Five Gracious Truths

Five Gracious Truths

As Jesus stood before Pilate, He said "everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." Pilate's answer is a question which haunts the human race: "What is truth?" It seems that man has so confused every issue that in his mind everything has become relative. Every issue has to be qualified in so many ways that no one is able to render a definite decision. We can almost sympathize with the man who, when greeted with the common greeting, `how are you?' answered, `compared to what?'
What is truth? We might give the short conclusive answer found in John 17 as Christ prayed to the Father, "Thy Word is truth!", but I would like to give briefly five distinct truths, each established on the other.
First a truth that the whole human race needs to relearn. There is an ABSOLUTE difference between right and wrong! Regardless of what theological infidels may say about situation ethics, sin is still sin. It matters not how broadminded men may become about the question, God has some very definite declarations about the matter. "All unrighteousness is sin" 1 John 5:17. Here is a very definite statement of truth! It is a statement that needs no qualifying. Indeed it cannot be qualified without questioning the truthfulness of God Himself! "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" Romans 14:23, and "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!" Romans 10:17.
Man has always been prone to try to find some good in sin that he may justify himself. Even in Isaiah's day God said by the mouth of that great prophet, "Woe to them that call evil good and good evil." Isa. 5:20. Call it social contact if you will, but the drinking party that causes men and women to lose control of their inhibitions is still sin. Immorality is still sin even when its name is changed to `love'. It matters not how hard men may try to change the nature of sin by labelling it a sickness, it is still sin in the eyes of a Holy God and the consequences are still the same as in the beginning.
Which brings us to the next truth. Sin brings forth DEATH! James 1:15. There is no denying that there is a temporary, fleshly pleasure to be derived from sin. Moses had to choose between the afflictions of God's people and the pleasure of sin for a little season. The euphoria of carnal pleasures is a great deal like the effects of drink and drugs. They may seem uplifting at the moment, but the after effects are like the after effects of a life of sin in that the torment is far greater than the pleasure received!
Since all unrighteousness is sin and is the transgression of God's law of perfect holiness, He MUST mete out justice. Since man is caught in a web of sin with no power to extricate himself we come to the third truth. The penalty of sin was paid in behalf of helpless man by that perfect man Christ Jesus.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly!" Rom. 5:6.
On this subject let us simply let the word of God speak to us!
He bare our sins in his own body on the tree. 1 Pet. 2:24
He was made sin (a sin bearer) for us. 2 Cor. 5:21
Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. 1 Pet 3:18
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many... Heb. 9:28
Here is a divine truth which can bring hope and cheer to poor, sin-cursed man who finds himself under the terrible storm of God's wrath against sin.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY FOR MAN TO BE SAVED! "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby ye must be saved" Acts 4:12. Good deeds cannot get the job done for it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." Titus 3:5. We are not to be saved by the keeping of the Law for we are told in Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Also, in verse 21; "for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain!
`What is truth' was the question of Pilate and in the midst of the Babel of voices today it is still a legitimate question. It matters not what men may say, however learned or pious they may seem. It matters not what our forefathers may have said, however ancient their words may be. Nor does it matter that multitudes of men may agree that the Bible is unreliable. Truth is still truth and all the denial in the world can never change it! "Yea, let God be true, and every man a liar." Romans 3:4.
Now I would like to briefly restate these truths and then present one other that is built upon them.
Truth number one; sin is sin and is relative only in the deluded mind of man, while before God it is absolute and has touched the whole human race. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Truth number two; this sin has caused man to be without God and without hope in the world. It has brought about his spiritual death as well as sickness and death to the natural man.
Truth number three; Christ took upon himself the penalty of sins for the whole human race after having lived a perfect life though tempted in all points like as we are.
Truth number four; there is no other way of salvation than that provided in Christ Jesus. "For by Grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Now for this final great truth for our consideration. Christ is coming again! In our text it was Christ standing before Pilate. Someday the roles will be reversed and Pilate will stand before Christ. There will be no question then as to the truth. Jesus said, "They have one that will judge them in that day, the words that I have spoken, they will judge them!" John describes it in this way. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened which was the Book of life and the dead were judged out of the things found in those books!" No perjured witnesses here to give forth their conflicting testimonies, but only the truths of the eternal Word of God with which to compare the deeds and lives of those who stand in judgement. There will then be no philosophizing or moralizing about the relative goodness or badness of sin but only condemnation for these who names are not found written in the Book of Life.
You may not think that sin is so bad, but your thoughts cannot dull the righteousness of God! You may think somehow to escape the consequences of sin but the only way is the way that a loving God has provided. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved! Then you will be able to say with the redeemed of all ages;

How great the love that searched me out
it could only be divine,
No other love could reach me;
I'm saved and he is mine.

How great the love that suffered!
only God could love me so;
to give His Son to die for me;
I'm saved! This I know!

How great the love that intercedes
when I fail him o'er and o'er,
The love of God still keeps me,
I'm saved by His great power!

How great the love that comforts
and makes me to know this;
Is spite of cares and sorrows,
I'm saved and I am His!
(F.C.Creel)