Grace Group Study - Defining Biblical Truth
What is Truth?
Ephesians 4:11-15
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Eph. 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Eph. 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Eph. 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Eph. 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
QUESTION: What about Sunday’s sermon did you find helpful or encouraging? Review:
THE DEFINITIVE MARKERS OF TRUTH
1. Truth Is Not Mutable
a. Truth does not evolve because God does not evolve.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Is. 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
QUESTION: Why do you believe point one is important when defining truth? 2. Truth Is Not Subjective
Have you heard this phrase, “Live your truth”? The meaning translates to, “whatever feels right is truth.” Prov. 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
But what happens when we don’t listen, and we live our own truth?
Rom. 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Rom. 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Rom. 1:24 ¶ Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Rom. 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Rom. 1:26 ¶ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
Rom. 1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
QUESTION: In what areas have you seen truth subjectivized? What damage has it caused? 3. Truth Is Not A Consensus
Our culture also functions using this idea of truth. Morality by mass acceptance.
QUESTION: What are some moral compromises you have seen in our world that everyone seems to accept as “true”?
QUESTION: What areas of your life do you believe the world has possibly distorted your view of what is biblically true?