2 Timothy 2:15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Today I want to talk about why it’s important that we constantly fight for truth. And when I say, “fight for truth,” I mean standing on the firm foundations of the Christian faith even when it’s hard or unpopular. I also want to emphasize that by “truth,” I’m talking about objective truth. As I’ve stated in the last two posts in this series, we need the unchanging truth of the Bible in order to know God and His commands, as well as to keep guard against the deceptive nature of our own hearts. Another reason, though, is the fact that everything in the world around us tells us that subjective truth is the only real or acceptable form of truth. Subjective truth is the belief that your truth can be different from my truth, and that’s okay—unless you tell me my truth is wrong, of course. It’s a very confusing cultural climate to be living in. It stretches the meaning of the word “truth,” and it supports the notion that you can live your life however you want as long as it makes you happy.
Objective truth is different from the ideas of truth that the world is selling, because it means that God’s truth, His Word, is the only way to define truth. So what He says is actually right, reliable, and morally sound. We can trust God’s Word because it is always true and never false. Belief in this objective truth means only God can determine what is good and bad, righteous or sinful. We don’t get to determine those things on our own.
I wanted to talk about the need to fight for objective truth because the world we live in is a spiritual battlefield.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Ephesians 6:10-12
The Enemy would love for us to ignore this spiritual warfare or to just give up and accept the beliefs of the world. And when we don’t stand up for the objective truth of God’s word, the Enemy is winning that battle. The rest of Ephesians 6 talks about what fighting this battle requires—putting on the full armor of God and standing firm, which first involves us putting on “the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14). Belts are meant to hold your other pieces of clothing or armor up, to keep everything secure and in place. I love the picture that God’s truth is the piece of armor that sits securely around our waists, allowing us to wield the other pieces of God’s armor effectively.
Now the opening verse I read today, 2 Timothy 2:15, does not talk about fighting a battle, but it does speak on working hard to present yourself as an approved worker, “who correctly handles the word of truth.” I think that is an important call to us as believers, because God’s word is precious and important and needs to be handled correctly. The rest of 2 Timothy 2 is what I’d like to walk through together today, as we think about why we need to fight for objective truth.
In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul writes:
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:1-2
Paul commends Timothy to be strong in Christ and to keep teaching and entrusting the Gospel message to “reliable people,” who will then in turn keep teaching others. The verses immediately preceding our opening verse 15 are also words from Paul calling Timothy to keep teaching the whole truth of God and the Gospel and to admonish others with it as well. He says,
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;if we endure, we will also reign with him.If we disown him, he will also disown us;if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:11-15
This “trustworthy saying” explains the Gospel and our relationship to Christ through salvation. Paul recites this rendition of the Gospel, and then he instructs Timothy to “keep reminding God’s people of these things.” He again brings up the fact that we as humans need to be reminded again and again of God’s truth, because it is in our nature to stray away from it. We as believers must keep reminding each other of our position in Christ because of the Gospel and how that should affect the way we live.
The following verses of 2 Timothy 2 go on to warn Timothy to “avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (2 Timothy 2:16). Paul continues, giving specific examples of people “who have departed from the truth” and how they “destroy the faith of some” (verses 17-18) with their false teaching. Then Paul says this,
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”2 Timothy 2:19
Paul was explaining that in this world people will teach false gospels and believe wrong ideologies. However, just because people will believe and follow these teachings, does not make them right. In verse 19, Paul says that God’s solid foundation will still stand firm, and that God knows those who are His—those who truly believe by confessing and turning from wickedness.
The New Testament is full of other warnings about those who will come in, distort the Gospel, and sell it as truth. And we are seeing that in the world today. People who claim to be Christians are teaching that you can believe in God even if you don’t believe in everything the Bible teaches. There are false teachers who agree with cultural values concerning human identity, while still labeling themselves as followers of Christ. Yet that is not what the Bible teaches as true or right, my friends! We cannot waiver, but we must stand firm. I want to leave you with several passages that call us to stand firm and to resist giving into the idea that subjective truth is okay.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.1 Corinthians 16:13
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.1 Corinthians 15:58
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God... Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.James 4:4, 7
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:2
I know this topic of pursuing truth is weighty, and it should be. However, I pray that these newsletters will be another encouragement to you to be in the Bible every day, to cling to the commands of Scripture, and to surround yourself with sound Christian teaching and friendships. We are called to stand firm, and God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His Church to help teach and remind us of the truths we are called to stand on. He has not left us alone to our own devices, and what a beautiful hope that is.
In my next post, I will talk more specifically about practical ways we can be bold in proclaiming this objective truth in our daily lives, especially in a world that is very hostile to that kind of truth. I keep praying this series will help me and you see the seriousness of growing our faith and walking closer to our Lord and Savior. Thank you for listening to Speaking Truth, and please share with anyone you think might be interested in listening or reading too!
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