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According to the Bible, what town was identified as Jesus’ “own city?” Furthermore, what is the background for this place having that noteriety? Did you say Nazareth? If you did you might be with the majority, but you would also be wrong! Jesus was brought up in Nazareth (Luke 4.16), but He later “adopted” another city as Him home. The reason may surprise, even shock you, but it has a direct bearing on the question of how someone who possess the love for the truth might be treated.

Yesterday we posed this very question: How was Jesus treated, the…  ( Click for more )

If one believes the Bible to possess any credibility at all, Jesus must be seen as a person with an unequaled devotion to truth. Likewise, He must be seen as the author of the love that is produced when one wholeheartedly embraces the truth. In fact, He totally epitomizes the love of the truth!

How would someone (such as the Christ) who epitomizes the love of the truth be treated by other human beings? To ask this question another way, how would you expect to be treated if you were able to epitomize the love of the truth? Would you be treated honorably by the world, or would you…  ( Click for more )

The expression, The Love of the Truth can be seen in at least two different ways. Grammatically, it could mean the love for the truth, or it could just as easily mean the love which the truth produces. It is this writer’s opinion that the latter meaning is the one that Paul intended when he wrote about some people being deceived because they failed to receive “…the love of the truth.” (see 2 Thessalonians 2.10). If that was, in fact, Paul’s intention, this corresponds both with Jesus’ words and His deeds.

First, it corresponds with Jesus’…  ( Click for more )

Disciples do not establish the conditions of discipleship! This is a fundamental in ANY discipline. The mere fact that a person is a disciple or wants to become a disciple implies that the person is willing to accept the terms of discipleship established by the master/leader of the discipline! How more fundamentally can this be explained?

Jesus saw something amiss in the man who expressed his intentions of becoming His disciple (see yesterday's devotional). The scribe's statements were completely unambiguous, yet something missed the mark. Merely to say, “Teacher, I will…  ( Click for more )

From Paul's writings to the saints in Thessalonica, we have focused on the need to have what he called “the love of the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2.10). Without that love of the truth, men are void of the first prerequisite for salvation. Without that love of the truth, men are ripe for delusion and deceit; they are set for damnation!

In examining this universal need for the love of the truth, we have noted that Jesus, the greatest lover of truth ever to set foot on this planet, exemplified what it means to possess the love of the truth. We began looking at how…  ( Click for more )

From Matthew’s account of Jesus’ healing of the Centurion’s son, we have examined three great truths and we will conclude by considering the fourth and final one today. The text we have considered is this: “Assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8.11-12).

From…  ( Click for more )

"But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.” (Matthew 8.12a).This line from Jesus’ response to the Centurion in Capernaum reveals a great deal about the nature of the Kingdom. We will develop this line of thought as we continue to glean from the four great truths contained in Jesus’ dialogue with this Centurion.

Concerning the above quotation, A. T. Robertson comments that sons of the kingdom is “…A favourite Hebrew idiom like ‘son of hell,’ (Matthew 23.15) [and] ‘sons of this age.’ (Luke 16.8).…  ( Click for more )

When Jesus was approached in Capernaum by the distraught centurion (Roman Soldier), He was greatly impressed. In fact, He was so impressed that He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8.10-12). By speaking in this manner, Jesus not only uttered a timeless compliment to the man,…  ( Click for more )

The Sermon on the Mount was not a soothing sermon to the ears of the religious establishment in Jerusalem. In fact, it was just the opposite; it pointed out the spiritual deficiencies in the power-mongers who “sat in Moses seat.” When Jesus was through with that discourse, there could be little doubt as to the fate of those who followed the blind guides who took to themselves the task of leading Israel! However, other events in the life of Jesus would further accentuate the truths that He began revealing on the mountain where His most famous sermon was delivered.

“Now…  ( Click for more )

We are still dealing with the Sermon on the Mount and the tremendous love for and love of the truth that Jesus demonstrated in that discourse. However, we will begin in a somewhat distant setting and show a connection to our Lord's mountainside discourse.

“Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?' Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.' Pilate said to Him, 'What is truth?' And when he had said…  ( Click for more )

Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7.15-20).

False prophets are not purveyors of truth; they are promoters…  ( Click for more )

Some say, “Just preach the truth and let other people alone!” Others seem to delight in condemning the actions of others without any consideration given to the replacing of inappropriate actions with appropriate ones. Jesus did not come down on either side of these coins; He preached the truth, pointed out the error of others, and provided Divinely approved courses of action that should be followed to replace unapproved actions. Our study today will take a brief look at how these principles played out in His teachings.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Therefore,…  ( Click for more )

Every ruled human entity has a political machine of one sort or another running it. The machine might be very, very simple or it may be extremely complex. The Pharisees and Lawyers who held sway over the hearts of many Jews in and around Jerusalem was a formidable political force. They withstood the pressures of the Roman Empire and still maintained to a large degree the power to rule that had historically belonged to Jerusalem, the seat of political power in Israel. Hence, the foe against which Jesus pitted Himself by means of the Sermon on the Mount was one which could not be taken…  ( Click for more )

Having presented the fact that no man loved the truth more than Jesus Christ, we will now proceed to see how this supreme love for the truth manifested itself in His Life and Teachings.

