Seeing the Truth Clearly

---

MESSAGE SUMMARY

Hiram Johnson said, "The first casualty in war is truth." God’s people have been in a cosmic battle since the fall. Satan’s first allegation against truth was in Genesis 3:1: "Has God indeed said...?" Deception regarding truth is Satan's primary occupation. We now live in what might be dubbed a post-truth culture wherein the very idea of absolute truth is considered archaic and even offensive. In this series, we will look to the "Scripture of Truth" (Daniel 10:21) to reinforce our foundation and engender biblical literacy. Here at the end of Paul's life, he could foresee the abandonment of truth, and he gave Timothy this antidote: "Preach the Word!"

STUDY GUIDE

Connect Recap Notes: June 14, 2020

Speaker: Skip Heitzig

Teaching: "Seeing Truth Clearly"

Text: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

PATH

Hiram Johnson said, "The first casualty in war is truth." God's people have been in a cosmic battle since the fall. Satan's first allegation against truth was in Genesis 3:1: "Has God indeed said...?" Deception regarding truth is Satan's primary occupation. We now live in what might be dubbed a post-truth culture wherein the very idea of absolute truth is considered archaic and even offensive. In this series, Pastor Skip looks to the "Scripture of Truth" (Daniel 10:21) to reinforce our foundation and engender biblical literacy. Here at the end of Paul's life, he could foresee the abandonment of truth, and he gave Timothy this antidote: "Preach the Word!"

I. Be Concerned about Knowing the Truth (vv. 1-2)

II. Be Cautious about Neglecting the Truth (vv. 3-4)

III. Be Careful about Nurturing the Truth (vv. 5-8)

Points

Be Concerned about Knowing the Truth (vv. 1-2)

• The measurement doctors use to indicate normal vision is 20/20, but as we age, our vision typically changes. Spiritual vision can also change due to several factors which produce hazy vision and even blindness (see 2 Peter 1:8-9, NLT; John 9:39-41).

• Spiritual blindness is a metaphor for the unwillingness or inability to see spiritual truth; spiritual acuity belongs to those that go to Jesus for help. Our culture is in crisis as cynical people question truth, as Pilate did (see John 18:38).

• Paul directed Timothy on how to combat apostasy in the church. Satan has always used non truth as a tactic (see Genesis 3:1).

• The first criterion for spiritual vision is a concern for knowing spiritual truth. Paul mentioned "the word" (v. 2), "teaching" (v. 2), "sound doctrine" (v. 3), and "the truth" (v. 4). Paul was calling Timothy to teach the Word—sound doctrine and the truth.

• Paul mentioned truth eleven times throughout 1 and 2 Timothy. Christians are people of the truth, because Jesus is "the truth" (John 14:6). Truth is tied to doctrine—which in its simplest form means strong biblical teaching. As Christians we are accountable for our knowledge of biblical truth (see Hosea 4:6; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:13; Titus 2:1).

Be Cautious about Neglecting the Truth (vv. 3-4)

• Our culture has largely rejected truth for several reasons:

o Sensationalism is more important than fact (e.g., modern journalism).

o Truth is considered personal and is therefore variable; personal truth can shift depending on each situation.

• However, we know that something is not true when it doesn't correspond to reality or human experience, and when it isn't verifiable.

• If someone says, "there's no absolute truth," they are making an absolute statement, which is a self-contradictory and self-defeating declaration. We might expect this from our culture, but the passage in Timothy was not a warning for unbelievers, but for believers who were turning from the truth.

• Christianity is always one generation from extinction, which starts in the pulpit when pastors who don't believe in God (research says that may be up to fifty percent of Protestant ministers) don't preach the full truth of God's Word. In a recent Gallop poll, only

twenty-four percent of people believe the Bible is the literal Word of God—the lowest in a forty-year downward trend.

• This problem leads to "itching ears" (v. 3) as preachers feed the desire for novelty over a need for truth. God's people are starving because pastors are pandering to itching ears.

Be Careful about Nurturing the Truth (vv. 5-8)

• Notice the phrase "But you..." (v. 5). Paul was calling Timothy to hold to truth and doctrine, feeding on it for himself then sharing it.

• Paul directed Timothy to "preach the word" (v. 2). Preach means "to publicly proclaim." The idea of preaching refers to an imperial messenger who would make a proclamation with authority. Timothy's mission was to preach the truth of the true King—Jesus.

• The Greek word for sound is related to hygiene; it's healthy to hear good, biblical teaching. True teaching promotes healing and health. As Christians, this is our calling: believe the truth, love the truth, speak the truth, teach the truth, and live the truth.

Practice

Connect Up: If God is truth, then Jesus and the Holy Spirit are truth as well. Discuss how the tri unity of God is also a tri-unity of truth using the following verses:

• God's Word is truth (see 2 Samuel 7:28); God is truth (see Psalm 31:5); God's works are truth (see Psalm 111:7-8); God's truth is everlasting (see Psalm 117:2); Jesus is "the truth" (John 14:6); the Holy Spirit is the truth (see John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13).

Connect In: God is truth, and so is His Word. How are we to walk in the truth using Scripture? Here are some points to discuss:

`• Worship: Christians are to worship the Lord in "spirit and truth" (John 4:23).

• Love and obey: Christians are to love and obey the truth (Psalm 145:18; Daniel 9:13).

• Walk: Christians are called to walk in the truth (2 John 1:4).

Connect Out: How would you explain the truth of the Bible to an unbeliever? What makes the Bible trustworthy? Consider the following points:

• History: Unlike many religious books, the Bible discusses real people, places, and events.

• Geography: The Bible refers to real geographical locations that can be verified.

• Archaeology: The trustworthiness of the Bible is solidified with each turn of the spade.

• Fulfilled prophecy: God's foreknowledge acts as His stamp of approval on future events.

OUTLINE

I. Be Concerned about Knowing the Truth (vv. 1-2)

II. Be Cautious about Neglecting the Truth (vv. 3-4)

III. Be Careful about Nurturing the Truth (vv. 5-8)