What Is Truth?

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-9-2024

John 18:33-38

Introduction:

 

A. While our Lord Jesus Christ, The Truth-John 14:6) stood in Pontius Pilate’s presence, Pilate asked the age old question: “What is truth?”

 

B. An interesting question! For millenniums, men have searched for truth of one kind or another. There are many kinds of truth in this world that men claim to have found but, just because you believe something to be truth, it may or may not be true.

 

C. The question in our text is, did Pilate actually want to know the truth or did he mean that truth in this instance was not knowable.

 

D. Those in charge the night that Jesus was bound captive and interrogated, played a game of “Hot Potato” with our Lord as none of then wanted to be hung with the job of satisfying both Rome and the Jews.

 

1. The Mob brought Jesus bound to Annas, so Annas passed Him along to Caiaphas.

 

John 18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

 

2. Then Caiaphas passed Him along to Pontius Pilate in the Judgment Hall.

 

John 18:28-29 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (29) Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

 

3. At this point, Pontius Pilate became the “proxy” who stood between Rome and the Jews.

 

E. Pontius Pilate was Procurator of Judea and Governor of the East. By Procurator, it is meant a “proxy” or to stand in the place of someone else, that person was Tiberius Caesar! Pontius Pilate tried to be just but was placed into a “no win” position, so he—being a skilled politician—tried to settle a “could not be settled” thing.

 

F. Later, Pontius Pilate wrote this letter to Tiberius Caesar describing the situation through his eyes:

 

Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Cæsar the emperor, greeting.

 

Upon Jesus Christ, whose case I had clearly set forth to thee in my last, at length by the will of the people a bitter punishment has been inflicted, myself being in a sort unwilling and rather afraid.  A man, by Hercules, so pious and strict, no age has ever had nor will have.  But wonderful were the efforts of the people themselves, and the unanimity of all the scribes and chief men and elders, to crucify this ambassador of truth, notwithstanding that their own prophets, and after our manner the sibyls, warned them against it:  and supernatural signs appeared while he was hanging, and, in the opinion of philosophers, threatened destruction to the whole world.  His disciples are flourishing, in their work and the regulation of their lives not belying their master; yea, in his name most beneficent.  Had I not been afraid of the rising of a sedition among the people, who were just on the point of breaking out, perhaps this man would still have been alive to us; although, urged more by fidelity to thy dignity than induced by my own wishes, I did not according to my strength resist that innocent blood free from the whole charge brought against it, but unjustly, through the malignity of men, should be sold and suffer, yet, as the Scriptures signify, to their own destruction.  Farewell.  28th March.

 

G. When Pilate asked the question: “What is Truth?’, I believe that he though that truth at this point was unknowable. One side, the Jewish accusers of Christ making unproven allegations and on the other side, Christ Jesus who said that they knew the truth and refused to answer Pilate’s questions.

 

H. I just wanted to set this backdrop so as to give the proper interpretation of what transpired the night before Christ died.

 

J. Winston Churchill once said: “Occasionally men stumble over the truth. Most pick themselves up and go, as if nothing happened.” Thus, it was with Pontius Pilate who eventually washed his hands and turned Jesus Christ over to the Roman soldiers for crucifixion.

 

K. A Man in whom Pontius Pilate “found no fault at all” would shortly turn Jesus Christ over to be crucified!

 

1.     Faced with the Truth, Pilate found that the cost of Truth, with the mob of Jews on one side and Tiberius Caesar on the other, was too much of a price to pay.

 

2.     Thus, Pilate became the epitome a compromiser. Someone once said that Pilate has been trying to get the blood of Christ off his hands for 2,000 years in hell.

 

L. Now to the question, “What is Truth?”

 

1. Truth will always be Absolute. If it is Truth, it is right. Otherwise, Truth becomes untruth. The world struggles with the matter of Truth because they, as Churchill said, “Stumble over the truth … pick themselves up and go, as if nothing happened.”

 

a. Pilate was standing right face to face with TRUTH and yet he walked away! You can turn away from Truth because you do not want it to be truth, but if it is truth, you cannot change it!

 

b. Modern philosophy, the Love of Knowledge, sums it up this way:

 

1) There are no absolutes except the absolute that that there are no absolutes." This statement is a conflicting one because it states that there are no absolutes and says that there is an absolute truth that there are no absolutes!

 

2) There must be absolutes, otherwise there would be no Truths!

 

c. Truth has been silenced by intolerance. As one preacher put it, “America has undergone a moral lobotomy, and principled conviction has been replaced by political correctness.” This is simply a cloak under which hypocrisy hides!”

 

d. Many so-called “Christians” believe that truth is relative or what you think it to be or not to be. Thus, the end of such thinking is humanism: the worship of self. If you think it is right, it is right; if you think it is wrong, it is wrong.

 

2. Truth today has been Abandoned.

 

a. We find that mankind, those who reject the knowledge of God, must become willfully ignorant of the Truth.

 

1) By the Intellect. 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2) By the Evolutionist. 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

 

b. There is Perfect Truth. If it is perfectly true, it will remain true.

 

Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

c. Absolute Truth will never be obsolete nor diminished.

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. (15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

 

Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

3. Truth will always be Accessible.

 

a. The Heavens and the Earth declare Truth.

 

Psalms 14:1-2 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (2) The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

 

b. The Word of God is Truth. We have the God given right to accept or reject it. Either our accepting or rejecting does not do away with the Truth of God’s Word. It remains Truth to all generations.

 

Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

 

c. The Son of God embodies Truth. Truth was available for Pontius Pilate but, because of his circumstances, he chose to walk away.

 

4. Truth is Available.

 

a. The Inscribed Word of God is Truth.

 

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

b. The Incarnate Word of God is Truth.

 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

5. Truth is Liberating.

 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

Conclusion: Pilate, faced with Truth, rejected truth.

The Blessing of the House of God - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-6-2024

Psalm 122

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Before we move on to another wonderful Psalm, I want to spend one more night on the 122^nd Psalm. 

 

1.  How wonderful it is to be enthusiastic and excited about going to the house of God!  I fear that has been lost in our days because of Laodicean thinking and lifestyles.  People are more worldly minded than spiritually minded because their lives are spent “making ends meet” because they have too much to maintain. 

 

2.  When Barbara and I married, we did not have enough credit to buy an eight hundred dollar car!  We did not have enough credit to finance a $4,200.00 dollar mobile home without someone co-signing for us.  With an old used car and the cheapest mobile home that we could buy, we started out. 

 

3.  Today, young married and old married people can virtually buy every convenience and every “toy” that they want on credit and live on the edge with many falling off.  I am not complaining, just explaining because this “have need of nothing” mentality has become a “spiritual wedge” that divides the heart.

 

4.  Make church special!  It is special but will not be special to us individually unless we make it so.  It thrilled my heart Wednesday night to hear little Micah say “Preacher” and wave to me as his family started to leave.  If he said “Preacher” once and waved, he must have done it a dozen times.

 

5.  One day, I believe that this special little boy will stand in my pulpit and preach!  Create an excitement within your hearts that will bubble over to excitement in your children’s hearts.  Church is special and needs to be shown that way by us older folks.

 

B.  With all that said, (Whew, aren’t you glad that I got that over with?), what makes going to church so special?  I believe that it is so simple, biblical, yet profound that we should see just how important that church is.

 

1.  It Is The Place That God Loves. Hebrews 10:22-25  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

Verse 25 is a much quoted one but why is it so important to the believers

 

There are three usages of the words “let us” found here.  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, let us hold fast the profession of our faith, let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works!

 

When you get saved, you love what God loves!

 

The local church should be heart and soul

 

2.  It Is The Place Of Worship - Psalms 5:7   But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 

 

I can worship anywhere but the church house is a special place.  It was a place built to worship in.  I can go there and sing as loud as I please; I can say “Amen” or shout “Glory to God;” I can give my tithe and offerings scripturally in God’s house.  What a blessing!

 

3.  It Is The Place Of Preaching And Teach God’s Word - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 

You probably know it by now, but I love this blessed old King James Bible that I hold in my hand.  I can read it at home; I can study it at home; but here in the house of the Lord, men of God preach like they know what they are preaching about!  I rejoice with the Apostle Paul when the Bible is heralded, and the preacher lifts up his voice like a trumpet!

 

4.  It Is The Place Where God’s People Gather - Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

 

The greatest people on earth are there!  When I got saved, I fell in love with a lot of things that please God but one of the greatest of all was the people of God.  No, they are not perfect, but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ!  We are all in the Body of Christ which is the Family of God, and I love you!

 

5 It Is The Place Where Sinners Are Both Sought And Loved - Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

 

Matthew 9:10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 

 

God loves sinners!  God hates sin but God loves sinners!  Don’t ever forget that!  We do not look down on people because of who they are and what they wear.  Let them come, get saved, and watch—not push—while God changes their lives. We all once sat where they now sit!

 

6.  It Is God’s Instrument For World Evangelism - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 

 

It is here that you and I get to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.”  I love to give an offering to missions!  I can help support precious families as they cover the globe preaching the same gospel that I preach.  Missionaries are the greatest people in the world!  There is  no greater calling than that.  Carrying the Word of God to a world that needs Jesus Christ, and I can help go by giving!

 

7.  It Was There That I Heard The True Gospel Preached And Was Gloriously and Eternally Saved – Luke 18:10, 13-14  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican …  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

 

If it weren’t for the local church, this pastor would still be lost in my sin.  I got saved on a Sunday night in an independent Baptist Church.  Thank God for Pastor Bob Lamb!  God laid it upon his heart to come to Madisonville, Ky and start a church under an old gospel tent!  Barbara and I were saved because of it!  Ask me why I love the local church!!

 

8.  It Is A Place Of Comfort And Spiritual Joy - Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 

 

The church is a refuge; a stronghold; a place of peace and tranquility; a place where we come and enjoy the things of God.  It is a place of comfort to the troubled and a source of joy to those who are hurting.

 

9.  It Is An Encouragement Filling Station - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

 

I get filled up at church.  I go to put something into the service and also to get something out of it.  If you do not get a blessing, then it was because you were not blessable!  I know blessable is not a word, but I can make one up if I wanna!  If you want a blessing, you will get one.  If you do not want a blessing, don’t blame it on anyone or anything but yourself.  You get out of a church service what you put into it.

 

10.  It Is Just A Little Bit Of Heaven On Earth - Psalms 84:1-2  How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 

 

If you don’t like church, don’t go to heaven!  You won’t like it there because the church is a little bit of heaven on earth!