Introduction Jesus said, “I am the way,, and the life…” (John 14:6) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) “Sanctify them through, Thy (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth” (John 17:17) Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32) Since Christ is head over the church, the message of the church is the truth! But what is truth? (John 18:36) Is it objective or subjective?

Is Truth Subjective or Objective? Jacob examines his son’s tunic. “So they took Joseph's tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood; and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, "We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son's tunic or not." Then he examined it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!“ (Genesis 37:31-33) Jacob thought his son was dead as he considered the evidence but was that the truth?

Is Truth Subjective or Objective? “So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." So his father wept for him. Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh's officer, the captain of the bodyguard.” (Gen. 37:34-36) Jacob mourned for his son as if he were dead even though the truth was he was still alive.

Is Truth Subjective or Objective? Naaman was told what to do to be healed of leprosy, (2 Kings 5:11) “But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.' (2 Kings 5:11) In the same way today, many people expect God to save them by praying the sinner’s prayer.

Is Truth Subjective or Objective? The apostle Paul in discussing his former life said, "So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. (Acts 26:9-10) Saul did all these things with a good conscience (23:1)

Is Truth Subjective or Objective? Jesus had forewarned the apostles, “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” (John 16:2) Even though Saul and others thought that they were serving God, the truth was they were not. Why do so many think that truth is subjective?

Satan uses False Teachers to Deceive In discussing men who disguise themselves as apostles, Paul said, “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) Satan uses false teachers who appear to righteous but deceive people into believing a lie. (John 8:44; 2 Peter 2:1-3)

Simon Deceives Many with his Magic Simon the sorcerer astonished the people of Samaria with his magic, “and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God’ (Acts 8:9-10). They believed Simon the Sorcerer had God’s power but they were wrong. Some believe that televangelists have God’s power to do miracles today but they do not since they have ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-10).

The Jews are Deceived by their Religious Leaders (Matthew 27:20). “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death” (Matthew 27:20). Even though they were ignorant of the fact that Jesus was the Messiah did not release them from guilt (Acts 2:23,36; 3:17). Truth is objective, not subjective!

Truth must be Obeyed or You’ll be Deceived “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).

Truth must be Obeyed or You’ll be Deceived “activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

Truth must be Obeyed or You’ll be Deceived All the examples in our lesson that were used in the lesson so far were those who were wrong in what they thought was the truth. What did they all have to do? After examining the evidence they had to submit their subjective feelings, thoughts, and opinions to the objective standard of truth. In the New Testament, they obeyed the Lord so that they might be saved (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Jacob thought Joseph was Dead for 22 Years Jacob’s sons come back with food from Egypt because of the famine & they had to tell their father, “Joseph is still alive and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt, but he was stunned, for he did not believe them.” (Gen. 45:26) Why didn’t Jacob believe them? Because his sons deceived him for a long time (who put blood on their brother’s coat) which led him to feel that Joseph was still dead.

Jacob Changed his Feelings when he Saw the Evidence that Joseph was Still Alive “When they told him will go and see him before I die.“ “When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Then Israel said, "It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.“ (Gen. 45:27-28) People must be careful not trust in their own feelings for their salvation but instead be willing to objectively examine the evidence of God’s word (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess. 5:21-22; 2 Tim. 2:15) and be willing to change.

Naaman had to Submit to the Truth or He Would not be Healed The servants of Naaman told him (who was furious when told to wash in the Jordan River), “Had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, wash, and be clean? So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored…” (2 Kings 5:13-14) When he obeyed, he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Saul had to Submit to the Truth or He Would not be Saved Jesus told Saul to go into the city and he would be told what to do (Acts 9:6; 22:10). Saul was fasting and praying (Acts 9:9, 11) but he had not been told him what to do yet. In Acts 22:16 Ananias told him, “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” Instead of praying the sinner’s prayer, Saul submitted to the command to be baptized so that his sins would be washed away. (Acts 9:18)

The Samaritans had to Submit to the Truth or they would not be Saved The Samaritans had been deceived by Simon the sorcerer, “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Even Simon himself believed and after being baptized…” (Acts 8:12-13) The Samaritans and even Simon the sorcerer changed their convictions in accordance with what Jesus said to be saved (Mark 16:15-16).

The Jews had to Submit to the Truth or they would not be Saved They had been deceived by the religious leaders to have Jesus crucified. The apostle Peter preaches convincing them that He is the Son of God. They asked what to do, He said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38) “Those who received the message were baptized and there were added that day about 3000 souls” (Acts 2:41).

Many will be condemned by Jesus in the Judgment because they didn’t Obey the Truth "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' (Mt. 7:21-23) Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Conclusion Is the truth subjective or objective? The Bible clearly teaches that truth is objective, not subjective. Many are convinced in their thoughts that they are saved because they were told to accept Christ as their personal Savior but where is the objective standard of truth that teaches it? “There is a way which seems right to a man but its end is the way of death” (Pr. 14:12)

Conclusion We gave five examples of those who were wrong in their thinking and had to examine the evidence (objective standard) and be humble enough to submit to the truth. (Jacob, Naaman, the Jews, Samaritans, and Saul) Please examine the evidence. In the NT, all submitted to baptism in the name of Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Have you? “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).