TRUTH AND LOVE PUBLISHING MINISTRY

    Ephesians 6:14A says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist."
    In the ancient garment of that day, the belt around the waist held in place every other part of the uniform of the soldier. It was essential because if the belt was lost, you lost everything. The garments would fly open and the pants would fall down.

     We are told to be girded or buckled with truth in the face of the enemy. Truth is that which holds everything together. What is that truth? It is the word of God. The truth is Christ, and without Christ we lose everything.

    John's emphasis in his first epistle is upon love. But the key word in second epistle is truth. Now when truth and love are in contrast and conflict, which one should prevail--truth or love? Christ's startling reply is that truth comes first. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." He did not say, "I am love," but he said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)." We have to come to the Father through Jesus Christ, and there is no other way. Why? Because Christ is not only the way, but he is the truth. It was John who wrote later that "God is love." After the Lord Jesus was here and had said that he was the truth, then John said, "God is love" (John 4:16). Therefore, love can only be expressed within the bounds and context of truth. Love can be expressed only within the limitation and boundary that scripture sets.

    This is very important to know because the false teachers, who do not have the truth, who do not believe that Chris is God, are the number one enemies used by Satan to defeat the believers. We are not to love them. We are not even to entertain them in our home. We are not in any way to receive them or fellowship with them (see 2 John 2: 10-11).

    The objective polarity or direction of the Christian faith and the Christian life is truth and love. John emphasized love in his first epistle, but he also said that love is for the brethen, it is for believers, it is for those who are in Christ. He said "my little children, I want you to love one another"--that is, other believers.

    Many people are saying that we are to love everybody. But we know if we make a statement like that, we don't really love everybody. It is just impossible to do that. There are too many in this world who are unlovely. A lot of us are unlovely and as a result, we are not loved. But God loves the world. We are not worth loving, but God loves us all. The important thing is that he tells believers to take the gospel to the world. That is the way we can show our concern and love to everybody. We are to take the gospel to the lost because God loves them and then if we take it to them, a love will be begotten in our hearts for those who are actually our enemies. The important thing to see is that God is love-- it is his attribute-- and his love has provided a savior for us. But truth is also very important and we cannot put love above truth, because when we do, then we sacrifice truth.

    Therefore, always remember that when truth and love are in contrast, truth will always prevail.

 

Written by Osmundo Sabado

Edited by Orman Sabado