The Clarity of Truth

The Clarity of Truth

John 8:32; 14:6; 17:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Hebrews 11:1

Theme: Authentic facts point to God’s truth; we must live by God’s truth and not mere facts…by faith and not by sight.

Relevance:

God delivers us from spiritual confusion when we believe Him instead of our circumstances. Facts are subject to misleading manipulation leading to greater sin, darkness, and bondage, but embracing God’s truth is freeing, liberating, clarifying, and life transforming!  

Lesson:

Again...Truth Must Override Facts as a Standard!

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

God’s spiritual truth (His word and promises) supersedes temporary earthly facts (physical or biological realities or human observations). 

There are Plenty Examples of Truth Overriding Facts:

In Bible history, divine truth frequently superseded noticeable facts, whether temporary physical circumstances, biological limits, or antagonistic settings. When natural facts say one thing, God’s higher truth overrode them, demanding faith over mere human sight.

• Abraham and Sarah’s Aged Bodies (Romans 4:18–21; Genesis 17:15-17)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: Physically, Sarah’s womb and Abraham’s body were dead (as good as dead, being about 100 years old). Physically, their bodies were past the age of bearing children.
• The Greater Truth: God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations. Abraham “against hope believed in hope,” considering not his own body now very old, but “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.” Abraham trusted God’s promise to make him the father of many nations, even when human prospects seemed entirely hopeless. God’s truth or promise they would have a son, a coming heir, superseded the biological fact of their infertility. He remained fully convinced that God had the power to fulfill what He promised.
• Peter Walking on the Water (Matthew 14:28–29)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: The physical law of gravity and the force of wind and waves mean a human body sinks in the Sea of Galilee. The physical facts were gravity and sinking waves!
• The Greater Truth: At Jesus’ invitational command (“Come”), Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the stormy sea. The physical fact of the storm only overwhelmed him when he looked away from Christ’s word, proving that divine command momentarily superseded natural physical laws. The truth and real power rested in Jesus’ command to come.
• Stepping Out in Faith but Only with Christ’s Directions. Peter asks Jesus to call him out onto the dangerous, stormy sea. By saying “Come,” Jesus gives Peter the authority and power to do the impossible.
• Leaving the Comfort Zone as an Expression of Trust. This passage represents taking a risk to be closer to Christ. The boat symbolizes safety and familiarity; walking on water symbolizes radical trust in Jesus’ command.
• The Power of Focusing on Christ is Paramount to Triumph! Peter can walk on water only as long as he keeps his eyes fixed entirely on Jesus. (While the verses immediately following show Peter looking at the wind, becoming afraid, and beginning to sink, verses 28–29 highlight the initial triumph of active, obedient faith). We dare not overlook this reality!
• The Three Hebrew Boys in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:24–27)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: Fire burns human flesh, and Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace was heated seven times hotter than usual so that it killed the executioners.
• The Greater Truth: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God’s preservation. The physical fact of the fire remained, but the higher spiritual truth of God’s presence meant “upon their bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed.”
• Earlier in the chapter, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue, stating that their God was able to save them, but even if He didn’t, they still wouldn’t worship the idol. Daniel 3:27 proves that God did deliver them utterly and completely, leaving pagan witnesses astonished and forcing the pagan king to praise the God of Israel. It highlights that when God saves or brings someone through a trial, He can do so so thoroughly that not even the “smell” or scars of the ordeal remain.—Bible Gateway
• The Shunammite Woman’s Dead Son (2 Kings 4:32–37)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: While working with his father in the fields, the boy complained of a severe head pain and died in his mother’s arms. The child was clinically dead, laid cold upon Elisha’s bed.
• The Greater Truth: The physical fact of death was reversed by the prophet’s actions and God’s power! Elisha arrived, prayed to God, and stretched himself out over the boy’s body twice until the child’s flesh grew warm. Operating on the spiritual reality that God is the author of life, Elisha caused the boy to sneeze and open his eyes then restored him alive again to his mother. Yes, beloved this resurrection is just one token of what the Creator can do through exploits of faith!
• The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:3–5)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: The bones scattered across the valley were “very dry”—a final, irreversible physical state from a human perspective.
• The Greater Truth: When God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?”, the prophet deferred to God’s omniscience (“O Lord God, thou knowest”). God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy, saying, “O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord,” and life entered them, and “they stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” The truth of God’s powerful creative word superseded the dead, bleached fact of the bones.

