All believers should agree that the Bible is our standard of truth. And since it is, the way to see if something is true is to see if it lines up with the Word of God. The believer has the responsibility to prove everything they hear by the Word and by the witness of the Holy Spirit to its truth. “Let all things be tested; keep to what is good…” {1 Thessalonians 5:21}. Today, the world has no enduring standard. Every person does what is right in their own eyes, as Israel did in the day of the judges {Judges 17:6}. A multitude of standards abound in the 20th century, ranging from the many cultic and false religious standards to our current cultural “standards.”
Judges 17:6 (NLT2): “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”
Much of the confusion in our world today comes from this one thing: Society has abandoned the one standard of truth, which is the Bible – God’s Word. Since the Word of God is the final authority on all things, the world by its own standards is doomed. “What you think is the right road may lead to death” {Proverbs 14:12 TEV}. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 7:24-27, “that things built according to worldly standards will fall when storms come.” Believers are not exempt from the storms of life. However, if our foundation is on Jesus Christ, “the Rock,” then we will continue to stand and not be blown away when the storms of life come our way.
Matthew 7:24-27 (GW): “Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster.”
The believer’s standard is two-fold in nature: the written Word (the Bible) and the Living Word - Jesus Christ {John 1:1-14}. We will not be able to discern truth from error or stand on the truth that is Jesus Christ and live according to the truth that is the Bible - unless we are totally committed to God {1 John 4:4-6}.
John 1:1-14 (NLT2): “In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So, the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
1 John 4:4-6 (NLT2): “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the (Holy) Spirit who lives in you is greater than the (ungodly) spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.”
John 7:16-17 (NLT2): "So, Jesus Christ told them, My message is not My own; it comes from God who sent Me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether My teaching is from God or is merely My own."
John 14:21-24 (NLT2): “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them. Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to Him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large? Jesus Christ replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me.”
A true disciple and learner of Jesus Christ is one who continues to obey the truth they receive {John 8:31,32}. “Disciple” is the root word for “discipline.” An undisciplined life reveals rebellion. Any rebellion should be repented of and given up in order to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
John 8:31-32 (NLT2): “Jesus Christ said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Since Jesus Christ returned to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father {Acts 7:56; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3}, the Holy Spirit is now our Teacher {John 14:26}. In addition to speaking to us through the Word and directly to our hearts, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our spiritual leaders.
Acts 7:56 (NLT2): “And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
Colossians 3:1 (NLT2): “Since you have been raised to new life with Jesus Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Jesus Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
Hebrews 1:3 (NLT2): “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.”
John 14:26 (NLT2): “But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative - that is, the Holy Spirit - He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
God the Father - the Holy Spirit also speaks to us through the books and lives of other believers; however, He remains the Teacher. God has supernaturally protected the Bible – His Word down through the centuries, and no other work on earth has been preserved in this way. Many have tried to destroy God’s Word - the Bible and many wars have been fought over it, however, it remains today. The promises and principles of God’s Word have been proven to work in individual lives in every age and culture {Hebrews 13:7,8}.
Hebrews 13:7 (NLT2): “Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives and follow the example of their faith.”
In studying God’s Word - the Bible, we must keep our focus on the theme of the Bible, which is the redemption of man through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. Those who make something other than this theme the focus of their lives, ministries, and teachings will fall into error. Many cults have gotten started, by men using parts of God’s Word - the Bible out of context. God’s Word – the Bible must be studied as a whole! The purpose of God’s Word - the Bible is to bring the knowledge of God’s redemption plan to mankind. The Holy Spirit inspired men to write of Jesus Christ so that we might become like Him.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT2): “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”
“For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else” {Romans 8:29-32}.
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