Embracing a Lie

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 13:9-19         2/17/2018

Moses commanded the children of Israel to wipe-out unbelief in the land. Whether a false prophet or an entire community that has begun the practice of worshipping other gods, he warned them not to tolerate idolatry. As Moses saw it, it posed an existential threat to the covenant relationship with God. Therefore, however idolatry manifest itself, it had to be destroyed.

Embracing a Lie

Embracing a lie is different than simply being ignorant. The children of Israel were never castigated for worshipping the gods of Egypt before the time of Moses. They didn’t know any better. And maybe we could say, they couldn’t have known better.

But then God revealed Himself.

And once some truth has been revealed, then choosing to deny what’s known has additional consequences. Moral consequences.

I am the Way and Truth…

Jesus made a claim. He said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:10) He went even further and said, “The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30) And with these claims, He offered evidence: “believe because of the works themselves.” (John 14:11)  He deliberately used the Truth Principle of multiple witnesses to establish his claims – to make true what He had said.

And with this kernel of truth, I have been given the freedom to follow the truth. I am free to do the works of God. This is a freedom I could not claim without embracing this truth.

Without faith, there is no freedom that moves me toward righteousness.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6