THE EMMAUS WALK PRESENTS:
PART II
"What is Truth?"
by Duane L. Smith
"And so faith, hope, love abide"--faith, conviction and belief expecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love, true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us; --"these three, but the greatest of these is love." I Cor. 13:13 (Amplified)
For an indepth discussion on Love, see "Love, God's Priceless, Free Gift That's Meant to be Shared," by Duane L. Smith.
SECTION TWO: FAITH
Pistis--a Greek word meaning: primarily, firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing. This meaning is used in the New Testament, always of Faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual.--Vines's Expository Dictionary.
On the relationship of faith and reason, Ungers Bible Dictionary states: "The relation of reason to faith is that of subordination and yet not of opposition. The truths of revelation are in many cases above reason, through and not against it. Such truths were revealed because the unaided reason could not discover them. They are therefore to be accepted, though the reason cannot demonstrate them."
"Irrationality, such as incredulity, or blind faith, as involving absurdity, or contradiction of well-established truth, is another matter." The God of the Bible is a God of Supreme Intellect and reason, also having emotional and volitional powers.
The fact of God's powers of reason is demonstrated in creation itself. By the precise laws of physics, nature, and the creation of man, {God's powers of reason are demonstrated beyond any need of man, since Paul says they are self-evident to all men, stated in his address to the Athenians in his speech about their "Unknown God", which he declared to them were his own Christ and Christ's Father in heaven. The existing Deity of God is, thus, clearly apprehendable to all, regardless of age, advanced or "tender"--R.D.G.).
"And so God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, so God created Man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created he them."--Genesis 1:26 & 27 (K.J.V.).
If man is God's crowning achievement [and there is ample cause in the scriptures to say he is, particularly given in the Books of Hebrews and the Psalms--R.D.G.], then God must be infinitely greater than man. Indeed the whole of creation is a testimony to the fact of God's majesty and power [the author is saying that if man is majestic in being, then his Creator must be even more majestic, infinitely so, just as we would reasonably expect the maker of a great work of art to be much, much greater!--R.D.G.].
Because man was made in God's image, man is to be a reflection of God's will, emotions, and especially we ought to honor Him with the proper use of our reason and intellect; to wit, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."--Matthew 22:37 (K.J.V.). "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."--2nd Epistle of Paul to Timothy, 2:15 (K.J.V.).
"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."--Jude 1:3 (K.J.V.). "Be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope, that is in you, with meekness and fear."--lst Epistle of Peter 3:1 & 5 (N.K.J.V.).
Also refer to Romans 8:30, and Romans 10:17.
The Greek word given in this text for 'defence' is 'apologia', from which we get the English theological term, 'apologetics'. The term means to give a well reasoned response in defence of the Christian faith.
The statement, "with all meekness and fear," I believe means that we are to deliver the message in all humility and with respect, refraining from heated argument, remembering that we are to share 'the truth in love'--Ephesians 4:15. [This same admonition would have spared the world the atrocity of the so-called Religious Wars of European Christendom and the Crusades that did grave damage to Christian reputation to this very day! Christ admonished His disciples NOT to take up the sword in His defence, only with words of truth given in love, as Brother Smith points out, should a reasoned response and explanation be given to challengers of the Christian faith.--R.D.G.}
I would like to emphasize that we as Christians should dedicate ourselves to the study of God's holy word, the Bible, so that we are not 'tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine"--Ephesians 4:14.
It is imperative therefore to know what we believe and why we believe it. God gave us brains for a reason! And, while it is good to be open-minded, let us not be so open-minded that our brains fall out!
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."--Ist Corinthians 15:58 (N.K.J.V.)
Faith in the transcendent God of the universe, transcends the limitations of our own reasoning; that is, when and where the intellect reaches its limits, faith takes over and will help you to reach faith's final destination, which is to God Himself.
By faith, we can peer into heaven!
By faith, we can "see" into the very throne-room of God!
By faith, we can come into the Lord's presence.
By faith we can have BOLDNESS to come before the Throne of Grace, in order to find Mercy and to find Help in time of need.--Heb. 4:16
By faith, we can "see" God! For it is the revelation of God that purifies our hearts--Matthew 5:8, inversely stated.
Remember, no matter how great our concept of God is, God is infinitely greater!
Our own idea of God is a construct of our own thinking, and as such, it is a created thing.
Let us not worship our own intellects, but, rather, let us worship the True and the Living God!
"God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."--John 4:24 (N.I.V.)
As Bob Cull sings: "Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus!"
No matter how small our faith is, let us use the faith we have and it will grow.
No matter how incomplete our conception of God is, through faith, God delights in revealing and disclosing more and more of Himself to us.
It is through faith, that one can comprehend the incomprehensible Lord God Almighty, and grasp what cannot be fully grasped.
Praise His Holy Name!
Faith is like a mustard seed, in that though it may be very small individually, it has the potential to grow very large (please see Matthew 17:20, Matthew 13: 31 & 32).
Faith and grace go hand in hand, for faith in God can move mountains! (please see Mark 11: 22 & 23)
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."--Hebrews 11: 6 (N.I.V.)
"...whatever is not from faith is sin." (N.K.J.V.)
"Lean on, trust, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and make plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord, and turn (entirely) away from evil."--Proverbs 3: 5-7 (Amplified Bible Version)
Prophetic Word from the author regarding this article's message:
"HAVE FAITH IN ME, SAYS THE LORD, AND YOU SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED. HAVE FAITH AND FEAR NOT, AND I SHALL BE WITH YOU, AND SHALL UPHOLD YOU WITH THE POWER OF MY MIGHT, SAYS THE ALMIGHTY GOD. CALL ON MY NAME AND I AM ALWAYS NEAR. BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVING, SAYS GOD, FOR I AM ALWAYS FAITHFUL AND TRUE." Amen
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Article and concluding "prophetic word": (c) 2007, Buane L. Smith Estate, All Rights Reserved
Format only: (c) 2007, Butterfly Productions, All Rights Reserved
