Title: A Life Without Truth is no Life at All
Focus: Salvation and Spiritual Growth
Illustration for Attention: The music blared through my ears as I sat with my head down praying for a revival. As I begged the Lord I thought, “If only they could somehow return to the Creator, to truth.” “If only they would hear the audible voice of God in their life.” “If only they would understand how the simple truth of the Gospel changes all other areas then maybe, just maybe, there would be hope.” As I lifted my head thinking this would never happen, I saw her. She had her hands lifted in the air almost touching the heavens. Her lips were moving as if she was in conversation with someone right in front of her but nobody stood facing her. Her eyes were closed tightly, intently concentrating at what was taking place. She pleaded to the Lord. She was getting it. She understood the Gospel, the Creator, the truth. She comprehended that for God to do a work in her life then she would have to ignore the lies of the World and surrender to Christ.
I heard nothing as the music encapsulated my eardrums but I continued to watch her with anticipation. She made no movement to notice my stare so I continued to look on with adoration at how God was moving in her heart. As I praised the Lord for the moment, her concentration rested simply on positioning her heart to receive from the Lord what only He could give. She cared nothing for what was going on around her. Her focus was on what God was giving her. Her focus was on embracing eternal life, on not caring about those around her, and on growing her relationship with God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was enough.
Introduction of Subject: This was the image a few weeks ago from a fifteen-year-old girl in a worship service at a youth conference that over two thousand youth attended. This teenager stood alone in a group of her peers unafraid of what others would think and only focused on what how she could praise the Lord and give herself back to him. She knew she had ventured far from where God wanted her to be. She knew that she had followed those who she shouldn’t have followed. It was time for her to get back on the right page for the Lord.
Stimulation: We are like this young lady at times but yet for some reason we remain in our seat paralyzed with fear over the “what if’s” of life. At times in our Christian walk we lose our footing, forgetting what we know is right and turn away to something else that grabs our attention. We lose the foundation that we once held onto so tightly. We wander away from the truths of God and do what we desire because of the sway of someone else. What will you do when this happens? Will you be able to stand tall in the midst of a crowd of people doing what the Lord wants regardless of what others are doing? Can you cling to the truths of God to have life and have it to the fullest?
Passage: Galatians 1:6-10 (read twice, allow people to turn, recite again, then read passage)
Point #1: Truth must be defined (Galatians 1:6-7)
• Explanation: Paul is astonished that the Galatian Church was quickly abandoning the faith (Christ died, rose again, and gives the Hoy Spirit to those who believe in faith). Under early persecution the Christians deserted the Lord, believing the false teachings of those around them. They allowed others to distort the truth by not defining what they knew was right at the moment they should speak. Little by little they became desensitized which lead to a justification of personal actions. Paul is enraged that the people are unwilling to define verbally what they knew was right in the face of oppression regardless of the consequences they would face. It is not the lack of communication that Paul is furious but the lack of conviction the people having regarding the truths about Jesus.
o Peter says, “Stand firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. (2 Peter 1:12)
o John says, “You know the difference between truth and lies!” (1 John 2:21)
• Define what is true! Jesus is truth!
• Illustration:
• Application: The truth of Christ is defined by His work on the cross, His work done in the grave, and His restoration at the resurrection. You know it, you profess it inside the church but when it comes to the life lived outside the doors you abandon it. You are more worried about the affirmations of others instead of the obtaining adoration from Christ. James 4:17 states, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Before we go any further we must come back and acknowledge that God is with us (Romans 8:31). He is in us when we acknowledge Him. He alone has the ability to help us when temptation comes to submit to those who distort the message of Christ. It is up to his people to define it for those who do not understand.
• Questions:
o Who do you need to define truth to in your life outside of these walls?
o Who has your beliefs so twisted and confused because you have failed to communicate in God appointed times?
• Define what is true! Jesus is truth!
Point #2: Truth must be taught (Galatians 1:8-9)
• Explanation: It is not enough that we simply define what is true. An explanation for what has been defined is often needed. As Peter says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) Paul states that if those inside the faith (angels/massagers) or false teachers are preaching a gospel contrary to Christ then there not only needs to be a definition of truth but also a teaching that supports what has been defined. This instruction must be accompanied with the validation of scripture instead of personal opinion. To importation of personal opinion is improper for teaching the principles outlined in God’s Word. In this practice you give what is inside self and not that which of God. Therefore a proper Scriptural study must be obtained to make sure what has been defined is of God. The implementation of teaching doctrine trumps personal opinion every time.