·        Christ’s Raising Lazarus to Life (John 11)

Jesus Christ’s resurrection of Lazarus demonstrates His authority over life and death renders physical death a temporary boundary rather than a permanent reality. Yes, accordingly Lazarus was brought back to physical life by Jesus four days after he died and was placed in a tomb. 

·        The Death of Lazarus of Bethany, brother to Mary and Martha and a friend of Jesus, fell sick and died while Jesus was away. 

·        The Miracle unfolded when Jesus arrived four days after the burial, he went to the cave tomb, had the stone rolled away, and called out, “Lazarus, come forth.”

·        The Result literally entailed Lazarus coming out of the tomb still wrapped in his burial cloths, astonishing the crowd and leading many to believe in the Lord Jesus. Beloved, these are the observable bare face facts!

Carefully, note the significance of Lazarus being dead four days in the tomb. You see Lazarus was dead for four days, past the Jewish belief that the soul lingered for three days, making his death an undeniable physical fact.

Then specifically pay attention to the awesome power of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus called, “Lazarus, come forth,” the physical reality of decay and death yielded to divine command instantly.

Recall how Jesus described Himself earlier as “The Resurrection and the Life”! Jesus specified that anyone who believes in Him will live even if they die physically, shifting the focus from death as an absolute end to life in Christ (Jn. 11:23-27). Beloved, this is the "TRUTH" that frees you and me for the sins of doubt, skepticism, questions, worry, frustrations, and unbelief! 

Many More Passages Elevate God’s Words Over Obvious Facts that are Rooted in Mere Human Understanding!

Living by faith is trusting God, believing Him regardless of other otherwise reasonable inputs from even accomplished people. Humility is necessary for us all before a Mighty God and Creator! A humble posture is our rightful place and not the arrogance of dreaming up some new theory in a quest to be published! Trusting God’s promises and character instead of relying only on temporary, physical circumstances or human logic is needed by us all. God calls us to a life of faith and moves us past the mere limitations of physical sight.

• Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith provides a real foundation and proof for spiritual realities that physical eyes cannot detect.
• 2 Corinthians 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
• Romans 1:17: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Faith is not a one-time event, but the core posture of daily survival and spiritual life.
• Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Several Essential Matters are Involved with Living by Faith!

• Looking Beyond Circumstances to the Reality of God! Refusing to let present hardships, fear, or worldly facts dictate your peace or obedience.
• Trusting the Word of God as a Standard! Relying on what God has declared as more certain than what physical evidence shows.
• Actively Resolving to Proceed! Moving forward through unclear paths with confidence in God’s hidden work and ultimate faithfulness.

Conclusion:

Jesus says, “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Spiritual truth and alignment with God sovereign will free us from the bondage, captivity, confinement, and lifestyles of sinful enslavement. Beloved, our Lord promises spiritual liberation through faith.

Child of God, this notion is critical to our spiritual experience:

• Freedom from Sin: people who live in sin are slaves to it. Knowing and accepting the truth breaks that control.
• The Person of Jesus: Jesus defines himself as the “TRUTH”. Knowing the truth means having a ‘living faith’ in him.

Having a living faith in Jesus Christ provides inner peace, deeper personal purpose, and a supportive connection to God that helps overcome daily hardships.

Think Deeply About the Advantages of a ‘Living Faith’:

·        Rich Inner Peace is Realized. Trusting in Christ offers a stabilizing inner calm that helps reduce worry about the future.

·        Hope during Hard Times is a Present Truth to Embrace. A living trust provides the resilience needed to persevere through suffering, sickness, and difficult life circumstances.

·        Clear Life Purpose and Confidence for the Future. Walking closely with Jesus aligns our daily actions with meaningful values, helping us love and serve others more effectively.

