God Defines Truth

First John 2:23, "Whoever denies the Son First John 2:23, "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father." does not have the Father." does not have the Father." I just just let that sink in. I just just let that sink in. I just just let that sink in. Muslims don't have the Father. Muslims don't have the Father. Muslims don't have the Father. Unconverted Jews don't have the Father. Unconverted Jews don't have the Father. Unconverted Jews don't have the Father. Buddhists don't have the Father. Secular Buddhists don't have the Father. Secular Buddhists don't have the Father. Secular rejecters of Jesus don't have the rejecters of Jesus don't have the rejecters of Jesus don't have the Father. Father. Father. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Whoever denies the Son does not have the Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father. Doesn't matter what they call Father. Doesn't matter what they call Father. Doesn't matter what they call him. It doesn't matter what they say. I him. It doesn't matter what they say. I him. It doesn't matter what they say. I mean, the Pharisees were the most mean, the Pharisees were the most mean, the Pharisees were the most religious people there were. They knew religious people there were. They knew religious people there were. They knew the Old Testament by heart, which is the the Old Testament by heart, which is the the Old Testament by heart, which is the word of God. word of God. word of God. >> All of us have [music] met people who >> All of us have [music] met people who >> All of us have [music] met people who are deeply sincere about their beliefs, are deeply sincere about their beliefs, are deeply sincere about their beliefs, and that [music] typically raises the and that [music] typically raises the and that [music] typically raises the question, is sincerity enough, or does question, is sincerity enough, or does question, is sincerity enough, or does [music] it matter whether what we [music] it matter whether what we [music] it matter whether what we believe is actually true? I'm your host, believe is actually true? I'm your host, believe is actually true? I'm your host, Dan Cruver. In this episode of Light and Dan Cruver. In this episode of Light and Dan Cruver. In this episode of Light and Truth, [music] John Piper shows why Truth, [music] John Piper shows why Truth, [music] John Piper shows why receiving the Son is essential to receiving the Son is essential to receiving the Son is essential to knowing the Father, and why truth must knowing the Father, and why truth must knowing the Father, and why truth must be defined by what God reveals, [music] be defined by what God reveals, [music] be defined by what God reveals, [music] not our sincerity. The seminar was not our sincerity. The seminar was not our sincerity. The seminar was originally delivered at Bethlehem originally delivered at Bethlehem originally delivered at Bethlehem Baptist Church in September of 2001.

>> If it is true, that is if the Bible is >> If it is true, that is if the Bible is true, true, true, the message of the Bible is the only the message of the Bible is the only the message of the Bible is the only message of eternal life. I began here. message of eternal life. I began here. message of eternal life. I began here. "All the gods of the peoples are idols." "All the gods of the peoples are idols." "All the gods of the peoples are idols." Psalm 96:5. John 14:6, "I'm the way, the truth, and John 14:6, "I'm the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but the life. Nobody comes to the Father but the life. Nobody comes to the Father but through me." through me." through me." John 6:67, John 6:67, John 6:67, "You do not want to go away also, do "You do not want to go away also, do "You do not want to go away also, do you?" you?" you?" Simon Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall Simon Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall Simon Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal we go? You have the words of eternal we go? You have the words of eternal life." life." life." Acts 4:12, Acts 4:12, Acts 4:12, "There is salvation in no one else, for "There is salvation in no one else, for "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven there is no other name under heaven there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which that has been given among men by which that has been given among men by which we must we must we must be saved." be saved." be saved." John 8:42, "If God were your father, you would love "If God were your father, you would love me, me, me, for I proceeded forth and have come from for I proceeded forth and have come from for I proceeded forth and have come from God." God." God." 1 John 2:23, "Whoever denies the Son 1 John 2:23, "Whoever denies the Son 1 John 2:23, "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father."

