The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that in the last days, perilous times will come. One of the perils he speaks of is a resistance to truth. Men in these last days, he also warns, will be always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of truth (2 Timothy 3:1, 7-8).
As believers in Christ, and in the Word of God, we have received the truth:
"...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." 1 Peter 1:23-25)
We were born again out of the abiding, incorruptible nature of the word, which makes it truth ("Thy word is truth", Jn. 17:17). Becoming born again is the direct result of that very power of truth.
Jesus came to bring truth to us:
Jesus came to bring truth to us:
When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, Jesus answered,
You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Jn. 18:37.
Sadly, Pilate reflects not only the world spirit of his time, but of our time as well, by cynically asking "What is truth?"
This truth to which Jesus came to bear witness, is an offense to those who refuse to hear it, to those who "resist the truth". Jesus exposed this even in those who were believers in Him:
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Jn. 8:31-32
However, these believing Jews took offense in this, saying that their father was Abraham, and Abraham had already made them free. They declared they had no need of an additional freedom. Jesus pointed out that by sin, they were in bondage still, and they needed the freedom of the truth that He brought, the truth of His Father. These believers became so offended, that they desired to kill Jesus. "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has brought you the truth which I heard from God..." (v. 40). They also accused Jesus at that point of having a demon (v. 48). And these were those who believed in Him!
We have accepted the truth, and have been born again as a result of truth, and perhaps we feel that we "have arrived" at our spiritual destination. However, our journey does not end there. Peter reveals the spiritual truth and responsibility of a priesthood:
"...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5
This spiritual house, this priesthood, is built upon a chief cornerstone of truth, Jesus Christ. However, while this cornerstone of truth is precious to us, it is a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense (v. 6-8) to those who reject the truth, just as Jesus revealed in His own believers, above. They were offended, even to the extent of desiring to murder.
Scripture gives strong warnings to those who purposefully deny and suppress the truth-the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. They are also sent strong delusions that cause them to believe the lie that condemns them, because they did not believe the truth, and they did not receive the love of the truth. They will never be allowed to enter the beautiful city of God, the New Jerusalem, because they love and practice a lie. (Rom. 1:18, 2 Thess. 2:10-12, Rev. 21:27, and 22:15).
God will not allow the lie to live beside His truth. It is the same in the holy priesthood of believers spoken of in 1 Peter. If this priesthood does not stand for the truth, the LORD has a controversy with them. The whole land mourns because of a priesthood that compromises the truth of their Chief Cornerstone, with the lie:
"There is no truth or mercy
Or knowledge of God in the land.
...Therefore the land will mourn;
And everyone who dwells there will waste away
With the beasts of the field
And the birds of the air;
Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
...My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me.
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children."
Hosea 4:1, 3, 5-6
We can easily see that the condition of our land today is the same as that being described by the Prophet Hosea, above. A priesthood that forgets, or purposefully rejects the truth, or is offended by the truth, or afraid to offend others with the truth, is a priesthood that is rejected by God. It is a priesthood that brings mourning to the land and its inhabitants. Bondage, instead of freedom, covers the land. Where is the holy priesthood of believers?
We, the priesthood, are instead exhorted by Paul who said:
"...God, from the beginning, chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word, or our epistle." 2 Thess. 2:13-15
Recommended viewing: "Monumental", a 2012 documentary
See trailer below:
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