The Truth of the Matter
"...he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come..." (Acts 24:24-25)
If there is one thing that always matters, it is the TRUTH. Truth is 'what is'. It is that which corresponds to reality. The truth always has a way of making itself known whenever it is discussed, searched out, or sought after among those who want to know what is truly real or what truly happened.
Although some situations might seem straightforward to us, there are all kinds of reasons why some people simply do not see eye to eye. Our personal baggage, bias, and beliefs play a part in how we view certain things. Furthermore, public persuasion takes place when a growing number of people start spreading their views and opinions on others and people start accepting it and promoting it without fact checking whether it is true.
Jesus said that He Himself was the truth and that when "you know the truth, the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). But the truth must be investigated or be revealed as it was for Paul when he was converted on the road to Damascus.
The Apostle Paul was falsely accused of being an instigator of dissension among the Jews because he spoke the truth. They called him a "ringleader" of the new sect who had profaned God's temple. But none of these accusations carried any weight of evidence that they were true.
The truth of the matter is that Paul was faithfully telling the truth about the resurrection of the dead and this was something that was already an issue of contention among those Jews who doubted such things. Although the Roman orator Tertullus began his speech by seeking to flatter the Roman governor Felix before going into his accusations, Paul simply responded by stating the facts in a straightforward way and knew that the truth of the matter would dispel their lies and could not be changed or contradicted once it was brought to the light.
Proverbs 18:17 states, that "The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him." And Psalm 37:30-31 states, "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide."
Paul knew that the Lord was standing with him and served as his defense. He sought to present the truth in a convincing way but Paul cared more about pleasing God and trying to help those who were accusing him to come to the light than merely defending himself.
Are you committed to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Do you seek to win arguments or souls to Christ?
The only way to fight against all the lies that are spreading throughout the world is to LIVE AND SPEAK THE TRUTH and pray for open doors for more people to hear the truth that had the power to set them free.
Even when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, he told him that he could have no power except that which was given to Him by His Father. This is still true today. All truth belongs to God and so does all power that exists on the earth.
Each one of us must make sure that we know the truth of the matter and that we are truly living in a right relationship with God.
Paul sought to show how the Christian message was actually the continuation of the Jewish faith and the truth that began with the Law and the Prophets. The resurrection of Christ was the key focal point that everything in the faith hinged upon.
The Jewish Scriptures had spoken of a resurrection for both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Daniel 12:2-3 states, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever." Paul knew that for the Christian "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Cor. 15:13-14).
Paul was not afraid or ashamed of the gospel because he knew its power to help bring people to saving faith in Christ. Paul had seen the resurrected Jesus and now he wanted not only his Jewish brethren to be saved but the whole world to see who Christ Jesus truly was.
Paul reasoned about three specific areas:
The gospel of Christ fulfills each area of concern. Jesus is the PRIORITY within all other priorities. He makes us righteous. He gives us His Spirit to control our flesh. He took our judgment so that we could be with Him forever!
Paul would not back down or take any bribes because he was a true bondservant of Christ who had his eyes open to see the truth and was ready to be a true witness of Christ come what may.
Galatians 1:10-12 states, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
ACTS IN ACTION CHALLENGE POINTS
If there is one thing that always matters, it is the TRUTH. Truth is 'what is'. It is that which corresponds to reality. The truth always has a way of making itself known whenever it is discussed, searched out, or sought after among those who want to know what is truly real or what truly happened.
Although some situations might seem straightforward to us, there are all kinds of reasons why some people simply do not see eye to eye. Our personal baggage, bias, and beliefs play a part in how we view certain things. Furthermore, public persuasion takes place when a growing number of people start spreading their views and opinions on others and people start accepting it and promoting it without fact checking whether it is true.
Jesus said that He Himself was the truth and that when "you know the truth, the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). But the truth must be investigated or be revealed as it was for Paul when he was converted on the road to Damascus.
The Apostle Paul was falsely accused of being an instigator of dissension among the Jews because he spoke the truth. They called him a "ringleader" of the new sect who had profaned God's temple. But none of these accusations carried any weight of evidence that they were true.
The truth of the matter is that Paul was faithfully telling the truth about the resurrection of the dead and this was something that was already an issue of contention among those Jews who doubted such things. Although the Roman orator Tertullus began his speech by seeking to flatter the Roman governor Felix before going into his accusations, Paul simply responded by stating the facts in a straightforward way and knew that the truth of the matter would dispel their lies and could not be changed or contradicted once it was brought to the light.
Proverbs 18:17 states, that "The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him." And Psalm 37:30-31 states, "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide."
Paul knew that the Lord was standing with him and served as his defense. He sought to present the truth in a convincing way but Paul cared more about pleasing God and trying to help those who were accusing him to come to the light than merely defending himself.
Are you committed to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Do you seek to win arguments or souls to Christ?
The only way to fight against all the lies that are spreading throughout the world is to LIVE AND SPEAK THE TRUTH and pray for open doors for more people to hear the truth that had the power to set them free.
Even when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, he told him that he could have no power except that which was given to Him by His Father. This is still true today. All truth belongs to God and so does all power that exists on the earth.
Each one of us must make sure that we know the truth of the matter and that we are truly living in a right relationship with God.
Paul sought to show how the Christian message was actually the continuation of the Jewish faith and the truth that began with the Law and the Prophets. The resurrection of Christ was the key focal point that everything in the faith hinged upon.
The Jewish Scriptures had spoken of a resurrection for both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Daniel 12:2-3 states, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever." Paul knew that for the Christian "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Cor. 15:13-14).
Paul was not afraid or ashamed of the gospel because he knew its power to help bring people to saving faith in Christ. Paul had seen the resurrected Jesus and now he wanted not only his Jewish brethren to be saved but the whole world to see who Christ Jesus truly was.
Paul reasoned about three specific areas:
- Righteousness...because our righteousness is nothing apart from Christ.
- Self Control...because no one can fully control their desires without the help of the Spirit.
- Judgment...because no one will evaluate their own life but will one day stand before their Maker.
The gospel of Christ fulfills each area of concern. Jesus is the PRIORITY within all other priorities. He makes us righteous. He gives us His Spirit to control our flesh. He took our judgment so that we could be with Him forever!
Paul would not back down or take any bribes because he was a true bondservant of Christ who had his eyes open to see the truth and was ready to be a true witness of Christ come what may.
Galatians 1:10-12 states, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
ACTS IN ACTION CHALLENGE POINTS
- Reflect on your righteous standing before God.
- Are there any areas where you are losing self control?
- What concerns you most about your coming judgment?
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