In this episode, we delve into the concept of certainties in an ever-changing world. Host Jeff Archie guides us through biblical teachings, focusing on knowing the truth as shared in John 8:32, and how these certainties anchor us amidst the chaos. By examining biblical examples and connecting them to our everyday lives, we learn the value of truth, exposure, leaving earthly possessions, and preparing for harvest time.
In a changing world, friends, there are still some things that are certain. How can we manage? How can we maneuver it all? Let’s take the Bible and see how we can do so today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web for his kind words always, and greetings and hello everyone. It’s always good having you with us today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. In John 8 and verse 32, Jesus said, And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Now, when I read that text, I am reminded of three things. One, it was as a boy, I’m standing in front of my elementary school principal with my mother in his office off to my side. He asked me some question about something that I cannot recall, and my mother looked at me and said, The truth shall make you free. But I am thinking at that moment, if I tell the truth, I’ve had it. I would not be free. I did tell the truth, accepted my punishment, and of course I’ve lived to tell it today, so it must not have been that bad. But years later, as I grew in Bible knowledge, I told my mother she did take that out of context, to which she replied, but you told the truth, didn’t you? And I did. Now, here’s the second thing. When it is taught that one cannot know truth, well, Jesus says you can. And I find it rather humorous and also a little sad, quite sad, when one knows that one cannot know something. Let that sink in for just a moment. And then, of course, the absolute fact of the verse. One can know the truth. For Jesus said in his prayer to the Father in John 17, 17, Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Truth is knowable. Truth sanctifies. Truth is doable. It is certain. And the Bible, as God’s inspired and errant word, It represents absolute truth. It is absolute truth. And our final authority in all matters, as we note from 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for correction or for instruction, for correction. It is able to guide us, to help us, to give the word that we need. or to be the word that we need, rather. It’s profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect or mature, thoroughly complete unto every good work. You know, friends, although we live in a changing world, some things never change. The words of Malachi 3.6, For I am the Lord, I do not change, therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. He let them know back in the time of the Old Testament. He doesn’t change. The endurance of the Word of God, as we note in John 12 and verse 48, when Jesus said, He that rejects me and receives not my words has one that will judge him. The word that I have spoken, the same will judge him in the last day. You know, the Bible speaks of some things that are certain in this old changing world. So as we focus on the certainties, they will help us with the many changes. And that’s our study today. And we’ll be back in several seconds and we’ll pick up with our study.
SPEAKER 02 :
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SPEAKER 01 :
Exposure is a certainty. How plain can the text of Numbers 32, 23 be? Unto Israel Moses said, But if you do not do so, then take note. You have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. In Ecclesiastes 12, 13 and 14, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. And Romans 14, 12, So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Now friends, we see this certainty of life, exposure, or what is known, and how those who were once unfaithful, or once faithful, now unfaithful, that will be exposed. I mean, think about the certainty and truth of the examples of David and his sin with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 12, 1-14. How the prophet of God, Nathan, came to him and convicted David. What about Jonah? Look at Jonah 1 and 2. And Ananias and Sapphira and their sin, their lying in Acts 5, 1-11. So friends, unrepentant sin, failure to obey God, or living an unfaithful life that was once faithful, it will be exposed. This is a certainty. We cannot get away with sin and be saved. Here’s a second one. Leaving earthly possessions. Friends, that’s a certainty. Now, how plain can the following text be? 1 Timothy 6, verse 7, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. It was Job who said in Job 1 in verse 21, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. You know, there is a saying based on this certainty, and it’s a saying that is based from the Scripture. You can’t take it with you when you die. Now, we can place material things within our caskets, our coffins, as we are lowered into the ground, but they will not go with us, if you will. They will remain there in the casket. They will not go into the spiritual realm. Now, obviously, we send things with individuals because of respect and memory. And therefore, friends, we do that in a gracious way. But let’s think about it. With this teaching, the less one invests in the things of the world, the better one is. And it is true, friends, because we cannot take it with us. It was Jesus who said in Matthew 6, 19-21, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Friends, that’s a certainty in life that we will be leaving earthly possessions behind. We will stand before God based upon what we did with our lives. Here’s a third certainty, and we’re simply going to call this harvest time. That’s a certainty. Let’s draw this teaching from Galatians 6, 7 through 9. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, For in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart, or we do not faint. Now friends, how plain can this text be? I mean, listen within the text of Galatians 6, 7-9, the latter part of verse 7, Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. That is a certainty. If we, in garden living, for example, if we plant corn, we’re going to reap corn. If we plant soybeans, we’re going to reap soybeans. This is a certainty. So the question would be here, what are we sowing in our lives? We have but two choices. And which choice will it be? Would we sow to the Spirit and reap eternal life, or sow to the flesh and reap corruption? Friends, harvest time is a certainty. And the certainties we have discussed today deal with our salvation, our direction, and where our hearts will be. Each and every broadcast we try to spend a few moments looking and offering our free Bible study course by mail or a number of study materials. Today our J-Web comes once again and he will share with you how you can receive our free Bible study course by mail. Now we make it available by mail. We have for a long, long time here at International Gospel Hour. We’d love for you to give it a try. It would be a good tool in your personal Bible study. And if there are questions of which you are searching, we believe this study will be of help to you. So I’m going to pause, defer to our J-Web, then we’ll come back and we’ll be wrapping up our broadcast with some further thoughts.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988. and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
And again, friends, we want to send you that free Bible course by mail as soon as possible. So again, please reach out to us and let us know how we can be of help to you here at International Gospel Hour. We are blessed with our good friends, the Mount Leo Church of Christ in McMinnville, Tennessee, for their assistance with our Bible studies by mail. We are also grateful for a number of other great works, ApologeticsPress.org. We’re also grateful for God-and-man.com. Be sure you put the dashes in there. And their great Bible study course that you can do online as well. So we are grateful for these opportunities and thankful that we can share these things with you. Because as we noted earlier, some things are certain in life. And we know that if we fail to deal with our sin, how that will indeed come out on the day of judgment as God will bring those matters into judgment. Again, Ecclesiastes 12 and verse 14. The earthly possessions. Yes, we need things in which to live, but not to allow our earthly possessions to possess us, if you will. And to know the harvest time is there, whatever we sow, that indeed we will reap. These are some very sobering certainties, and we’re thankful that we could spend time today in the study of God’s Word with these matters. Please join me again next time here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. God be with you till we meet again.