The Sermon on the Mount is unquestionably a classic. It contains truths that are forever embedded in the minds of almost all civilized men, even those who do not know the origin of the truths they espouse. It begins with the Beatitudes, a series of blessings pronounced on those who are of a true heart and who truly seek to please God. However, let no one mistake the fact that the Sermon on the…  ( Click for more )

The love of the truth is, as we have established earlier, a spiritual fundamental. It has no substitutes; there is no “plan B” to make up for a genuine love for the truth. Moses was a man who loved the truth. David also loved the truth and pursued it with all his might. The prophets were men who had an insatiable love for truth and declared it without fear or favor. However, no one could have loved the truth more that Jesus Christ. Our message today and for a few days hence will focus on this tremendous trait of our Lord.

From the outset, there was a contrast between…  ( Click for more )

Eve sinned. Adam sinned. From that standpoint, they were equally guilty before God, their Creator. The way they sinned was significantly different. Eve sinned due to deception (see 1 Timothy 2.14). Adam sinned because his affection for other things or people exceeded his devotion to God. Our study today will explore these two paths of sin to determine what, if any difference, the path makes as regards the penalty for sin.

Eve could have pled, “I really, really thought that the serpent was telling the truth!” In all likelihood, she could have made that plea “with…  ( Click for more )

The love of the truth is fundamental to salvation. This is not a new revelation. This has been a fundamental since day-one of our human existence. The God who requires that we love the truth today is the same God who made it a requirement in the beginning. The next few editions of these messages will be devoted to showing that what we have just stated is true, namely, that the love of the truth has always been essential to salvation.

God instructed the first humans as to what they had to do to continue in fellowship with Him. They were capable of obeying Him, and His instructions…  ( Click for more )

Special problems faced the saints at Thessalonica. Some of them had been deceived into thinking that the second coming of Christ was to occur immediately. Paul wrote them to correct this error and to present them with the evidence needed to recognize such error in the future. The principles still apply. It is from his writings that this series is titled.

Read a portion of the text from which this phrase comes: “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do…  ( Click for more )

With this message we begin an open-ended series; your critical reading is earnestly requested.

The love of the truth is a fundamental. If it is missed, there are no substitutes. One cannot “make up for” the love of the truth by doubling up on prayers, or sacrifices or fasts or penances or by doing any other duty or by performing any other privilege. A skillful artisan of wood can cover his errors and make it such that none could ever detect the small flaws in his work; after so long a time the artisan himself may even forget the improperly aimed blow of the hammer…  ( Click for more )

"To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). This word of glory which recognizes the rightful and eternal place of God is just what the phrase implies – a word of glory. Jude’s entire epistle revolves around the need to recognize God’s authority, but to recognize it in word AND in deed. This message also revolves around the need to honor God in deed and not merely in word.

We stand on the eve of the day which is styled Christmas. In millions of homes during this season,…  ( Click for more )

The decision to make Jesus Lord of Lord and King of Kings was made in a time and place that was totally outside the realm of human influences. The actual elevation and coronation of the Lamb of God to His current position of Authority and Dominion was also completed in a time and place that was outside the realm of human influences. Furthermore, the continuing Dominion and Power wielded by our King is achieved completely outside the realm of human influences. These things are said to establish this one point: The Kingdom of the Lamb was likened to earthly kingdoms for our sakes,…  ( Click for more )

Dominion and Power belong to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (see Jude 1.25 and Revelation 5.13-14). This means that this descriptive phrase is applicable "…Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). In the human experience we have not, yea cannot, know of a comparable kingdom or King.

Our mortal existence mandates that rulers vacate their offices and that they be replaced by another, if for no other reason due to death. The kingdom in which our Lord reigns is not such a kingdom nor will He ever vacate His throne. There are several implications…  ( Click for more )

Jude spoke of the fact that glory and majesty and Dominion and power belong to God, "…Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). John saw a kingdom in which the Lamb reigned eternal (Revelation 5.13-14). Daniel prophesied that "…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2.44). These are not different and competing kingdoms but they are one and the same. This kingdom is similar in some ways to earthly kingdoms but it is dissimilar in other ways. Consider these points as we continue this study.

Connect the…  ( Click for more )

Jude wrote: "To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). Dominion and Power belong to God. We noted previously an awesome scene before God’s throne, the one which John saw in a vision. It ended like this: "‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever." (Revelation…  ( Click for more )