·        Direct Access to God Deepening that vital Connection. Faith opens an ongoing relationship through prayer and spiritual guidance, offering constant support and a lifted burden of guilt or shame.

 

Yes, authentic facts should invariably point to God’s eternal truth; as the people of God, we must live by God’s truth and not merely the facts…by faith and not by sight.  

Responding to God's Strictness

Responding to God's Strictness

 

Romans 11:22, Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

God’s balanced nature is set forth to grip our attention! The verse pairs severity with goodness, indicating God is both just to those who fall away and loving to those who trust Him.

 Message:

How Should We Respond Appropriately?

What does God require of us now that we’ve embraced the reality of His strict judgment and justice? What is an appropriate reaction to this truth?

Believers should respond to the severity of God with humble fear, avoiding spiritual pride, and continuing steadfastly in His goodness by faith. –Dr. Martyn Llyod-Jones

“Behold” again is one key word in this observation…. Romans 11:22, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God”. God wants us to ‘realize, perceive, know, experience, think about, and learn…His “severity”. 

Such insight and conclusions should control and influence us for righteousness! God wants us to ‘notice,’ ‘dwell on,’ and ‘linger’ on the truth that He deals with unbelief very severely…we of necessity must open our eyes of faith. Allow ourselves to sit with this grand insight about God….

Severity means "judgment and destruction", showing that God does not ignore sin or lack of faith. –Bible Gateway

God gives specific attitudes for us believers:

     1.    Avoid an Arrogant Attitude as if it were the Plague! Believers are warned not to look down on others, brag about being chosen by God or become arrogant about our standing. Paul explicitly states in Romans 11:20, “Be not highminded, but fear.” Beloved, our spiritual standing depends on faith rather than personal merit.  We are told to stay humble remembering the grace of God, and thankful rather than proud, knowing that faith requires continuing in God’s kindness.

o   In this verse, the Apostle Paul is writing to Gentile Christians, warning them not to become arrogant toward the Jewish people who rejected Christ. Paul explains that the unbelieving Israelites were metaphorically "broken off" from the tree, and the Gentiles were grafted in purely by faith, not because of any inherent superiority. –Bible Gateway

o   “It means people should not be proud or arrogant about their faith, but instead stay humble and respectful before God.” –Bible Gateway

Beloved, we must maintain a respectful, humble reverence for God’s strict holiness and recognize the serious reality of turning away from faith.  

2. Maintain a Healthy Respect for God’s Capacity to Judge Perfectly! You see recognizing “God’s judgment on unbelief and disobedience produces a sober, reverent awe that keeps a person from taking God’s mercy for granted.” –Desiring God

• To sustain a healthy regard, you must remember God’s supreme holiness, His fair justice, and His power over all life.
• God is holy: He cannot look at evil and He loves what is right and good.
• God is fair: He sees all hidden actions and judges every person with total truth.
• God has total power: He holds the power of life and death, and His word always comes true.
• To stay humble and trust that God sees and understands everything perfectly.
• Perfect sight: we only see a small part of a situation, but God sees the whole picture.
• Pure justice: our judgment can be unfair or biased, while divine judgment is always fair.
• Humility: this reminds us not to judge others harshly, since only God knows a person’s true heart and life story.
• Peace: this idea allows us to let go of anger, trusting that true justice is in hands higher than our own.

An everyday comparison is like watching a single replay of a sports game from a bad angle versus having a referee who can see the game from every camera angle at the exact same time. We have the bad angle, but God has the perfect view.

• What else should we do to Respect God’s Severe Nature?
• Humble your heart by admitting your mistakes quickly and asking for His forgiveness each day.
• Obey His word by following His commands closely because you know He sees everything you do. Knowing that judgment is inevitable helps us live responsibly. We are not just living for today but for eternity.  
• Do not judge others’ hearts by leaving the final judgment to God, since only He knows a person’s true heart. The lord shall brings every work in to judgement with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14.
• Trust His timing by resting in the fact that God will make all wrong things right in the end.

