Page 14 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

Why is the truth important?
The Apostle Paul’s primary theme throughout all three Pastoral Epistles is that
the truth of Biblical doctrine must be preserved and passed on to the next
generation if the church is going to survive.
1 Timothy 1:3.
NIV. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may
command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer.
ESV. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you
may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.

GNT. I want you to stay in Ephesus, just as I urged you when I was on my way to
Macedonia. Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them
to stop.
NASB. As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that
you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines.
The culture in the United States - is being overrun with lies and the truth
is being laughed at and overlooked. There are groups of people
identified with a variety of names (post-modern, universalists and
pluralists) who all share one common denominator. They refuse to
accept the idea that there is such a thing as truth that applies to
everyone. The average person is being taught that you are free to
believe what you want to believe, and I am free to believe what I want
and neither of us has the right or the responsibility to try and get the
other person to accept what we believe as truth.
Not agreeing that the Bible is truth; not agreeing that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible and inspired
Word of God has caused much hurt and damage to the church – not only in our communities but also
around the world.
New Testament verses that teach about truth.
Matthew 22:16. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,”
they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God
in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no
attention to who they are.
John 8:32. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 17:17. Sanctify them bythe truth; your word is truth.
John 1:14. 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.

20% of the people are truth-tellers. 80% are grace-givers. The challenge is for truth-tellers to tell the
truth in grace – and for grace-givers to tell the truth simply because only the truth will actually set
people free. Grace will not set people free. Truth sets people free.
In 1 Timothy, the word true or truth or truths is used 10 times.

(Review). Why is the truth important?
 The truth of Biblical doctrine must be preserved and passed on to the next generation if the church
is going to survive.

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