THE UNALTERABLE TRUTH OF GOD
Religious truth came by Jesus Christ; therefore everything that we do religiously must be authorized by the Lord. John wrote, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) The description of the true Christian is very short and simple. A true Christian is a person who walks by faith. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) Christians have both the obligation and the privilege to walk by the unalterable truth of God. We must seek to establish God's authority for what we are to believe and do in all religious matters. All things done by Christians must be done "in the name of Christ" or "by the authority of Christ." Paul wrote, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17) The Bible is the standard of faith for the Christian. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Christians must live their life by faith if they are to please God. "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4) Our access to God is available through obedient faith. (Ephesians 3:12) Because God Himself is entirely faithful, He honors those who love Him enough to trust His word completely. "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." (Deuteronomy 7:9) Everything done in Christian service must be authorized by the unalterable truth of God.
The voice of unalterable truth cries, “Without the shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) It is clear that there is no hope outside of Christ; for there is no other blood that can bring about atonement for sin. Because of sin, atonement became necessary. God could not ignore sin and still maintain His holiness. Atonement by the blood of Christ made it possible for God to "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) Through the cross of Christ God could forgive and at the same time maintain His holiness. No sinner can hope for forgiveness except through the blood of Christ. “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." (Revelation 1:5) It is through the blood of Christ that man can enjoy complete forgiveness of sins. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." (Hebrews 13:12)
The voice of unalterable truth cries, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (2 Corinthians 5:17) A Christian is a believer in Christ who has repented and been baptized for remission of sins. "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) In life one can choose to serve Satan as a sinner, or serve Christ as a Christian. You can live either way but Christianity is the new way and it is the better way. The Christian is new because now Christ works through his life. The Bible says, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20) You will not be sorry for becoming a Christian or for living the Christian life. It is the new way now and Christianity is the better way for now and forever. Christians are the real winners. Those who reject Christianity are the losers now and in eternity.
The voice of unalterable truth cries, God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) We must be honest enough to accept God and His truth. In 2 John 1:1 we read, “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.” Truth is knowable and we can distinguish between truth and error. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6) Truth is absolute and knowable and God desires everyone to walk in it. If men are ever to be saved they must be willing to learn truth and rely upon it for instructions on how to be saved.
Reconciliation to God is through the death of Jesus. (Romans 5:10) Sin separates man from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) Man is returned to God's favor through the cross of Christ. Because of the cross, Christians can cry out to a lost world, "be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20) Repentance and baptism are man's response to God's offer of salvation by the blood of Christ. (Acts 2:36-38) Do you see God's love at the cross? Do you recognize the cross as the only means of justification? Have you been motivated by the cross to be reconciled to God? If the cross will not move you, nothing will!
By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA