He3idelberg 101-102 Truth

¹⁶Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute. (Hebrews 6:16)

Thoughts: In olden days truth was held in very high regard, and spin was held in very low regard- seen as an attempt to alter the truth or deceive others.  People would swear- as some still do in court today- "to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth- so help me God."  God is the only one who knows our hearts and can absolutely discern motives, perspectives, sincerity of heart, and if words match a description of reality.  It is sad that vows mean so little and truth is seen as only a shade of gray by too many.  Today many expect politicians to make vows they cannot keep in order to be elected (Machiavelli has won the day- so that many think the ends justifies the means).  Today oaths do not end dispute but must be confirmed by evidence, and even then two people may see the same evidence and reach two different conclusions.  God knows what is true and we are called to have our speech made in His name to be true as well.  

Prayer: God of reality- you made truth.  You are the way, the truth, and the life.  Make my words be true to your reality.  Make me trustworthy so that you might be glorified in me.  

Q & A 101

Q. But may we swear an oath in God’s name if we do it reverently?

A. Yes, when the government demands it, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote truth and trustworthiness for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good.  Such oaths are grounded in God’s Word1 and were rightly used by the people of God in the Old and New Testaments.2

1 Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Jer. 4:1-2; Heb. 6:16
2 Gen. 21:24; Josh. 9:15; 1 Kings 1:29-30; Rom. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:23

Q & A 102

Q. May we also swear by saints or other creatures?

A. No.  A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the only one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely.1 No creature is worthy of such honor.2

1 Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:23
2 Matt. 5:34-37; 23:16-22; James 5:12

4/2/14- Sanctify them by the truth

13“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by^d the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (John 17:13-19)

Thoughts: Jesus makes Himself holy that we might be made holy.  The truth makes Jesus holy in the midst of an evil world.  He will later tell Pilate this.  Pilate will respond, "What is truth."  Jesus prays that God will protect us from the evil one- the father of lies- by truth.  Truth- the truth of Jesus is our protection from evil, hurt, and harm.  A pure heart and a mind focused on truth keep us from straying off the narrow path or rebelling against the King of truth.  

Prayer: Lord, make me wholy yours- truly yours. Make me holy with your truth which fills me with purpose, hope, faith, and love.   

1/1/13- Where To Begin? Listening to God.

“Come, all you who are thirsty,come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.  3  Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.  I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:1,2)

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. (James 1:19)

Have this Book of the Law always on your lips.  Listen to it day and night.  so that you may be careful to do everything that is written in it.  Then you will prosper in what you are doing, then you will have success. (Joshua 1:8). 

Thoughts: So where do we begin the new year (or a new study)?  It is not by talking, or presuming, or even planning.  Christians believe our first task is listening.  In listening we say that who we listen to is more important (at the very least for the moment) than what we are saying, doing, or thinking.  It is a sign of humbling ourselves in order to pay attention to the other being.  So listening to God is a great way to start a new year.  Oswald Chambers said that "when we ignore God we are humiliating Him." Those who believe and love God will listen as those who are in true love stop and listen to the person with whom they are in love.
     The question is what theologians call "epistemology" which basically asks, "How do we know?" How do we know what is right?  How do we know what we should do?  How do we possibly know the will of God?  Whenever we talk about knowing, Christians also recognize (through our teaching in the Bible) that we need to hold the truth in humility and love.  Even with the Bible we see on this side as "through a mirror dimly" but when we get to heaven it will become clear and we will see "face to face."  We walk by faith and in a sense of humility and mystery.  Yet, that does NOT mean that we cannot know some things for sure.  While we may not know all things, we may  know some things in certainty by faith.  As Hebrews says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  We do this with all of life.  We may not know how our car works, but most believe that when we get in it the brakes will work.  To be able to move forward at all does not mean we bring in a mechanic every time we get in the car.  But if we hear the brakes squeaking, we may change our mind.  Listening is important- and putting our faith in what we hear or do not hear is important too.
      Where do we listen?  Christians have affirmed the Bible as the Word of God.  This is a matter of faith in the end.  It is not that the Bible tells us everything.  But as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says, the Bible tells us what we are to believe about God and what duty God requires of us.  In other words, what we are to believe and what we are to do.  We do not make this up for ourselves.  The Bible is not just a history of how some people believed.  It is a means (or tool) of grace.  We believe God not only spoke in it, but that God, the Holy Spirit, still speaks in it to us as individuals as well as corporately.

Prayer; Spirit, we I enter a new year- help me to listen to you through the Word you inspire and illuminate to me.

Ryland's papyrus dated between before 100- 150 AD (c. 125).
It is a section of John 18- "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. 'What is truth?'  Pilate asked."  Jesus was saying there is such a thing as truth.  Pilate was implying he does not know how to discover it.  This is still a huge sticking point between those who have faith and those who do not.