“WITHOUT COMPROMISE”
Respect for Truth
Many reasons can be give as to why people compromise as we have noted in our previous lessons, including the five reasons stated as to why they compromise AND the examples we have been studying the past two weeks. But when we come to the crux of the matter, it boils down to a lack of respect for God’s word. Ultimately, compromise happens because of a lack of respect for truth.
The reason why people compromise for physical advantage is because they love their pleasures more than God’s word. Both a lack of faith and fear are a result of a lack of adequate respect and understanding of the truth. Those who compromise for the sake of family, friends and to avoid confrontation do so while discounting the importance of the truth. So with that in mind, today we want to examine the importance of respect for God’s word. We will also notice how compromise is often a result of this lack of respect.
A. What is truth?
1. The question was asked by Pilate as Jesus stood before him – John 18:38, as Jesus identified Himself as a King, but not of this world. Pilate responds by asking, “What is truth?”
2. In reality the word is difficult to define because of its application in every aspect of life and the fact that God’s word is truth has been assaulted by the wisdom of man, especially in many of our institutions of higher learning.
3. Vine’s defines it as, (a noun) “objectively, signifying “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter.” (Cremer)”
Nelson – “Conformity to a fact or actuality, faithfulness to an original or to a standard”
“Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.” Webster’s New International Dictionary4. In this lesson, references to truth are with the understanding that God’s word (the Bible) is without error and the ultimate source that we must appeal to for answers.
5. John 17:17 tells us simply, “Your word is truth”.
6. Ephesians 4:20-21 – In Christ we have learned that we are not like the world that has darkened their understanding. We have learned and been taught that “the truth is in Jesus” (cf. John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth and the life”)
B. The first thing we need to understand is that the Bible IS the word of God.
1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
a. The word scripture is from a Greek word that means writings. A term defined as, “a writing, thing written. There is nothing supernatural in the word.
b. The word inspired is from a compound Greek word meaning, “divinely breathed in” (Strong). The point of the word is that what is inspired is as if God Himself uttered it. This word in this text IS supernatural in nature
c. The text tells us that it is profitable for all that we need to be complete in Him.
2. It was through the Holy Spirit that it was penned
a. 2 Peter 1:19-21 – “no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation…holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
b. John 14:26, 16:13 – The apostles were told that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth.
c. Galatians 1:11-12 – What Paul taught came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
3. Because what we have is God’s word, we need to give due RESPECT to it. It the message of our Creator to us. It is the ONLY message we have now. When we discount the word of God, we have turned our back on the ONLY source of TRUTH that can lead us to heaven. Remember again, John 17:17 – God’s word IS truth.
4. Compromise, by its very definition [to settle for less than one’s convictions or to surrender to that which is wrong for personal gain or advantage] is a result of one’s failure to duly respect God’s word as His.
A. Truth is indestructible –
1. 1 Peter 1:23 – IT endures forever.
2. Jeremiah 36:22-23 – Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, took a scroll written by Jeremiah which warned of destruction and cut it in pieces and cast it into the fire. This showed his contempt for the truth, God and Jeremiah. But later in that chapter the Lord instructed Jeremiah to write another scroll (vs. 28) and warn the king that it would come to pass. AND yes, Jehoiakim would pay for his arrogance.
3. Often those who are seeking compromise desire to destroy the truth of God’s word. They know that truth conflicts with their desires. So if they can remove truth from the equation, there is a better chance that they get their way.
a. An example of this would be the liberalism that has become prevalent in interpreting God’s word. “The New Hermeneutics” is an effort to change the proven, traditional ways of interpreting the Bible. It assaults the inspiration of God’s word by saying that we are only bound to certain core beliefs and that doctrine are left to man’s interpretation and diverse opinions.
b. Surely we can see how this attitude plays into the desires of one who wants to compromise. Rather than stand for truth, they change truth…which leads to our next point.
B. Truth is unchangeable
1. By its very nature, truth is unchangeable. Because when you change it, it ceases to be truth OR else truth is subjective or relative instead of absolute.
