In His Name Devotionals
EMBRACING TRUTH
In His Name Devotionals
EMBRACING TRUTH
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed...” (Ephesians 1:13 NIV)
After stating salvation from God’s perspective in verse 12, Paul here states it from man’s perspective. Obedience to Christ is your response to God’s elective purpose in your life. Those two truths—God’s initiative and man’s obedient response—coexist throughout God’s Holy Word.
Paul rightly called the Gospel “the message of truth” because truth is its predominant characteristic. Salvation was conceived by the God of truth (Psalm 31:5) and purchased by the Son, Who is the Truth (John 14:6) and is applied by the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). To know it is to know the truth that sets men free (John 8:32). Christians are people of the truth (John 18:37), worshipping God in spirit and in truth (John 4:2) and obeying the Word of truth (John 17:17).
Yet, as profound and powerful as God’s truth is, people have rejected, neglected, redefined and opposed it for centuries. Some, like Pilate, cynically deny that truth even exists or that it can be known by men (John 18:38). Others foolishly think that denying truth will somehow make it go away.
Perhaps you have heard someone say, “Jesus may be true for you, but that doesn’t mean He has to be true for me.” That view assumes that belief somehow determines truth. But just the opposite is the case. Truth determines the validity of one’s belief. Believing a lie does not make it true. Conversely, failing to believe the truth does not make it a lie.
The Gospel is true because Jesus is true, not simply because Christians believe in Him and obey Him. His resurrection proved the truth of His claims and constitutes the objective basis of your faith (Romans 1:4; 1 Peter 1:3).
You will face today, armed with the message of truth and empowered by the Spirit of truth. Truth is your protection and strength (Ephesians 6:14). Lost souls desperately need to hear that truth. Represent it well, and proclaim it with boldness.