In our eyes, these ideas might seem to be rather harsh and probably even cruel and uncompassionate acts of judgment. But this is perceiving God accurately.

3. Continue in God’s Goodness Rooted in Faith! Believers must remain rooted in faith rather than drifting into the hard-hearted unbelief that brings about God’s cutting off or discipline. Continuing in God’s goodness means staying close to Him, letting your life grow deep roots, and living each day with a thankful heart.

Conclusion:

God’s standards of absolute truth and righteousness must be regarded as unchanging and not subject to human negotiations or feelings.

• Absolute standards? The Bible presents God’s moral law as holy, just, and completely different from evil. Beloved, these are the principles we live by.
• What now for us Believers? We are encouraged to stand firm in our faith and avoid diluting biblical boundaries. Beloved, standing firm may be difficult in our cultural and at this moment, but we must not compromise for anyone.
• Remember the many scriptural warnings to never compromise with worldly ideas! The Bible frequently warns against adopting double standards or mixing godly principles with worldly corruption (2 Cor. 6:14; 1 King 18:21; Rom. 12:2; Jas. 4:4).

Refuse to compromise on right and wrong! When considering fundamental issues of right and wrong protect your moral integrity and avoid supporting situations you know to be unethical.

• It is advisable to preserve a godly character! Yielding on fundamental principles chips away at your perception of God as uncompromising, your self-respect, and the very foundation of your values (Matt. 6:24).
• Take a stand to avoid unscriptural and unethical choices! An unprincipled compromise is not just about feeling uncomfortable; it means agreeing to do something you know is wrong. Compromising with sin, false teachings, or worldly values is turning away from God’s holiness (Eph. 6:14). 
• Choose to exemplify stability and steadfastness! A person who refuses to break under pressure becomes a steady anchor for others in a confusing world (1 Cor. 15:58).  

Stay connected to the Lord on purpose! Keep your heart close to Jesus like a plant gets water from its roots. Trust God daily and habitually! Lean on His love when life is hard or confusing. Give thanks and cultivate a spirit of gratitude! Remember to thank God for His gifts all through the day.

Grow stronger in the Bible; learn God’s true words to keep your mind steady. Stand firm in the Lord no matter what comes. Do not let worries or bad choices move you away from your safe place in the Lord.

Beloved, God is both just to those who fall away and loving to those who trust Him.

Does God View Murder as Wrong?

Does God View Murder as Wrong?

 

A moral position is agreement with God bases on Bible facts, and eternal truth no matter what our feelings may dictate or worldly ideologies may demand.

Murder is strictly wrong to God and His Bible explicitly forbids this serious sin for an individual and society.

What Does the Bible Actually Command? 

• The Sixth Commandment: Exodus 20:13 famously states, “Thou shalt not kill” prohibiting the unlawful and malicious taking of human life rather than all killing in general.
• The Hebrew Clarification: The Hebrew word used is ratsakh, literally meaning to murder, slay, or kill and here specifically refers to the unauthorized, premeditated, and unlawful taking of human life.
• This refers specifically to murder and not to capital punishment or to manslaughter. The command teaches respect for human life.^[1]
• To help preserve society and because people are made in God’s image (Gen. 9:6), the Israelites were commanded not to take another person’s life by murder (rāṣaḥ, “to slay”).^[2]
• Why Is Murder Wrong: Scripture teaches that humans are made in the image of God (imago Dei). Therefore, murdering a human being is viewed as a direct assault on God Himself and an illegal takeover of His sole authority over life and death.
• Life is something that the God of Israel does not treat lightly, and it is thus incumbent on his people to behave likewise. W. Harrelson puts the entire matter in a helpful perspective:
• In short, the sixth commandment stakes out the claim of God over all life and serves notice to all human beings—but especially those who claim the biblical heritage as binding upon them—that God’s claim upon life is to be given priority in the decisions taken by a community of its individual members.^[3]

Are there Bible Exceptions to Consider?

