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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/scott-macleod/absolute-truth/
Now let's turn our Bibles to the book of Genesis, please. Genesis and chapter 2. I'm going to pick up that little phrase linked with Paul. Lord, what should I do? What is thy desire for me? Now, let's look quickly at Genesis chapter 2.
Quickly, verse number 16. I'm not going to go too much into the detail here, but I'm just looking for a thread running through here. Genesis 2, verse 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.
For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. That's a very plain command, isn't it? Thou shalt not eat of it. There was no gray in that. It was crystal clear. All right, come down to chapter 3.
Now we know the serpent, the devil comes in, uses the serpent. Verse 1, more subtle than any beast of the field. And then we have this conversation between the serpent and the woman, and he says, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden.
The woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Now, I don't want to get into all the things that were added and subtracted from it. That's not really on my mind. Verse 4, And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
I want you to lodge that expression in your mind, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Now, something tremendous happened in her mind in verse 6. Prior to this, there was fear in her mind as to this tree.
There was the penalty of death. What they understood of death, probably very little. They probably didn't know what it was, but maybe from the word, they knew that it wasn't good. So I want you to think of the complete change that took place in her mind.
From fear, all of a sudden to desire. Let's read it. Verse 6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
And you know the rest of the story. The man eats, and everything falls into sin. Now let's go over to the New Testament of the Gospel of John. John chapter 14, please. John 14. I got a very simple message on my mind, but it might dig a little deep.
We trust it will. No point getting up here, wasting your time and my own. So let's go to John chapter 14 and look at verse number 15. These are words from the Lord Jesus. Here's what he said. Very simple.
It's really probably the greatest measuring stick of your Christianity and mine. Here it is. Verse 15 of John 14. If ye love me, keep my commandments. Isn't that simple? That is so simple, it's beautiful.
We look to so many different things, like we've been hearing, like service. To try to judge whether we love Christ. But listen to how simple this is. If ye love me, keep my commandments. Now, come over to chapter 16 for a verse.
Once again, words of the Lord Jesus, linked with the Spirit of God. Chapter 16, verse 13. Now I fully, for the theologians, I understand the context of the verse has to do with the completion of the canon of scripture.
But also I'm going to pick up the principle of it. And plus the disciples in the upper room are really a picture of you and I, the church. So there's many reasons why we can apply this verse to us today.
John 16 and verse 13. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come. Referring to the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2. He will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.
And he will show you things to come. I want to emphasize the first part of the verse. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come. He will guide you into all truth. He will guide you into all truth.
And finally, chapter 17. Once again, words of the Lord Jesus. Look at verse 17. Sanctify, or means set apart, sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth.
Now just to pick up from a topic that we were on in Heightsville. I know there's many that were not there three weeks ago or four weeks ago. I'm on the conference carousel, so I don't really know where I am.
But anyways, I know this much. I'm here. I'm here in Blue River. So anyway. Okay, we live in a society, and we all know this. Our children are being taught that there's no such a thing as absolute truth.
That's passé. That's something that a generation 100 years ago believed. And there seems to be this idea that, well, they were just ignorant. Science has brought us to such a tremendous point in life now.
And we don't need this thing called absolute truth because we have got our mind. Our intelligence. But we all know that the Bible is absolute truth. There is absolute truth. Now there should be a hearty amen from every single person.
Let's go over it again. The Bible is absolute truth. Amen. Why are we so hesitant to stand firm on it? Do you know what I notice? I have had conversations with Christians. I want you to listen. And they're trying to convince me that their experience is greater than the Word of God.
What I'm experiencing, what I'm involved in, they're trying to convince me that it's greater than the Word of God. And what they're involved in is contrary to commands in the Bible. They are wrong. It doesn't matter the emotional plea.
It doesn't matter how sincere they might be. If it's not according to the Bible, it's wrong. Can we come to grips with that in 2017? But what we have in the environment we're in, which is seeping, dear child of God, into our individual lives as Christians and into assemblies are things that are contrary to the written Word of God.
And the response might be tremendous. The numbers, the emotional, the, you should have saw the effect. It doesn't matter the effect. If it's not in the Bible, it's wrong. If it's contrary to a command, it's wrong.
I hope we can all amen that. Hope we can all get ourselves to a point where we can say, that is right, Scott. What happens once you remove absolute truth? I said this in Heightsville. What replaces is your perception.
My perception becomes my truth. My experience becomes my truth, my reality. And then as I said, they're just like dominoes. The very next thing that's pushed is tolerance. Well, you have to tolerate everything.
