Standing Firm in Biblical Truth Amidst Relativism

 

Summary

In today's teaching, we explored the profound concept of truth from a biblical perspective, particularly in the context of contemporary society's shifting understanding of truth. We began by examining Romans 1:18, where Paul speaks of God's wrath against those who suppress the truth. This suppression is not merely ignorance but an active holding down of truth, which explains why many in the world struggle to accept or understand the gospel. This suppression leads to a world where truth is often seen as relative, with phrases like "your truth" and "my truth" becoming commonplace.

We delved into the idea that the world has moved beyond mere relativism into a new era of conceptualism, where individuals create their own versions of reality. This has profound implications for how truth is perceived and communicated. In this environment, Christians are called to stand firm in the truth of the gospel, recognizing that truth is not subjective but is defined by God and revealed in His Word. Jesus' declaration in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," underscores the exclusivity and universality of this truth.

As believers, we are tasked with the challenging yet essential role of proclaiming this truth with love and grace, even when it leads to confrontation or rejection. The world's concept of love often conflicts with biblical truth, as it demands acceptance without disagreement. However, true love, as demonstrated by Jesus, involves speaking the truth about sin and the need for repentance.

In our interactions with others, we must embody grace and truth, living lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel. This involves being open about our struggles and the hope we have in Christ, which can open doors for meaningful conversations about faith. Ultimately, our lives should point others to Jesus, the embodiment of truth and grace.

Key Takeaways:

1. Suppression of Truth: The world actively suppresses the truth, which explains the difficulty many have in accepting the gospel. This suppression is not mere ignorance but a deliberate holding down of truth, as described in Romans 1:18. [51:09]

2. Conceptualism and Reality: We live in an era of conceptualism, where individuals create their own versions of reality. This challenges the notion of absolute truth and requires Christians to stand firm in the truth of God's Word. [57:13]

3. The Exclusivity of Truth: Jesus' declaration as the way, the truth, and the life highlights the exclusivity of the gospel. This truth is not subjective but is defined by God and revealed in Scripture. [01:02:13]

4. Love and Truth: True love involves speaking the truth about sin and the need for repentance. The world's concept of love often conflicts with biblical truth, demanding acceptance without disagreement. [01:06:45]

5. Living Out the Gospel: As believers, we must embody grace and truth, living lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel. Our openness about struggles and hope in Christ can lead to meaningful conversations about faith. [01:14:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [49:09] - Introduction to the Topic
- [50:02] - Understanding God's Wrath
- [51:09] - Suppression of Truth
- [52:49] - The Reality of Evil and God's Restraint
- [54:13] - The Nature of Truth
- [56:06] - From Relativism to Conceptualism
- [57:13] - Creating Personal Realities
- [58:41] - The Peer Pressure of Love
- [59:59] - God's Definition of Truth
- [01:02:13] - The Exclusivity of Jesus
- [01:03:19] - Confrontation and Truth
- [01:06:45] - Love and Truth in the Gospel
- [01:11:23] - The Truth for Believers
- [01:14:09] - Living Out the Gospel
- [01:16:49] - Closing Prayer and Reflections

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 1:18-23
2. John 14:6
3. John 18:37

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 1:18, what is the reason for God's wrath being revealed from heaven? How does this relate to the concept of suppressing the truth? [50:02]

2. In John 14:6, Jesus makes a profound declaration about Himself. What does this statement imply about the nature of truth according to the sermon? [01:02:13]

3. How does the sermon describe the transition from relativism to conceptualism in contemporary society? What are the implications of this shift for Christians? [56:55]

4. What does John 18:37 reveal about the relationship between truth and those who belong to it? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about understanding and accepting truth? [54:13]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the suppression of truth, as described in Romans 1:18, manifest in today's society? What are some examples of this suppression that you observe in the world around you? [51:09]

2. Jesus' claim in John 14:6 is exclusive and universal. How does this exclusivity challenge the current cultural understanding of truth and reality? [01:02:13]

3. The sermon discusses the world's concept of love versus biblical truth. How does this conflict affect the way Christians are perceived when they speak about sin and repentance? [01:06:45]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians should respond to the world's conceptualism and the creation of personal realities? How can believers stand firm in the truth of God's Word? [57:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt pressured to accept a version of truth that conflicted with your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future? [58:13]

2. Jesus' statement in John 14:6 challenges us to live out the truth of the gospel. What are some practical ways you can embody this truth in your daily interactions with others? [01:02:13]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of speaking the truth in love. How can you balance being truthful about sin and the need for repentance while maintaining grace and compassion in your conversations? [01:06:45]

4. Consider the concept of conceptualism discussed in the sermon. How can you engage with someone who has created their own version of reality while still standing firm in your faith? [57:13]

5. The sermon encourages believers to be open about their struggles and hope in Christ. How can you share your personal testimony in a way that invites meaningful conversations about faith? [01:14:09]

6. Think about a relationship where you have struggled to communicate biblical truth. What steps can you take to improve this communication and foster a deeper understanding of the gospel? [54:59]

7. How can you prepare yourself to face potential rejection or confrontation when sharing the gospel, as suggested in the sermon? What support or resources might you need to remain steadfast in your faith? [01:03:19]

Devotional

Day 1: The Active Suppression of Truth
In a world where truth is often seen as relative, the active suppression of truth is a significant barrier to accepting the gospel. Romans 1:18 describes this suppression not as mere ignorance but as a deliberate act of holding down the truth. This explains why many struggle to understand or accept the gospel message. The suppression of truth leads to a society where phrases like "your truth" and "my truth" are commonplace, further complicating the communication of the gospel. As believers, it is crucial to recognize this suppression and understand that it is a spiritual battle that requires prayer and perseverance. [51:09]

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." (Romans 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you encountered the suppression of truth in your own life or community, and how can you actively engage in prayer and action to counteract this suppression today?


