What is TRUTH?

Until I can produce some studies on TRUTH for you guys, please enjoy these:

🧾 “What is Truth?”

– Part 1  Peter J. Peters  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPDi9VGPd0Y

Main Scripture Foundation:

  • Isaiah 59:1–4, 7–9 – Truth has departed from the land, leading to national injustice and moral collapse.

  • John 18:37–38 – Pilate’s cynical or confused question: “What is truth?” marks a turning point of judicial failure and spiritual ignorance.

  • Proverbs 23:23 – “Buy the truth, and do not sell it.”

🔹 1. The Pilate Paradigm: The Loss of Justice

  • Pilate stood before Christ, a man he acknowledged as innocent (John 18:38), yet he released Barabbas and had Christ scourged and crucified.

  • Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” reveals a deeper issue: he didn’t know truth, despite being in a position of authority.

  • Peters connects this to modern judges and politicians who deal in lies and politics, not justice, likening them to black-robed priests of injustice.

  • 2 Timothy 3:13 – Evil men deceive and are deceived. Pilate was both deceiver and deceived.

🔹 2. Truth Is Like Drugs (Extended Analogy)

  • Truth, like contraband drugs, is:

    • Available but hidden

    • Must be actively sought

    • Must be paid for

  • Proverbs 23:23 teaches that truth must be purchased—it has a cost, and that cost can vary depending on:

    • Supply and demand

    • Cultural legality or suppression

    • The buyer’s resources and willingness

🔹 3. The Bread of Life: The Collapse of Christ’s Galilean Ministry (John 6)

  • Christ had thousands of followers (John 6:2, 15), but after His sermon on eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:53–66), many left Him.

  • John 6:66 – “Many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

  • Why? Because truth was hard to understand or offensive.

  • Christ did not beg them back. He let them leave.

  • Lesson: Truth will cost you friends, popularity, fellowship, position, and acceptance—but it’s worth it.

🔹 4. Modern Application: Churches and Social Comforts

  • Many today reject truth to maintain peace in their family, church, or social circle.

  • Peters criticizes those who:

    • Stay in error-filled churches for social reasons

    • Avoid proclaiming Israel Identity or the truth of Christ to avoid controversy

    • Accept “tickling ears” teachers (2 Timothy 4:1–4) instead of enduring sound doctrine

🔹 5. Mark of a True Prophet

  • A true prophet is willing to preach himself out of business if it means telling the truth.

  • He doesn’t flatter, compromise, or bend truth to gain followers or security.

🧾 “What is Truth?” – Part 2  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWtftzQ7m_U

Central Scriptures:

  • Matthew 19:16–30 – The rich young ruler who wouldn’t buy the truth.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17 – Rich Christians must not trust in riches.

  • John 9:1–34 – Parents of the healed blind man sell out the truth for fear of the Jews.

🔹 1. The Rich Young Ruler: Truth Too Expensive

  • A wealthy, upright, moral young ruler asks Jesus what he still lacks for eternal life.

  • Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow Him (Matt. 19:21).

  • He walks away sorrowful (Matt. 19:22) — he was unwilling to pay the price for truth.

  • Peters points out:

    • This was not a universal command, but a personal one—Jesus exposed the man’s idol.

    • Many “good” churchgoers today still reject truth for the same reason—they don’t want to give up comfort, status, or security.

🔹 2. The Parents Who Sold the Truth (John 9)

  • After Jesus heals a man blind from birth, the Pharisees interrogate his parents (John 9:18–23).

  • Out of fear of being cast out of the synagogue, they remain silent and pass the responsibility to their son.

  • This, Peters argues, is a disgusting betrayal—they sold out the truth to keep status and avoid conflict.

  • Galatians 4:16 – “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

  • Peters compares this fear of being “put out” to modern cowardice:

    • Fear of the Jews

    • Fear of rejection from community, lodges, and society

  • The same threats exist today, with truth suppressed through media, Hollywood, church compromise, and social pressure.

🔹 3. Truth Is Required by God but Tampered with by Men

  • Psalm 15:1–2, Psalm 51:6 – God desires truth in the inner man.

  • Yet men suppress the truth:

    • Romans 1:18–25 – They suppress, exchange, and oppose the truth.