does not have the Father." does not have the Father." I just just let that sink in. I just just let that sink in. I just just let that sink in. Muslims don't have the Father. Muslims don't have the Father. Muslims don't have the Father. Unconverted Jews don't have the Father. Unconverted Jews don't have the Father. Unconverted Jews don't have the Father. Buddhists don't have the Father. Secular Buddhists don't have the Father. Secular Buddhists don't have the Father. Secular rejecters of Jesus don't have the rejecters of Jesus don't have the rejecters of Jesus don't have the Father. Father. Father. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Whoever denies the Son does not have the Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father. Doesn't matter what they call Father. Doesn't matter what they call Father. Doesn't matter what they call him, and doesn't matter what they say. I him, and doesn't matter what they say. I him, and doesn't matter what they say. I mean, the Pharisees were the most mean, the Pharisees were the most mean, the Pharisees were the most religious people there were. They knew religious people there were. They knew religious people there were. They knew the Old Testament by heart, which is the the Old Testament by heart, which is the the Old Testament by heart, which is the word of God. 1 John 5:12, "He who has the Son has 1 John 5:12, "He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son life. He who does not have the Son life. He who does not have the Son does not have does not have does not have life." So, if the arguments I want to develop So, if the arguments I want to develop on behalf of the trustworthiness of the on behalf of the trustworthiness of the on behalf of the trustworthiness of the Bible are so, Bible are so, Bible are so, then it commits us to a then it commits us to a then it commits us to a uniqueness of the scriptures and of uniqueness of the scriptures and of uniqueness of the scriptures and of Christ that is Christ that is Christ that is very, very out of step with the very, very out of step with the very, very out of step with the relativism and post-modern tolerance of relativism and post-modern tolerance of relativism and post-modern tolerance of letting people just letting people just letting people just saying, "Doesn't matter what you think."

saying, "Doesn't matter what you think." saying, "Doesn't matter what you think." Let me say a word about tolerance there Let me say a word about tolerance there Let me say a word about tolerance there less less you get the wrong impression. less less you get the wrong impression. less less you get the wrong impression. I think I think I think Richard John Neuhaus, Richard John Neuhaus, Richard John Neuhaus, who edits First Things who edits First Things who edits First Things is exactly right is exactly right is exactly right when he says of my tolerance of my tolerance of Jewish of Jewish of Jewish Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic people in Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic people in Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic people in this culture this culture this culture rests squarely upon my rejection rests squarely upon my rejection rests squarely upon my rejection of what they claim and my embrace of the of what they claim and my embrace of the of what they claim and my embrace of the absoluteness of Jesus. So, you you look into the face of a So, you you look into the face of a Jewish person and you say, "The reason I Jewish person and you say, "The reason I Jewish person and you say, "The reason I would never ever ever ever use force would never ever ever ever use force would never ever ever ever use force against you against you against you and I would lay down my life and I would lay down my life and I would lay down my life for your right to believe what is false for your right to believe what is false for your right to believe what is false without being coerced in any way at without being coerced in any way at without being coerced in any way at gunpoint or knife point or prison gunpoint or knife point or prison gunpoint or knife point or prison is because I think you are dead wrong is because I think you are dead wrong is because I think you are dead wrong about Jesus who is my king and calls me about Jesus who is my king and calls me about Jesus who is my king and calls me to love you."

But, if he loses that absolute But, if he loses that absolute conviction in Jesus Christ conviction in Jesus Christ conviction in Jesus Christ he'll lose the very foundation of the he'll lose the very foundation of the he'll lose the very foundation of the tolerance of the one who disagrees with tolerance of the one who disagrees with tolerance of the one who disagrees with him. I think that's the way to argue. I him. I think that's the way to argue. I him. I think that's the way to argue. I think that's the way to get into the think that's the way to get into the think that's the way to get into the public square and say both things. The public square and say both things. The public square and say both things. The world needs to hear Christians say both world needs to hear Christians say both world needs to hear Christians say both things, especially today because if they things, especially today because if they things, especially today because if they hear us say only we believe in absolute hear us say only we believe in absolute hear us say only we believe in absolute truth they say, "Oh, you're the kind truth they say, "Oh, you're the kind truth they say, "Oh, you're the kind that stabs pilots and flies planes into that stabs pilots and flies planes into that stabs pilots and flies planes into towers." towers." towers." Because those guys do, too. So much so Because those guys do, too. So much so Because those guys do, too. So much so that they're willing to die for it. that they're willing to die for it. that they're willing to die for it. So, you're dangerous. So, you're dangerous. So, you're dangerous. So, you must put warrant under it which So, you must put warrant under it which So, you must put warrant under it which shows that it has footing that is shows that it has footing that is shows that it has footing that is radically different. radically different. radically different. But, you don't say, "My tolerance is But, you don't say, "My tolerance is But, you don't say, "My tolerance is rooted in the fact that it doesn't rooted in the fact that it doesn't rooted in the fact that it doesn't matter what you believe. matter what you believe. matter what you believe. You see you just say flat out I mean I You see you just say flat out I mean I You see you just say flat out I mean I at the Baker Square at the Baker Square at the Baker Square he he said I I forget what he had just said before I I forget what he had just said before that that that but he said something like but he said something like but he said something like you probably find that hard to grasp, you probably find that hard to grasp, you probably find that hard to grasp, don't you? I said I don't see how you don't you? I said I don't see how you don't you? I said I don't see how you can call yourself a Christian. He's a can call yourself a Christian. He's a can call yourself a Christian. He's a pastor now of a Christian church. I said pastor now of a Christian church. I said pastor now of a Christian church. I said I don't see how you can call yourself a I don't see how you can call yourself a I don't see how you can call yourself a Christian.

