February 08, 2015
W ho Determ ines Truth?
By: Neal Pollard
Many have walked in old Pilate’s shoes, asking, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Jesus’ prayer concisely
answered that question, even before Pilate uttered it. The Lord said that God’s Word is truth (John
17:17). Yet, we can easily find ourselves substituting that for something or someone else. Notice the
following.
The culture cannot be the standard of truth. Not only does their standard constantly change, its basis
for what is considered truth is skewed and self-determined. In other words, a worldly approach to
“truth” more often than not coincidentally coincides with what people want to do. Many times, the
world gets it exactly backward. As Isaiah put it, the world using its own wisdom calls evil good and
good evil (5:20). By its own standards, the world does not come to even know God (1 Cor. 1:21).
The religious world cannot be the standard of truth. In far too many areas, individual religious groups,
denominations, have invented their own doctrines. They, too, can form their teaching and convictions
based upon the strong pressures of culture. They can reform and reshape their beliefs to
accommodate people’s circumstances. For any number of reasons, the religious world veers left or
right of biblical center (cf. Deut. 5:32; Prov. 4:27).
The Lord’s church cannot be the standard of truth. Opinions,
traditions or customs, and preferences cannot be passed off as
synonymous with or equal to truth. A congregation of God’s people,
well-intended or not, can depart from the truth. We cannot blindly
follow even these away from truth.
(Continued on Inside page)
W ho Determ ines Truth?
(Continued from Front Page)
A particular school, preacher, periodical, etc., cannot be the standard of truth. We can admire
colleges and training schools for their work, teachers, and graduates, but this confidence must
always remain conditional. What is true of institutions is equally true of individuals. Even if
someone speaks passionately, with conviction, and without hesitation or reservation, our job
is to compare their message with God’s (cf. Acts 17:11). We can easily confuse charisma and
chemistry with truth, but there is no inherent connection.
You and I cannot be the standard of truth. All of us have scruples, consciences, preferences,
proclivities, likes, and dislikes. We may feel quite strongly about them. But, we cannot make
ourselves the standard of truth on any biblical matter.
There is but one right standard and that is scripture. Yes, there is the matter of proper
interpretation and recognizing there can be improper interpretation. On some matters,
scripture may not be as definitive as we want or even initially think. Yet, regarding anything
that would effect our salvation, God has a clear, understandable “position” stated forth in
Scripture (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3). What He says on the matter is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth. Accept no substitutes for this!
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Lesson Notes
Online
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Info
February 08, 2015
GET INVOLVED //
going on this week
Today // Going Through
The Motions (pt.2) 6 PM
Tuesday // Hospital Lunch
Wednesday // Tips For
Better Bible Study: Periods
of Bible History (cont.)
Three Keys To Change
KEY #1 UNDERSTANDING
• Change begins in the mind (Neh. 8:2-3, 7-8, 12-13).
• Merely reading the Bible has no benefit if it is not correctly
understood (cp. Neh.8:8; Ac. 8; 1 Cor. 13).
• If we do not take time to understand, change will never take
place (Neh. 8:9; Ac. 17:11).
KEY #2 EMOTION
• Change is tied to emotion (Neh. 8:9-11; Rom. 3:20).
• Merely reading the Bible has no benefit if it is not approached
correctly (cp. Neh. 8:3, 5, 6; Ac. 17)
• If we do not let the word in, change will never take place.
KEY #3 ACTION
• Change cannot happen without action (Neh. 8:13-18).
• Merely reading the Bible has no benefit if you do not respond
in obedience (cp. Neh. 9:1-3; Jas. 1:21-23).
• In order to properly respond to God’s word, confession and
separation are essential (cp. Ez. 10:10-11).
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Scripture Reading
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8 (NKJV)
1 Now all the people gathered together as one
man in the open square that was in front of
the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe
to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which
the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the
priest brought the Law before the assembly of
men and women and all who could hear with
understanding on the first day of the seventh
month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square
that was in front of the Water Gate from morning
until midday, before the men and women and
those who could understand; and the ears of all
the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the
people, for he was standing above all the people;
and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then
all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while
lifting up their hands. And they bowed their
heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces
to the ground.
8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the
Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped
them to understand the reading.
The New King James Version. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.
Word Search
Nehemiah 8