Believing the truth or believing a lie

Our lesson today concerns “the attitude” that we have in our heart concerning “the word that was preached beginning with the baptism of John”

Statement – Acts 1:21-22

Acts 1: 21 Wherefore of (from among) these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained (made) to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Now the particular circumstance of this passage is finding a replacement for Judas Iscariot – but what I want us to focus on is the time frame that

is mentioned here . . . the “replacement disciple” being considered here - was required to have been a witness of everything that “Jesus” had taught

BEGINNING with the baptism of John unto the SAME DAY that He ascended back to heaven after “empowering” the NTC (New Testament Church or the church of The New Testament era as opposed to the way of worship under the Old Testament era)  in Matt 28.

This passage in Matt 28 is what is known as “The Great commission”.  This is where Jesus spoke His departing words to The New Testament Church.

It was here that Jesus told His church what He “expected” OF HER (what she was supposed to do) until He returned for her at the end of the age

Matt 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Now we understand that the entire Bible is “God’s Word” and that every single word of The Bible is very special . . . but there is something “extra

special” about what we find recorded beginning with baptism of John until the ascension of Jesus where Jesus spoke to His church one final time.  

This is in no way intended to diminish the remainder of The Bible – but the point - is to simply single out the personal ministry of Jesus AND to 

to also point to the work of the apostles as a time that God used to establish a new type of worship.  It is true that during this interval of time that Jesus is quoted as saying in Luke 19: 10

For the Son of man (Jesus) is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus did come to search for the lost – and Jesus did come to give eternal life to those who repented of their sins and trusted in Him . . . but Jesus 

also came TO TEACH – Jesus came to teach those that He found in salvation HOW TO WORSHIP the God that had saved them . . . John 3:16 tells us how Jesus died for the sinner

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But how many of us are familiar with Eph 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself (or also died) for IT;

We find here that Paul compares the relationship between a husband and wife with the relationship between God “and the true worshiper”

It is true that Jesus “gave Himself” as He died for the sinner - but it is equally true that Jesus “gave Himself” as HE ALSO DIED for His NTC.

The point here is that in the "ideal marriage relationship" – every aspect of “the husbands’ life” is directed in such a way that his wife is benefited (the husband lives to please his wife) and everything that he does is ultimately for HER welfare and the welfare of the ENTIRE family . . .

Likewise every aspect of Jesus’ life was directed in such a way that “others” were benefited by everything that He did in His life – and this is also

true regarding His death.  It was through “His death” that according to John 12:32 that Jesus reminds all men of the commandment to repent or perish.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (drag) all men unto me (unto the cross).

This is the manner in which God’s family (all the saved) are redeemed – this is how God’s children are pardoned (or excused) from the penalty of their

sins – “faith and repentance” are how we pass from death unto life . . . but just as in an earthly family there must be “a husband – wife” relationship

in order to START a family – there is also a SPIRITUAL relationship that must precede the forming of (or the start) God’s “family of believers”that we understand to be ALL of “THE SAVED”.

Now at this point in our discussion – I want to be absolutely clear – that salvation is NOT found in the church . . . but salvation IS FOUND in The

Truth.  If the only “spiritual” or religious relationship that a man has “is OUTSIDE of the Truth” – then I want you to be honest – and think

about whether or not it is possible for the man who “believes a lie” to be born into the family of God’s believers as one of His children.

To phrase it another way – can trusting in a lie save a man’s eternal soul . . . or can salvation ONLY be found when a man trusts in The Truth?  This is a very important question for you to answer.

Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If the name of Jesus is synonymous with The Truth – if John 1:1 which says 1 . . . and the Word was with God, and the Word was God is really true –

then there should be some doubt in our minds about how effective it is regarding being able to “get saved” by believing “a lie”.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is what saves . . . but “the TYPE of faith that saves” must be placed IN The Truth because faith in a lie CANNOT save any man -- Most 

people are sincere about their religious convictions – but if we are sincerely wrong it DOES NOT COUNT (or gain) anything for us at all in God’s eyes . . .

Faith in the lives of God’s children - is the only thing that is able to please God . . . but once again the only “type of faith” that pleases God (is not faith in a lie) but rather faith in The Truth.

So this phrase in Eph 5:25 where Paul tells us that Jesus loved “the church” and “gave Himself for it” refers to the method which God has chosen to “protect” The Truth.

Once again – salvation IS NOT in any TYPE of church.  But THE TRUTH which points to salvation IS kept in only ONE place.

And that place is The Lord’s New Testament Church.

       Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism

It is easy for "different religions" to criticize one another for leading people astray regarding the The Truth.  It is a waste of time for one group to criticize another group for not teaching "the right thing".

It is not proper for me to use "my religion" to tell others how "your religion" is wrong.  What Jesus compels all men to do - is to "study to shew ourselves approved unto God . . . a workman that needeth not to be ashamed RIGHTLY DIVIDING (properly interpreting) the word of Truth.

The problem is not with "false religion".  The problem is with those of us who refuse to compare "our beliefs" with The Bible and instead of adjusting what we believe to agree with The Bible 

we instead want to adjust how we interpret The Bible to agree with what we want to believe . . .

More on this topic next time . . . until then God bless . . .