brother’s reaction

6.            God calls David man after His own heart

other examples:

1.            Moses – Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Who wrote Numbers? – Moses!

2.            Jesus – Matt 11:28-29

28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

           

Humbleness here consistent with the idea of

1.            obedience  - Jer. 29:11 -  links obedience and humbleness

2.            dependence on Him – 2 Cor 3:5 – 2 Cor. 12-9-10 – giving all the credit to God

3.            our view of ourselves – 1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Humbleness and fear of The Lord the aspect of Christian life that God is looking for –

If you know nothing else, but truly Seek His Presence showing these two things: you automatically will – be obedient in truth – because of who He Is,

You will be in agreement with Him.

Proverbs 22:4-5 tells us He will then reward us with His presence:

            4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life

5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

         

(Amp says He will reward with his presence)

If you want to be in agreement with God, you must get to know Him, much easier to agree with someone when you know them.

-         Meditate on Word – Josh 1:8

·        End meeting in prayer

Worship In Truth

·         Pray to start meeting                       

·         Text scriptures : John 4:23-24

            23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Definitions of truth in these verses:      GR     alētheia

1) objectively

a) what is true in any matter under consideration

1) truly, in truth, according to truth

2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly

b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth

1) in the greatest latitude

2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention – what does this meam?

c) 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  - what does this meam?

2) subjectively

a) truth as a personal excellence - what does this mea?

1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit

other scriptures where aletheia is translated “truth” or “in truth”:

(read 2 or 3 before discussing the above)

 Jhn 1:17; Jos 24:14; 1Sa 12:24; 1Ch 29:17; Psa 17:1;   

Psa 32:2; Psa 51:6; Isa 10:20; Jer 3:10; Jer 4:2

Another scripture to consider – John 14:16   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me

·         Aletheia also translated truth here

·         Scripture has many levels or truths to it - by two or more witnesses My Word is established)

I. I AM THE WAY.

A. There is a way that seemeth right.

1. Boat from California to Australia.

a. World's way.

b. Your way.

c. God's way.

B. Gandhi.

C. Self-righteous.

II. THE TRUTH, THE LIFE.

A. "I am the resurrection and the life."

B. "He that hath the son hath life."

C. "He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life."

D. "That whosoever believeth on Him."

III. NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.

A. "One mediator between God and Man."

B. "No other name given among men”

In John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

             

In this passage Jesus speaks of:

·          natural truth – in practicality of being saved – reconciled back to God –the way

·          calls Himself “truth”

·          speaks of natural and super natural

·          John 8:32 lower case “t” – uppercase “T”?!

 By two or more witnesses ….

·        Pray to end meeting