Christian. Christian. And he said And he said And he said I find that very offensive. argue publicly argue publicly and I hope suffer so as to preserve so as to preserve his right his right his right without coercion or threat without coercion or threat without coercion or threat or imprisonment or torture or death or imprisonment or torture or death or imprisonment or torture or death to argue with me and take a deadly to argue with me and take a deadly to argue with me and take a deadly position. position. position. That'll kill him someday. Well, that on tolerance. Well, that on tolerance. I believe in it but for different I believe in it but for different I believe in it but for different reasons than the post modern reasons than the post modern reasons than the post modern relativistic world believes in it. relativistic world believes in it. relativistic world believes in it. Building our lives of sacrificial Building our lives of sacrificial Building our lives of sacrificial service on a mistake would be pitiable.

service on a mistake would be pitiable. service on a mistake would be pitiable. So we need to find out can we lay down So we need to find out can we lay down So we need to find out can we lay down our lives for this? Paul said if our lives for this? Paul said if our lives for this? Paul said if First Corinthians 15:19 if we have hoped First Corinthians 15:19 if we have hoped First Corinthians 15:19 if we have hoped in Christ in this life only we are all in Christ in this life only we are all in Christ in this life only we are all men most to be pitied. men most to be pitied. men most to be pitied. If if I'm barking up a wrong tree, if If if I'm barking up a wrong tree, if If if I'm barking up a wrong tree, if I've got a myth going here instead of I've got a myth going here instead of I've got a myth going here instead of fact fact fact I am really mis-spending my life I am really mis-spending my life I am really mis-spending my life in all the in all the in all the all the pain I endure for this gospel. all the pain I endure for this gospel. all the pain I endure for this gospel. The Bible makes claims to inspiration The Bible makes claims to inspiration The Bible makes claims to inspiration and authority and authority and authority and we need to know whether these claims and we need to know whether these claims and we need to know whether these claims are so. are so. are so. So, for example, 2 Timothy 3, Paul says So, for example, 2 Timothy 3, Paul says So, for example, 2 Timothy 3, Paul says to Timothy, "From childhood, you have to Timothy, "From childhood, you have to Timothy, "From childhood, you have been acquainted with the sacred been acquainted with the sacred been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to instruct you writings, which are able to instruct you writings, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ for salvation through faith in Christ for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for and profitable for teaching, for and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for reproof, for correction, and for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." So, here's training in righteousness." So, here's training in righteousness." So, here's the statement, "All scripture is the statement, "All scripture is the statement, "All scripture is inspired by inspired by inspired by God." A reference back, mainly I God." A reference back, mainly I God." A reference back, mainly I believe, to the Old Testament believe, to the Old Testament believe, to the Old Testament scriptures.

scriptures. scriptures. And the claim in the Bible is that they And the claim in the Bible is that they And the claim in the Bible is that they are inspired by God and profitable for are inspired by God and profitable for are inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and teaching, reproof, correction, and teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. They're able training in righteousness. They're able training in righteousness. They're able to instruct you to instruct you to instruct you for salvation. for salvation. for salvation. And if you care about your own soul not And if you care about your own soul not And if you care about your own soul not going to hell and getting out from under going to hell and getting out from under going to hell and getting out from under the wrath of God and being saved for the wrath of God and being saved for the wrath of God and being saved for everlasting joy in his all-satisfying everlasting joy in his all-satisfying everlasting joy in his all-satisfying presence, you cannot be indifferent to presence, you cannot be indifferent to presence, you cannot be indifferent to the word that he has inspired to get you the word that he has inspired to get you the word that he has inspired to get you there. Nobody gets to heaven Nobody gets to heaven without the word of God. without the word of God. without the word of God. Either preached Either preached Either preached or read or read or read or somehow communicated to them. One last One last argument. argument. argument. Yet, the most devout believers Yet, the most devout believers Yet, the most devout believers meet scriptures that do not seem to meet scriptures that do not seem to meet scriptures that do not seem to cohere with other parts, with our cohere with other parts, with our cohere with other parts, with our experience. In other words, we need to experience. In other words, we need to experience. In other words, we need to wrestle with this because wrestle with this because wrestle with this because you bump into things in the Bible that you bump into things in the Bible that you bump into things in the Bible that don't look like they make any sense.

