“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)

What’s real and what’s fake?

Over the last few months the main stream media has been filled with much discussion and opinion on the topic of so called, “fake news.” And, every side of every issue is accusing the other side of being guilty of it. And, quite frankly, it's hard to tell the difference between what is real news and what is “fake news” because each side spins the “facts” to support their own opinions.

How can they do this with actual “facts” you may ask?

Wall Street Journal columnist, James Taranto, opined on Twitter: “Fact checking” is opinion journalism pretending to be some sort of heightened objectivity.” Simply put, “fact checkers” cherry-pick the statements to “fact-check” and then decide which data to back it up with. In short, statistics can be manipulated to come up with any conclusion wanted to promote.

This is nothing new

the enemies of Jesus took statements He had said and twisted them to use against Him. “Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” (Mark 24:57-58)

What is truth?

According to the dictionary, truth is the quality or state of being true; truthfulness, honesty, accuracy, correctness, validity, factuality, and authenticity. The exact opposite of truth (antonyms) is falsehood, dishonesty, fiction, and lies.

Truth comes from God

• Jesus is the truth – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 NIV)

• Jesus’s Word is truth - “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 NIV)

• Jesus is full of grace and truth - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NIV)

Therefore…

 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”  (1 John 1:6 NIV)

 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.” (James 1:18 NIV)

 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:5 NIV)

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NIV)

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“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4 ESV) 

The fundamentals

The late Vince Lombardi, the celebrated coach of the Green Bay Packers professional football team, faced a difficult challenge one Monday morning on the practice field. A day earlier, the team had suffered a humiliating defeat. In Lombardi’s view, the loss was due to the players’ failure to focus on the basics in carrying out their assignments—things in which they had been drilled over and over again. In his memorable manner, Lombardi met the challenge head-on. Picking up a familiar air-filled, oblong-shaped object, he went directly to the heart of the matter, calling everyone’s attention to the “basics” with five simple words, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

THIS IS THE BIBLE!

Just as Vince Lambardi did by holding up a foot-ball, we could hold up a Bible and and say, “THIS IS THE BIBLE” and then talk about the importance of biblical foundational basics which will keep us strong. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must never stray from the basic fundamental truths found in the Bible. These truths will keep us strong and help us succeed in that which God has created us for.

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it’s the Word of God!

  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it will equip you for every good work!

  “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it is living and active!
  “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it will light up your path!

  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm. 119:205 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it will stand forever! 

  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isa. 40:8 ESV

  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it always succeeds! “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16 ESV)

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalms 119:11 ESV)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 ESV)

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