For example: 2+2=4 is a truth. 2 & 2 equal EXACTLY 4, no more and no less, and when one says it equals something different they have changed the standard of truth.2. Psalm 119:8-9 – His word has forever been settled in heaven.
3. 2 John 9-11, whoever transgress and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.
4. 1 Peter 4:11- If any speaks, let it be as if the oracles of God.
5. Genesis 2:16,17; 3:4. Satan convinced Eve to sin by changing one little word in God’s command. God said that when they ate the forbidden fruit, “you shall die”. Satan said, “You shall NOT die.” One word made all the difference.
6. Compromise often involves attempts to change what God’s word really says. They water down what is plainly taught and say, “that’s not really what it means” or, “yes it says that, BUT what if…”
C. Truth is pure
1. The word pure has at least two different definitions, unpolluted and undiluted. Both of these apply to truth.
2. Truth is truth because it is unpolluted.
a. Psalm 119:140 – Your word is very pure, therefore your servant loves it.
b. Psalm 19:8 – The commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes
c. Proverbs 30:5 – every word of God is pure, He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
d. 1 Peter 2:2 – we are to desire the pure milk of the word that we may grow thereby.
3. Also truth cannot be watered down. While the watered down version may contain elements of truth, it is not the WHOLE truth. It is like fruit drink vs. fruit juice.
4. Compromise questions the purity of truth. It seeks to water down and to pollute it.
a. Too many today want to add to or take away from God’s word thereby watering it down to suit their selfish desires. We know that we CANNOT do that and please Him.
b. Revelation 22:18,19 – Don’t add to or take away from it.
D. Truth Can Be Understood
1. Ephesians 5:17 – Understand what the will of the Lord is.
2. John 8:32 – Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
3. There is no substitute for studying God’s word
a. 2 Timothy 2:15 – rightly dividing the word of truth. This means that we have to put forth effort, put a text in its proper context and make the proper application.
b. James 1:25- we are to look into the perfect law of liberty and continue in it
c. Acts 17:11 – we need to search the scriptures
d. 1 John 4:1 – we need to test the spirits.
e. It is the only way you will understand truth and KNOW truth.
4. Many are willing to compromise because they don’t put forth the effort to understand truth.
a. In ignorance they think that God doesn’t really care how we worship Him or what we believe. So to get along with others, they will compromise what they ought to be doing.
b. Or they rationalize that you cannot understand God’s word so you are free to do whatever you want to do.
c. Or they set out to reinterpret various passages to suit their desires. I.e. Romans 14 is used to justify more than the context intends.
E. Truth Works
1. If God’s word didn’t work then it would NOT be truth. But it does.
2. And we need to respect what God has said.
a. Realize that it is HIS Word. He is the one who created all things and controls all things.
b. If we truly believe the Bible is the word of God, we need to fully grasp the concept that our Creator is talking to us and telling us what HE wants us to do.
c. We need to understand that we CANNOT improve upon His ways - Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 10:23.
d. That is why we follow HIS plan for the church and the way we worship Him. He knows what is best.
e. AND we need to respect what He has NOT said – His silence – 1 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 7:14, etc.
3. Psalm 18:30 – The word of the Lord is proven
4. Since the truth works, we need to accept it
a. It is not enough to know it or believe it, we have to accept it. We have to do it.
b. James 1:22-25 – Be doers and not hearers only.
5. Compromise often rears its head because some don’t believe that truth will really work. They know what the truth is on a given subject, but they don’t have enough faith to put their trust in it. So they compromise.
In this lesson we have talked about the importance of respect for truth. It is crucial if we are to avoid ungodly compromise in our lives. I close with these observations about truth –
· As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand. ~~ Josh Billings
· Truth exists, only falsehood has to be invented. ~~ Georges Braque
· Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it. ~~ Thomas Cooper
· The truth which makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear. ~~ Herbert Agar
(Thanks to Herb Matthews for these quotes)
Let us study and respect God’s word to the degree that we will never compromise it. Proverbs 23:23 – “Buy the truth and do not sell it, And wisdom, and instruction and understanding.”