The Bible makes a clear distinction between unlawful murder and authorized or accidental killing:

• Permitted Actions to Consider: Taking a life is not considered sinful murder in cases of accidental manslaughter (with cities of refuge provided for protection), necessary self-defense, or authorized wartime combat.
• Capital Punishment Considerations: God authorized governing authorities to carry out justice or capital punishment for severe crimes, which is separate from individual personal murder (Gen. 9:6; Lev. 24:17; Exo. 21:12; Rom. 13:4).
• Capital Crimes Considerations: The Bible contains many passages that establish or support the death penalty for murder and major offenses—capital crimes. God instituted capital punishment as a constant standard to value human life and give governments the authority to punish plain wickedness.  Governing authorities still have a God-given responsibility to use serious punishment, including execution.

What Did Jesus Teach in The New Testament?

• Reflect on Matters of the Heart: In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21–22), Jesus draws out the implications of this command, teaching that harboring deep, unrighteous anger, hatred, or insults against another person violates the spiritual intent of the law, equating internal malice to murder of the heart. Jesus fully expects moral purity in our hearts, teaching that deep seated irritation, abusive language, and disdain have serious spiritual guilt concentrations comparable to physical murder.
• Reflect on Fulfilling the Law: The New Testament reiterates that harming a neighbor breaks God’s law, while loving a neighbor fulfills it. Satisfying the deep intentions behind God’s law requires looking at our attitude of heart. God’s laws are about love and respect for human life, not just avoiding a crime.

The New Testament affirms the sixth commandment as “Thou shalt not kill” and expands it to forbid unjustified anger and hatred in our heart. In addition, Jesus also teaches that repairing a broken relationship is more important than observing religious rituals (Matt. 5:23-26).

What Did the Apostles Have to Say about the Law?

The writers of the New Testament letters repeat this commandment as a guide for Christian living:

• Paul: Commands like “thou shalt not kill” are summed up in the rule to love your neighbor as yourself (Romans 13:8-10). Genuine love actively avoids hurting others, it naturally satisfies the ethical demands of God’s law.
• James: If we do not commit murder, but we commit adultery, we still break the whole law (James 2:10). God’s law is a single, connected system from the Lawgiver Himself, not a list of separate options. Because failing once ruins the whole record, we desperately need God’s grace and mercy and not mere human self-righteousness.

Conclusion:

So, there you have it! Murder is the intentional, unlawful taking of an innocent human life. Additionally, the New Testament does not forbid all use of government authority or self-defense, but it condemns personal malice, hatred, and unlawful violence.

     ·       Lindsay Clancy was charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her three young children—5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan—in Duxbury, Massachusetts. –Facebook

     ·       Clancy pleaded not guilty, and her defense attorneys argued she was not criminally responsible due to severe postpartum psychosis. -NPR

     ·       Her trial ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict, and she remains held in a psychiatric hospital pending further proceedings by the Plymouth County District Attorney. —PBS  

Sadly, Modern Feminism affects personal values, moral judgment, and social responsibility. This was supremely evident in the very recent Ms. Lindsay Clancy murder mistrial. Certain modern stories avoid personal accountability by blaming systemic structures for their individual actions and personal crimes. Ms. Clancy resorted to ‘victimhood.’ Further, redefining traditional gender roles replaces clear ethical guidelines with subjective personal preferences jeopardizing all judicial law and order. Beloved, this is rank moral relativism!

Feminist supporters argue that early and continuing goals focus on basic legal fairness, voting access, and workplace protections. Well, where is the justice for the three innocent children who were murdered by their own mother? How many more ‘mothers’ will follow her example and justify killing their babies? How is a young man supposed to select a potential wife...how can he ensure she will raise the children with godly character? How can you justify any female hires if she can claim a hormonal complication defense for her inappropriate actions? Does hiring her jeopardize the rest of the company? Can a female ballot or vote be trusted or taken seriously? Isn't emotional regulation expected of men? Is there an automatic excuse if it's a women? Isn't this another double standard that favors women? 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 109.

^[2] John D. Hannah, “Exodus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 140.

^[3] Peter Enns, Exodus, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000), 422.