• Illustration: Three of them:
o Steven in the Sanhedrin declaring the story of the Bible to defend his belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
o Daniel in the Lion Den reciting Scripture to validate His God is the living God (also takes place as a teenager)
o Jesus sends demons out of a man into pigs, which leads to a declaration of the Christ to not only his family but also the entire town.
• Application: To defend the truth declared for another must be accompanied by teaching in the Scripture. The illiteracy of scripture is commonplace today as many profess that they “do not read”. A declaration of albescence from the Bible and the principles contained is to reject the teachings of the Lord which is the same as preaching another Gospel. To claim knowledge when there is little is to claim to be intelligence when there is none. Regardless of educational or social, age, race, or color, there is no excuse in today’s culture for the abandonment of understanding the Word of God is ignorance. To love God is to love His Word and the Principles contained in the text. It is the answer for the profession that we make and it must be taught to those who ask questions.
• Questions:
o Who needs to be instructed on the Word of God that is not a part of this assembly?
• Is it you?
o Who do you know that is waiting for you to explain the Scriptures in a way that will come alive to them and impact their lives?
• This is not the job of the pastor; it is the job of all saints!
• If you do not teach the truth you are allowing another to to live in a life without truth A life without truth is no life at all!
Point #3: Truth Glorifies God (Galatians 1:10)
• Explanation: In the Gospel, there is safety for the saved when times of stress and pressure come. While learning on the Lord (Proverbs 3:5), we are commanded to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19) or communicate what we know when receiving false information. This is a command from Christ to communicate the Gospel to those who are lost or distorting the truth (false teachers). This is command for those to push back against those who distort truth. This is a command for the Christians. When faced with those distort the truth of Christ, we must remain firm on the simplicity of the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit speak to those who oppress. If we confuse the simplicity of salvation, we will confuse people. When we confuse people we are in danger allowing others to be eternally lost. In the letter to the Galatian church Paul unravels a hypothetical situation. Paul said that if he (a called apostle of God) or an angel (a messenger from God) were to change the gospel message (a highly improbable situation) then they would be accursed (means “to separate” or “shut off”. Cursed refers to God’s judgment.
• Illustration: Story about getting adopted and having a voice in the courtroom. I had the ability to speak to change the course of history. One simple testimony changed another’s life forever. I stayed with the truth.
• Application: Paul and Barnabas had given a warning of judgment to anybody who was preaching a different gospel than Christ. These people would come under God’s eternal judgment. It is not difficult to understand why Paul reacted so strongly, because the Jews were disgracing the work of Christ on the cross saying that good works were necessary for salvation and the work of Christ was not sufficient (cf. 2:21).
• Questions:
o In making a stand for Christ, a heart immersed in the Gospel is essential but do you declare what you know is in your heart when faced with opposition to do God’s will?
o Are you declaring what the Lord has done to over come adversity?
o Do you believe that Christ is sufficient and if so then why are you still silent in opposing the lies the world tells you?
Conclusion
Summery of points: In order to make a stand for Christ a solid foundation must be laid. The foundation consists of a heart that is centered on the Gospel and a mouth that communicates the message of Christ. Everyone has the desire to do what God wants. We don’t want to be paralyzed with fear. We want to stand with our hands in the air and declare that Jesus is Lord. We want to lift our voice in song. We want to open our mouth and tell God all he has done in our life. This is obtainable. We can be just like Christ when we start to be just like the teenager among her peers.
Importance of central truth: The foundation for faith is found in a relationship with Christ. The Gospel of Jesus is enough. It breaks all falsehood. It eliminates insecurities, it shatters doubt, it overcomes torment, it defiles expectation, and above all, it glorifies God.
Challenge: Do you have it? Do you own it? Is the message buried inside yourself so deep that it pours out of your mouth in every conversation, every interaction, every debate, and every opportunity?
Galatians 1:10 “Am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? If I were still seeking the popularity with men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
