How to Know What’s True

This summer we’re in a verse-by-verse study from the book of First John on “Living Confidently For God.”  If you have your Bible or Smartphone Bible open it up to 1 John 4:1-6 where we’re going to look at, “How To Know What’s True.”

One of the questions that’s being asked everywhere in our society today is: “What is true?”  People are wondering what is true concerning our economy.  People are wondering what is true concerning the presidential candidates.  People are wondering what is true concerning the media.  I think that’s the same thing a lot of people are also asking about religion.

A crime boss and his attorney meet with his accountant. "Where's the 3 million dollars you embezzled from me?" demanded the gangster. The accountant was silent. "Where's my three million?" the crime boss shouted.  The lawyer explains, "Sir, your accountant is deaf. Allow me to translate." So, using sign language, the attorney asks the accountant about the money, and the message is relayed back that the accountant knows nothing about it.  Furious, the crime boss pulls out a revolver and puts it to the deaf accountant's head. Screaming at the  lawyer he says, "Ask him where my money is!"  "Okay, okay" the accountant says and signs back asking the accountant, "Where is my money."  The accountant nervously signs back,  "The money's hidden behind the old toolshed in my back yard."   "What did he say?" the crime boss asks. The attorney replies, "He says you don't have the guts to pull the trigger."

If you don’t have the ability to discern the truth from error, you’re going to be deceived and hurt very easily.  So, how do you know when someone is telling the truth?  How do you determine what is true and what is false?  How can you tell what is true when there are so many different denominations, religious movements, cults and "isms" that exist in the world today?  What standard do you use?  What are the rules for determining what is true or false?  In the passage we’re going to study this morning John gives us four ways to confidently know the difference.  The first thing John tells us to do is...