You can't stand up in 2017 and say, you, that is wrong. Who are you to judge? You are. You're arrogant to judge. You're not when you're standing on the Word of God. When you have the Word of God for it.
It's not you judging. It's the Word of God judging. And I use the very simple example. I can't remember everything I used in Heightsville, but I was in another place and I used this example. Those that are familiar with carpentry, think of this platform that's put up here.
I could put a four foot level on this platform. And guess what? That little bubble in the middle doesn't lie. It can't lie. It's an absolute truth. Now I can stand back at a distance and I could look at it with my eye, my perception without the level.
And I could say, you know what? That that stage looks level. I determine, I judge that the stage is level. What happens when you put the four foot level on the stage and it says not level? Who's right?
Well, you know, we don't want to offend Scott. We don't want to hurt his little feelings. We are today. He just sort of, we're going to say nothing. And we're just going to let Scott go on in his ignorance.
By the way, that's my name, Scott, for those that don't know me. We're just going to let him go on in his ignorance, letting him think that the stage is level when it's not. I am getting a little worked up, okay?
This has really affected me. I had a disturbing conversation two weeks ago with a person my own age who is in assembly fellowship, who is full time in the work and the denial of certain things in this Bible that they once held.
And I looked that person in the eye because I know her well. I know her husband well. And I said, you don't realize how much truth you've let slip. We spoke for an hour and 10 minutes. And she did a lot of crying.
And I'm all right with tears, as long as it's done properly. You know what she admitted to me at the end of the conversation? Maybe I have swung the pendulum too far the other way. I said, there's no maybe about it.
The things that you're telling me, there's no maybe about it. You have let truth slip. Now, here's where I'm coming back to. Because what kept coming up in the conversation was this. The Lord has led me this way.
The Lord has led me this way. Why did I read in Genesis? You read that story carefully. Do you know what you're going to discover? The very thing that Adam did and what Eve did is the very thing that we do today.
We love to blame God for things. You remember what Adam said when God, why did you eat of the tree? Well, you know, the woman you gave me. What really was he doing? Well, if you hadn't given me this woman, I wouldn't have sinned.
That's really what he was doing. Almost made it sound easier to say it that way. You know, God finally ended up dealing with him when he finally said this, I did eat, done. He finally admitted it. But he didn't start out that way.
He started out trying to push the blame to someone else. You know, it's amazing how subtle the devil is. As I said, this woman, Eve, there was such a change in her mind. That she was convinced. Even though there was this direct command from God, thou shalt not eat of it.
You couldn't get any plainer to your child of God. There's no shades in that. And she was convinced. This is right. This is right. This is actually good for food. This is pleasant to the eye. This is going to make me white.
Wait, it's wrong. Wrong, Eve. God said you shall not eat of it. No, it's good. No, it's pleasant. No, it's going to make me wise. No, Eve, it's wrong. What did I read in the New Testament? The Spirit of God.
Now, I think I got you all awake. I think you're all engaged. Follow me. The Spirit of God can only move in one direction. Toward truth. The Spirit of God can only move in one direction. Truth. That's what we're told right from the mouth of the Lord Jesus.
That cannot be any plainer. Now, coming back to what my brother said. There are commands, dear child of God, in this Bible. If I'm speaking to someone here and you are saved. Do you know where the Spirit of God is wanting to direct you?
To be baptized. That is a command. Acts chapter 10. Those people were no sooner saved. And they actually were commanded by Peter to be baptized. How's that, Cornelius? The Spirit of God, if he's given his way.
Will only lead in one direction. To be baptized. That's all he can do. You could never blame the Spirit of God. Well, it just doesn't feel right right now. No, Spirit of God would never do that. This Bible, as I said in Heightsville.
This Bible never envisions an unbaptized Christian. Never does. But today we're making all kinds of excuses for people. All kinds of excuses. Instead of bringing it right down. Put the level to the life.
If you're saved with the breath of God in you. You've got the Spirit of God. And he can only direct in one direction. It's toward truth. Can I remind my entire audience today? The persons of the Godhead, the Spirit, the Son and the Father.
Are in complete harmony. Complete harmony. I want my young people to listen closely. Influenced by the wickedness of this age. The Spirit of God would never lead. Contrary to something the Lord Jesus said.
Never. Never. Never. The entire Godhead will come apart if it was possible. This book has come from the Lord Jesus. Through the Spirit of God. And to actually sit and look at your experience. And to try to convince yourself that the direction I'm going.
