Philippians 4:8-23

Philippians 4:8

“Whatever is true”

The Greek word translated truth here means “non-concealment.”

Matthew 22:16 – Jesus is true, all the way through.

“Whatever is honorable” (also translated noble)

“Whatever is just”

II Samuel 23:23

Psalms 82:2

Proverbs 11:1

“Whatever is pure”

“Whatever is commendable” (or, of good report)

Something that is said well.

Proverbs 25:11

Philippians 4:11-13 – Paul suffered much for the gospel. See II Corinthians 11:16-33

Philippians 4:14 – See Hebrews 13:1, 3; 10:34

Philippians 4:18 – Compare Psalm 23.

Philippians 4:19 – See Matthew 25:40.

II John 1:1-4

II John 1:1 – The “elect lady” cannot be a local church because she is described as having children. Local churches are fully autonomous and do not have children.

There is a state into which all people enter when they obey truth.

Acts 2:47; Galatians 3:26-27

Hebrews 11:6; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38

When one gets into a right relationship with God, he must continue to walk in the light to remain in truth.

There is a correlated body of teaching known as truth that is understandable by man.

Parts of the Bible may be more difficult than others, but the Bible is understandable.

Ephesians 3:3-6

Philippians 3:13-14

Truth furnishes the Christian’s motivation.

Some groups try to use other things for motivation, such as sports or entertainment.

Genesis 22 – Abraham arose early for truth’s sake. Hebrews 11:17-19

Genesis 6 – Noah built the ark for truth’s sake.

Hebrews 11:4 – Abel offered a better sacrifice for truth’s sake.

Acts 20:28

Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:4-5; I Corinthians 12:27; I Timothy 5:22; James 1:27 – There are many things we must do for truth’s sake.

Truth is the governing principle of the Christian’s life.

II John 1:4

II John 1:2 – Truth dwells in us.

II John 1:9 – We have to abide in the teaching of Christ.

Truth is indestructible

Those who walk in truth have peace with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II John 1:3

This is the glory of it all – peace with God!

Proverbs 23:23

A Chinese ophthalmologist tried to warn of the coronavirus but was silenced by the Chinese government.

It is physically dangerous to silence truth. How much more so in religious matters?

Micaiah – I Kings 22

The truth is true, no matter what.

Let’s list a few things that don’t change the truth…

Preference – Cain, Genesis 4:3-5

Emotion – Jacob, Genesis 37:34

Leadership – Aaron, Exodus 32:3-4

Criticism – Korah, Numbers 16:3

Persistence – Balak, Numbers 22-24

Majority – Elijah, I Kings 18:19

Tradition – False teachers, Colossians 2:16-17

Imagination – False teachers, Colossians 2:20-23

Next steps

II Peter 3:3-7

Special pleading, continued:

Can these questions be applied to themselves?

“There is no truth.” – “Is that true?”

“We can’t know anything.” – “Then how do you know that?”

“All truth is relative.” – “Is that truth relative?”

Strawman

What is it?

Ephesians 4:1-3

Mark 14:55-58; John 2:19

“Changing or exaggerating the position of an opponent to make it easier to refute.”

Spiritual importance

This type of tactic is often seen in debates between creation and evolution:

“Creationists do not believe that animals change. But clearly, animals do change. Therefore, creationists are mistaken.”

“Creationists do not believe in science.”

“Creationists believe that species never change in any way.”

“Creationists say there are no good mutations.”

“The Bible teaches that the earth has literal pillars and corners and cannot be moved. It is clearly wrong. (Isaiah 11:12; Psalms 75:3)”

“Creationists don’t believe in the scientific method. They say you should just look to the Bible for all your answers.”

“Creationists don’t believe in rationality. They take things on blind faith instead.”

Think of how Bible discussions might devolve into unprofitable spats if we mischaracterize what the other person believes.

“Oh, you don’t believe baptism is necessary for salvation? In other words, you don’t believe God is sovereign!”

“Oh, you don’t believe baptism is necessary for salvation? In other words, you think we should just throw the Bible away!”

“You Calvinists don’t believe in obedience!”

“You atheists don’t believe in morality.”

I Corinthians 13:4-7 – Christians are to correct those in opposition with gentleness and patience.

Why is it necessary to study evidence for the Bible?

Do you really believe the Bible?

A survey of 10,000 ministers in various denominations in the US in 1987 showed that most did not!

How can we prove the Bible is literally the word of God?

Internal evidence

Acts 18:28

Prophecies of the Messiah

At least 16 were fulfilled in a 24-hour period, many by Jesus’ enemies.

Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13; 13:7; Isaiah 53:7; Psalms 22:16, …

External evidence

Psalm 8:8 – “paths of the seas” (written ca. 1000 B.C.)

Isaiah 40:22 – “circle of the earth” (written ca. 700 B.C.)

1492 A.D. – Christopher Columbus

1520 A.D. – Man discovers the world is round. Ferdinand Magellan’s crew circumnavigates the globe.

Leviticus 17:11 – “life of the flesh is in the blood” (“life” used in the sense of “breath”) (written ca. 1450 B.C.)

19th century – Still practicing blood letting.

George Washington killed by blood letting.

Job 38:1-6, 12-14 – “changed like clay under the seal”, i.e., the earth rotates like clay under a seal (written ca. 2000 B.C.)

Jeremiah 33:22 – “the host of heaven cannot be numbered”

Hebrews 11:12

150 B.C. – Hipparchus: < 3000 stars

150 A.D. – Ptolemy: 1020 stars listed

1608 A.D. – Galileo: Stars uncountable

Current estimates: More than 2 trillion galaxies, more than 7x1022 total stars

Genesis 17:11-12 – circumcision on the 8th day (written ca. 1450 B.C.)

There is a cascade of reactions involved in the clotting of blood, which results in production of fibrin.

Fibrin clot acts like a stringy fishnet to hold red blood cells together.

Vitamin K is required by the liver for the formation of prothrombin and Facts XII, IX, and X. Vitamin K is generated by bacteria in the body.

Prothrombin peaks at 110% of normal on day 8, making it the best day for surgery.

Faith is a must! Hebrews 11:6

There are those who claim to believe in the God of the Bible, but actually do not.

Who is the God of creation?

Genesis 1:26-27

Immutable, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, sinless

Father (John 3:16), Son (Hebrews 1:8), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)

One God, three separate individuals.

Paganism/polytheism is belief in multiple deities. God is one!

Exodus 5:1-2 – Pharaoh asked this question.

Exodus 3:13-14; 6:2-3 – Jehovah is the personal name for God, for the Godhead. The name means, “I am” or “the existing one.”

Matthew 3:3 – Jesus is Jehovah! (quoting Isaiah 40:3)

Jehovah is one God. Three persons with the same attributes.

Immutable

Omniscient

Psalms 139:1-6; Matthew 12:25

I Kings 8:39 – Only God knows the hearts of men.

Matthew 12:25; Luke 6:8-11 – Jesus had this ability.

Omnipotent

Genesis 17:1; 1:26-27

John 1:1-3, 14

Colossians 1:16-17

John 10:17-18

John 2:19

Jesus retained his power and raised Himself from the dead.

Omnipresent

Psalms 139:7-12; Colossians 2:9; John 1:48-50 – The all-seeing eye of God!

John 3:13

Sinlessly perfect

Hebrews 6:18

Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus was tempted but was sinlessly perfect.

Jesus never wanted to commit sin. We should learn from His example.

Hebrews 10:31; Isaiah 45:9; II Thessalonians 1:7-9

The gospel – the good news.

Obeying the gospel: II Thessalonians 1:3-9

Romans 14:11