Day 2: Conceptualism and the Creation of Personal Realities
We live in an era where individuals create their own versions of reality, moving beyond mere relativism into conceptualism. This shift challenges the notion of absolute truth and requires Christians to stand firm in the truth of God's Word. In this environment, it is essential to recognize that truth is not subjective but is defined by God and revealed in Scripture. As believers, we are called to be steadfast in our faith, understanding that the truth of the gospel is unchanging and universal. [57:13]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you renew your mind daily to discern God's truth amidst a culture that promotes personal realities?


Day 3: The Exclusivity of Jesus as the Truth
Jesus' declaration in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," highlights the exclusivity of the gospel. This truth is not subjective but is defined by God and revealed in Scripture. In a world that often views truth as relative, it is essential to understand and proclaim the exclusivity and universality of Jesus as the embodiment of truth. As believers, we must be prepared to face confrontation and rejection as we stand firm in this truth, knowing that it is the foundation of our faith. [01:02:13]

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you boldly proclaim the exclusivity of Jesus as the truth in your daily interactions, even when faced with opposition?


Day 4: True Love Involves Speaking the Truth
True love, as demonstrated by Jesus, involves speaking the truth about sin and the need for repentance. The world's concept of love often conflicts with biblical truth, demanding acceptance without disagreement. However, as believers, we are called to speak the truth in love, even when it leads to confrontation or rejection. This requires a delicate balance of grace and truth, as we seek to embody the love of Christ in our interactions with others. [01:06:45]

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." (Proverbs 27:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you lovingly speak the truth to someone in your life who needs to hear it, while maintaining a spirit of grace and compassion?


Day 5: Living Out the Gospel with Grace and Truth
As believers, we are called to embody grace and truth, living lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel. This involves being open about our struggles and the hope we have in Christ, which can open doors for meaningful conversations about faith. Our lives should point others to Jesus, the embodiment of truth and grace. By living out the gospel, we can demonstrate the reality of God's love and truth to a world in need. [01:14:09]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to live out the gospel in a way that reflects both grace and truth to those around you?

Quotes


Paul uses this word suppress and that word is really a fascinating word because it means that the world and unbelievers are not just ignoring the truth but that they're actually holding it down the the language suggests that they have arrested the truth or detained the truth and are keeping it down. [00:51:09]

The reality of it is friends is that the world has suppressed the truth and while that makes us sad and makes us angry it also it also needs to make us feel sorry for our unbelieving neighbors, classmates, co-workers, relatives and Friends it ought to break our hearts. [00:53:41]

We have to recognize that truth exists now the World Hears that and say well sure we believe that truth exists but notice how they process that notice how the world thinks in terms of Truth. Now for many years decades in fact there was just a a general pluralism out there a religious syncretism and a general relativism. [00:55:57]

Conceptualism is the notion that everyone can possess and create his or her own conceived version of reality and so everyone can have their own world which they exist in which they think in their perspectives on everything and so they have this conceived real it wherein they say well it's not just a matter of well that's true for you and that's not true for me. [00:57:13]

The world's concept of Love is a love that doesn't say anything negative or it have any difference with anyone about anything and as we know that's not love that's actually hatred because one of the most loving things that Jesus did was tell us about hell and the wrath of God. [01:06:45]

What we need to be always ready to do as God's people no matter our age is that we need to be ready to stand firm and unwavering and steadfast and to be in a right way stubbornly dogmatic and insistent upon what God's word teaches but that doesn't mean that we do it with a mean or divisive or angry Spirit. [01:09:59]

The reality of it is is that the unbelieving world can't accept the truth they can't handle the truth they can't hear the truth because they're deaf to the truth they they they can't they can't perceive it and while we ought to rightly be angry we ought also to be sad and feel sorry for our unbelieving friends and neighbors. [00:54:13]

The truth that we adhere to is God's truth and that means my friends that the truth that we affirm is not only for the world it's also for us and what each of us needs to do regularly is we need to remind ourselves that the same truth that is the only truth that can save Sinners throughout the world is the same truth that saves us. [01:11:23]

When you are open with the world and when you're open with unbelievers and you talk with them about the hope that is within you it begins a conversation and a dialogue that can quickly lead to the Gospel of Jesus Christ when you say this is really my only hope. [01:14:09]

We have to be men and women who are ready to speak the truth and to be ready for confrontation it was Francis Schaefer who commented on this and said truth always brings with it confrontation you can't help it when the truth is preached when the truth is defended when the truth is taught it will bring naturally confrontation in our lives. [01:03:19]

The exclusivity of Jesus Christ and the world trusting Christ they are doomed to hell they're atheists over the years who have addressed this and those who are honest atheists or consistent atheists let's just say thinking atheists I know to some of you that sounds oxymoronicalgem. [01:02:13]

We live lives before the watching world because don't forget the world doesn't read the Bible they read us and as they read us do they see a bunch of phony hypocrite superficial people trying to pretend to be always more happy or holy than they actually are or do they see a people who are living dependently and humbly with Brokenness repentance bearing fruit and living out the faith. [01:14:09]

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Transcript
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