don't look like they make any sense. don't look like they make any sense. Look like they contradict other parts. I Look like they contradict other parts. I Look like they contradict other parts. I just gave a couple of examples here, but just gave a couple of examples here, but just gave a couple of examples here, but the way Paul and James talk about the way Paul and James talk about the way Paul and James talk about justification. James 2:24, you see that justification. James 2:24, you see that justification. James 2:24, you see that a man is justified by works and not by a man is justified by works and not by a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. Romans 3:28, we maintain faith alone. Romans 3:28, we maintain faith alone. Romans 3:28, we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart that a man is justified by faith apart that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. from works of the law. from works of the law. And so Luther saw that and he said, And so Luther saw that and he said, And so Luther saw that and he said, "This is an epistle of straw." and put "This is an epistle of straw." and put "This is an epistle of straw." and put it at the back of the canon. And when I preached through Romans, I And when I preached through Romans, I labored a whole Sunday to try to show labored a whole Sunday to try to show labored a whole Sunday to try to show you how I think in context they mean you how I think in context they mean you how I think in context they mean different things by faith and justified different things by faith and justified different things by faith and justified and and why it's not special pleading in and and why it's not special pleading in and and why it's not special pleading in order to believe that and hold James order to believe that and hold James order to believe that and hold James together with Paul as together with Paul as together with Paul as in harmony. in harmony. in harmony. God's repentance. Here you have 1 Samuel God's repentance. Here you have 1 Samuel God's repentance. Here you have 1 Samuel 15:11, "The word of the Lord came to 15:11, "The word of the Lord came to 15:11, "The word of the Lord came to Samuel, I repent that I have made Saul Samuel, I repent that I have made Saul Samuel, I repent that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from king, for he has turned back from king, for he has turned back from following me." following me." following me." 1 Samuel 15:28, "The Lord has torn the 1 Samuel 15:28, "The Lord has torn the 1 Samuel 15:28, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and kingdom of Israel from you this day and kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given to a neighbor of yours who is has given to a neighbor of yours who is has given to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. And also the glory of better than you. And also the glory of better than you. And also the glory of Israel" that's God "the glory of Israel Israel" that's God "the glory of Israel Israel" that's God "the glory of Israel will not lie or repent, for he's not man will not lie or repent, for he's not man will not lie or repent, for he's not man that he should repent."

So, the word of the Lord came to Samuel, So, the word of the Lord came to Samuel, "I repent that I made Saul king." "I repent that I made Saul king." "I repent that I made Saul king." And what? And what? And what? 17 verses later, 17 verses later, 17 verses later, "God is not a man that he will lie or "God is not a man that he will lie or "God is not a man that he will lie or repent, for he is not a man that he repent, for he is not a man that he repent, for he is not a man that he should repent." You find those kinds of things all over You find those kinds of things all over the place. Hm. Well, this Bible like the the place. Hm. Well, this Bible like the the place. Hm. Well, this Bible like the atheist said, "Just full of atheist said, "Just full of atheist said, "Just full of contradictions. Just full of contradictions. Just full of contradictions. Just full of contradictions." So, contradictions." So, contradictions." So, throw that book out and let's find, you throw that book out and let's find, you throw that book out and let's find, you know, some good know, some good know, some good philosophical treatise that's more philosophical treatise that's more philosophical treatise that's more consistent. consistent. consistent. So, So, So, we need to wrestle we need to wrestle we need to wrestle with whether or not we can credit this with whether or not we can credit this with whether or not we can credit this book. You want to ask a question or make a You want to ask a question or make a comment before I turn to comment before I turn to comment before I turn to step number two, which is which books step number two, which is which books step number two, which is which books make up the Bible and why? Cuz we need make up the Bible and why? Cuz we need make up the Bible and why? Cuz we need to decide if we're going to ask the to decide if we're going to ask the to decide if we're going to ask the question, is it authoritative and true question, is it authoritative and true question, is it authoritative and true and trustworthy and inspired, what's the and trustworthy and inspired, what's the and trustworthy and inspired, what's the it?

