The Present Truth

[2 Peter 1:12]; Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

The Truth that is Above

When Peter says that there is a present truth, it means that there is a truth that is present. There are things in the Scriptures that despite there being there, some of their contexts are out of time for the New Creature.  That is why if you study the Greek word for present, it is translated to mean above, the truth that is above.

The truth is absolute. It is not relative. We are not at a place where we are claiming that your truth is not my truth. Whether you have your truth and I have my own, there is only one truth and that is Jesus Christ. But, the truth has dimensions of depth. There are certain truths that are above others and whatever is above is present.

In the Church of Christ, there are truths that became present by reason of the death and resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ; by reason of the switching of the covenant and the priest. Sadly today, in the body of Christ, Christians do not know the difference. This is why the Bible says that they err because they do not know the word and the power.

The biggest problem of the Church is the place where we do not understand the scriptures and the power of God. But do you realize that the order of the spirit is that the scriptures precede the power?  It is because the Scriptures give power. It is why the Bible calls it the word of his power; the word always precedes the manifestation of the power of God.

Peter is speaking to a church established in the present truth. The church established in present truth thinks differently from the church that is not established; one that responds to a truth that is no longer present or that is lower.

Now, you might think that I am disqualifying whatever is lower, but no, the Bible says that all scripture is profitable. Yes indeed all scripture is profitable but there is such a thing as that which is present or that which is above. There are things that were true and applicable to the men of old in the Scriptures but are no longer applicable to the Christian. However, some people have a false humility that causes them to incline to things that make them become more indifferent in the things of God because they lack knowledge.

Of The Lawful Use of the Law

One time, a man berated me, saying, ‘how can you claim not to be under the law?’  I told him that the Bible says that we know that the law is good if it is used lawfully [1 Timothy 1:8]. If a man has not understood the laws that govern the use of the law, he cannot teach the law.  It means that there is an unlawful use of the law. If you are not established in the truth of Christ, you will unlawfully use the law.

1 Timothy 1:9-10 says; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.

The law is not made for a righteous man. When you became Born Again, everything changed. The Bible says that blessed be the man upon whom the lord imputes not sin but imputes righteousness. The moment righteousness came upon you, you were detached from the law. Does it mean that this detachment will cause people to do whatever they want? Well that is the biggest issue; men who believe so are not really Born Again. How can you say that removing the law means that you are going to sin except if you think that you are kept by the law? That is why when Peter was speaking of who we are, he refers to us as them that are kept by the power of God. He is not talking about them that are kept by the law. He says in 1 Peter 1:5; who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The law does not keep you; you are supposed to be kept by the power of God.

Why do they put traffic lights at Jinja Road junction? It is because they know that if they do not put them there, men are going to drive differently. Why would a man drive differently?  It is because he is led by another thing. But God says, for as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The moment you reach the traffic lights, the spirit will tell you to stop. You do not need a light. You are the light.

Do you know why they put all these laws, it is because they do not trust men. However, love believes all things and God is love. Since God is love, he trusts you; the heavens trust you; he knows that when you get to a particular corner, you will know what to do.

Of the Righteousness by Faith

When Paul is speaking about righteousness in Romans 3:21-22, he says, But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son].

One time I told people that Moses was not legal.  He was a man God worked with to show people what the law was and what Jesus was. Moses was on Jesus’ side.  Paul in quoting Moses in Deuteronomy says in Romans 10:6, But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

In Deuteronomy 30:11-14, Moses says, For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

When Moses speaks of righteousness, they think that he is talking of a righteousness by the law, but we understand from Paul that if you want to know the righteousness which is of faith, read Moses.  That is why when the Christ appears to them, the Bible says that he expounds about himself from Moses. He literally points to himself in Moses saying, ‘this is me in the law’ such that men understand that Moses was used to give the law but he himself knew the grace of God.

The ‘it’ in Deuteronomy was the Christ, but he expects that a man who understands the present truth can go in Deuteronomy and dig out this and understand that he spoke concerning Christ. Now he is saying that there is a righteousness that is independent of the law and detached from the law but Moses also attests to it.

Someone said, ‘doesn’t that imply that men should continue sinning because of the grace?’ I told the man of God that that is his problem. I did not continue sinning because the Bible is clear- to the pure, all things are pure. Don’t you know that the Bible says that he who is forgiven much loves much? Did the Bible tell you that they sin more? Don’t you realize that people do not walk in true love and righteousness because they are not convinced of God’s love and forgiveness? For everything that happens in their life, they assume that it has to do with the fact that they sinned.

We know that the law was not made for a righteous man. That is why Paul says, for you are not under the law but under grace. Some people say that you have to balance, no, you cannot balance grace and law.

Present truth. They claim that we say that God did it all and it is finished; yes it is finished. What other work is bigger than the cross? What needs to be added to the cross to complete the work? Nothing. It is why we used to sing; ‘what can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus.’ It was not the blood of Jesus and your good manners; it was purely the blood of Jesus.

 

Posted in: Phaneroo sermon

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