Going Deeper for Life Change
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude ~ Colossians. 2.6.7
How To Listen To The Shepherd’s Voice ~ part 1
1. In your life do you know the difference between the Good Shepherd’s voice
and the false voices that go out in this world? How is the reality of what you
follow evidence of your eternal destination (heaven or hell)? What can you do to
listen to the Shepherd’s voice?
2. Who are the ‘thieves and robbers’ of today?
3. When Jesus states that - I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will
be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (v.9) …what does He mean?
4. The statement - I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (v.10)
... what is meant by Jesus’ declaration?
Finding the Truth Amid Many Lies
Romans 1:18-25 unloads a unique worldview, one which comes from the only
perspective that matters…God’s perspective. This is what it powerfully states: 18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because
that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident
to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His
eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood
through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even
though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they
became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22
Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the
incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and
four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over
in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored
among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Through a knowledge of the Bible we can discern that mankind is hopelessly
inclined to postmodernism, because the subtle goal of this movement is to erase
any measure of truth because by doing so it can erase any measure of God’s
existence. But God reveals to us that it is impossible as we can evidence from the
above reading of Romans 1:18-25… so that they are without excuse.
It is interesting to think through and to consider what the premise and incinerate
fuel of Postmodernism is. You may possibly conclude that it is an anti-truth
movement, as well as an anti-God movement, that has infiltrated and stained the
souls of many - and increasingly the purity of the church body.
Scripture clearly defines that truth comes from God…God is the ‘God of truth’ in
Isaiah 65:21. But because so many people are postmodern minded, a response to
the statement - God is the ‘God of truth’ - will probably be met with this statement -
‘that is your perspective.’
Is the source of truth really just a matter of multiple perspectives? That truth is
merely relative? That the Bible is just one source, out of many avenues of truth,
including our own which are all supposingly valid and true… even if they logically
and rationally conflict with one another? Or could it be that the Bible is really
true? That the Bible is as it claims to be, which is God’s very own words to us
revealing the greatest truth? If the Bible is truth, then we are under the authority of
the Bible, and God Himself who breathed it out (2 Timothy 3:16-17) . Therefore if
the Word of God is true then we are all accountable to God (some serious
consequence to reflect upon).
To answer the above questions, may we let the Word of God speak for itself on its
origins. Pick up the Bible, ask God to reveal Himself to you, read it, and see for
yourself… but be cautioned - that if God is drawing you to the truth, your life might
be radically changed for His glory.
Suggested Reading
The Gospel According To Jesus - by John MacArthur. Not all faith is
redemptive. Not all faith saves. What, then, is authentic faith? With an
additional chapter explaining the significance of being slaves of Christ, John
MacArthur explores the reality of saving faith in this twentieth Anniversary
edition of The Gospel According to Jesus. His message is clear - if you want
true liberty from sin, you need to surrender completely to Jesus as Lord. What
does Jesus mean when He says, "Follow Me"? When Jesus called people to
follow Him, He was not seeking companions to be His sidekicks or admirers
whom He could entertain with miracles. The true gospel according to Jesus is a
message that cannot be divorced from the reality of His lordship, and is a call
to yield completely and unreservedly to Him.