it? it? What books? Yeah, I think that's true. Yeah, I think that's true. He's pointing out that He's pointing out that He's pointing out that today, today, today, at least up until a week ago, at least up until a week ago, at least up until a week ago, tolerance generally works itself out as tolerance generally works itself out as tolerance generally works itself out as apathy, apathy, apathy, not as real tolerance. Tolerance in its not as real tolerance. Tolerance in its not as real tolerance. Tolerance in its best historic sense would be a very best historic sense would be a very best historic sense would be a very energetic energetic energetic uh advocacy of what you believe to be uh advocacy of what you believe to be uh advocacy of what you believe to be truth while very truth while very truth while very tolerant of another person's similar tolerant of another person's similar tolerant of another person's similar energetic apathy, so that there used to energetic apathy, so that there used to energetic apathy, so that there used to be debates, you know? Debates. Back when be debates, you know? Debates. Back when be debates, you know? Debates. Back when I was in college, I was in college, I was in college, Altizer debated Montgomery Altizer debated Montgomery Altizer debated Montgomery the God is dead thing in 1967, the God is dead thing in 1967, the God is dead thing in 1967, and Schaeffer debated debated uh and Schaeffer debated debated uh and Schaeffer debated debated uh uh Bishop Pike, and Wheaton students uh Bishop Pike, and Wheaton students uh Bishop Pike, and Wheaton students went by the hundreds downtown to Chicago went by the hundreds downtown to Chicago went by the hundreds downtown to Chicago to these great debates. But debates don't make any sense unless But debates don't make any sense unless you believe you believe you believe there's a there's a there's a truth.

truth. truth. Although I have to say, which I'll tip Although I have to say, which I'll tip Although I have to say, which I'll tip my bread to this is here. my bread to this is here. my bread to this is here. Um the debate department at at Wheaton, the debate department at at Wheaton, I think almost by the way debate is I think almost by the way debate is I think almost by the way debate is structured, not just Wheaton, it's in structured, not just Wheaton, it's in structured, not just Wheaton, it's in every university, is structured in a way every university, is structured in a way every university, is structured in a way to almost militate against an embrace of to almost militate against an embrace of to almost militate against an embrace of truth because you have to choose either truth because you have to choose either truth because you have to choose either side to win. side to win. side to win. I mean, you go to a contest and you're a I mean, you go to a contest and you're a I mean, you go to a contest and you're a debater, they assign you which side debater, they assign you which side debater, they assign you which side you're going to argue for. you're going to argue for. you're going to argue for. And your goal is to win. So, you go to St. Louis to compete, they So, you go to St. Louis to compete, they give you give you give you pro, and you go on down to pro, and you go on down to pro, and you go on down to Birmingham, and they give you con. And Birmingham, and they give you con. And Birmingham, and they give you con. And you win them both if you're good. you win them both if you're good. you win them both if you're good. Is something wrong with that? Training people how to win arguments Training people how to win arguments when they know wrong. when they know wrong. when they know wrong. Be a good lawyer that way. Be a good lawyer that way. Be a good lawyer that way. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. But, But, But, uh uh uh So, there are pitfalls everywhere.

>> Thank you for listening to this episode >> Thank you for listening to this episode of Light and Truth, where we are of Light and Truth, where we are of Light and Truth, where we are committed to providing God-centered committed to providing God-centered committed to providing God-centered preaching to help you see Christ clearly preaching to help you see Christ clearly preaching to help you see Christ clearly and treasure him truly. I'm your host, and treasure him truly. I'm your host, and treasure him truly. I'm your host, Dan Cruver. Dan Cruver. Dan Cruver. On our next episode, John Piper On our next episode, John Piper On our next episode, John Piper continues our eight-part series, The continues our eight-part series, The continues our eight-part series, The Bible We Trust, with a session titled Bible We Trust, with a session titled Bible We Trust, with a session titled The Bible Jesus [music] Read. I hope The Bible Jesus [music] Read. I hope The Bible Jesus [music] Read. I hope you'll join us. you'll join us. you'll join us. For more resources, visit For more resources, visit For more resources, visit desiringgod.org.