Which is contrary to the Word of God. I'm being led in the Spirit of God. You are lying to yourself. You're lying against this book. Now I'm going to make it very, very simple. So you all get my point.
I'm going to slow down here. Take a drink of water. If I'm speaking to someone here today and you're saved. And you are dating an unsaved person. Or you're engaged to an unsaved person. You're absolutely wrong.
The Lord Jesus in 2 Corinthians 6 says. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. You can't get any plainer than that. But I have spoken to people. And you know what they'll try to tell me?
I have prayed about it. And the Lord is directing me that way. 100 wrong. Can we all agree to that? Why are so many of you so stunned? I have seen parents get involved. And she's such a lovely person.
Yes, the devil has lovely children. Lovely children. But they're sinners on the road to hell. And God and the Spirit would never direct. Never direct a saint to come in union with a sinner. Never. It's against the Word of God.
Now I'm coming back to words I read of the Lord Jesus. Here's my challenge to you. Here's what the Lord said. If you love me, keep my commandments. He said, what are you asking me to do? Prove your love to God.
Break it off. Break it off. I got the ring bought. Take it back. You see, here's what I find. People, as believers, we all want the direction of God in our life. Because there's all kinds of things that we face.
All kinds of things that we face. But if we're not obeying God in the plainly stated commands, how are you ever going to expect God to show you where you should work? Where you should live? And here are these major milestones that God clearly lays out in his book and says, this is my commandment for you.
This is my desire for you. You don't even have to pray about it. It's right there. You don't have to get down with a simple command. Be not only. You don't have to pray about that and say, now, Lord, what does that mean?
Does that mean I shouldn't date an unsaved person? No. It's right there. There's no thought even involved in it. So I'm coming back to this again. If you love me. It's very easy to say, oh, I love God.
I love God. I love God. I was speaking to another individual. Her sister left the assemblies. Going to a place that denied the priesthood of believers. One man ministry. Wrong. It's against the Bible.
Denied all sorts of other truths. They're in the Bible. You know, she tried to convince me. But my sister loves the Lord. You should see the poem she writes about God. That's what you try to tell me. I don't care how many poems she writes.
I don't care how nice they are. I don't care how they flow. It doesn't matter to me. I look at the life and I say this. If you love the Lord. Go back to the place you left. That honors this book. That's how plain the Bible is to your child of God.
But it's almost like in the environment we're in. Isn't it true? Elders, let me speak to elders. Are we afraid to sit down with that young believer in your meeting? And just lay these things out before them.
I'll tell you this. If we don't. They're going to end up shipwrecked. I'm coming back to Genesis. Isn't it amazing? Do you know what the devil tried to convince this woman of? And he did. You will become the determiner of what's right and wrong.
You don't need this person called God. Looking over you. Telling you what is right and what is wrong. You will become the determiner. You will be as God's knowing good and evil. That's what's happening to our young people.
Because they're not being told that there is. You are not the absolute truth, dear child of God. This Bible is. This book is. What I see in the New Testament for our life today. This is absolute truth.
And I'm coming back to it again as I end. The spirit of God. If you get nothing from my message. If I have offended you up until this point. Okay, just try to put that out of your mind. Come talk to me at dinner time.
But you will not change me because I'm standing on this book. If you get nothing out of my message, get this. The spirit of God. Can only. Direct. Lead. Toward truth. Into truth. That's all he can do.
The devil. That wicked heart of ours. Will try to convince ourselves that what we're doing. Yeah, yeah. I got the fee. I got. God is leading me this way. No, he's not. Not if it's contrary to the book.
So let me make it even simpler again. If you were asked, do you love? Do you love God? Do you love the Lord? Why are we so hesitant to answer yes? Let me encourage every single one of us. If you're following.
Everything in this Bible that is clear and plain. You love the Lord. Can I encourage the sisters? You just are willing to. Keep quiet in the assembly meetings because it's a commandment of the Lord. You love the Lord.
Sisters are just willing to. Put a head covering on. Because it's a commandment of the Lord. You love the Lord. That long hair in nature, which is another covering. You're just willing to let it grow for God's glory.
It's a commandment. You love the Lord. Brethren. You're willing to come to an assembly and function as a priest. Allow the priesthood to function. Do you know what? That's a commandment. You love the Lord.
Why are we always trying to get this? Bushy feeling that I love the Lord. I'm trying to look for something else. The simplicity is this. If you love me. Keep. Keep guard. My commandments.