    • They justify sin, suppress the truth for feelings, convenience, or popularity.

🔹 4. Religious and Emotional Substitutes for Truth

  • People replace truth with:

    • Sentimentality (“just love Jesus”)

    • Judeo-Christian niceness

    • Emotional experiences (“I feel the Spirit”)

    • Sincerity without doctrine

  • Peters calls this “effeminate religion,” contrasting with biblical masculine reasoning grounded in logic and Scripture.

🔹 5. Warnings Against Opposing and Watering Down Truth

  • 2 Timothy 3:8 – Men can oppose the truth

  • Peters condemns:

    • Chameleon Christians who adjust truth depending on company

    • Pastors who avoid doctrine to maintain crowds

  • Truth divides, offends, causes loss, and yet—is essential to worship:

    • John 4:24 – Worship in spirit and truth

    • John 14:6 – Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

    • Psalm 119:142, 151, 160 – God’s law, commandments, and word are truth

🔹 6. Closing Appeals and Scriptural Anchors

  • John 16:13 – The Spirit leads into all truth

  • Acts 19:2–3 – Receiving the Spirit is tied to baptism and obedience

  • John 14:6 – No one comes to the Father but through Christ; those denying His divinity have no truth.

  • Wise Men Worship Jesus – If He accepted worship, He must be God

🔚 Closing Thoughts

Peter Peters’ dual sermons on “What is Truth?” are more than abstract theological musings—they are direct confrontations with the fear, cowardice, compromise, and silence that keep Christians from embracing and proclaiming truth. Through powerful illustrations, analogies, and dozens of Scriptures, he demonstrates that:

  • Truth can and must be purchased—but at a price.

  • Many walk away from it, like the rich young ruler.

  • Others sell it out, like the cowardly parents.

  • Real prophets are not crowd-pleasers but truth-tellers.

  • Truth offends—but it is the foundation of all justice, righteousness, and spiritual life.

 

 

The Four Stages of Spiritual Truth – archive.org booklet –  Audio Sermon (Bitchute) –  archive.org (audio sermon)

🧭 The Four Stages of Spiritual Truth – Summary

Central Passage:

  • John 8:32 – “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Peters explains that truth is liberating, but the process of reaching and accepting it unfolds in four key stages, each with its own challenges and spiritual milestones.

🔹 Stage 1: Realization

“You must first come to the realization that something isn’t right.”

  • This stage begins when a believer senses discrepancies between what they’ve been taught (in church, school, society) and what they read in Scripture or observe in reality.

  • Examples:

    • Hearing the term “Judeo-Christian” and realizing something feels off

    • Studying the Bible and seeing contradictions with denominational teachings

    • Wondering why churches are weak or why society is collapsing despite religion’s presence

  • Jeremiah 16:19 – “…our fathers have inherited lies…”

  • Peters emphasizes this is often an internal stirring—a divine nudge that leads one to ask hard questions.

  • At this stage, many people experience discomfort or denial, because truth threatens their worldview, traditions, or relationships.

🔹 Stage 2: Reception

“Once you realize something’s wrong, the next step is to receive the truth.”

  • Truth is often rejected because it comes from unfamiliar messengers or contradicts deeply held traditions.

  • Isaiah 30:10 – People ask for smooth things and lies, not truth.

  • Peters says most people fail at this stage because:

    • Truth is offensive

    • It requires change

    • It brings consequences (division, rejection, etc.)

  • The process of receiving truth means:

    • Setting aside pride

    • Being teachable

    • Embracing uncomfortable doctrines

    • Looking past the personality or reputation of the messenger

  • Example: People rejected Jesus because of who He was, not what He said.

🔹 Stage 3: Rejoicing

“Once truth is received, it brings joy, peace, clarity, and purpose.”

  • After overcoming the initial difficulty, truth becomes a source of great rejoicing.

  • Psalm 119:162 – “I rejoice at Thy Word as one that finds great spoil.”

  • Truth changes how you read the Bible—suddenly it makes sense.

  • Examples of rejoicing:

    • Understanding Israel Identity and suddenly realizing Scripture fits together perfectly

    • Seeing the hand of God in history, prophecy, and current events

    • Recognizing the difference between traditions of men and God’s commandments

  • Peters encourages listeners to embrace the joy of knowing the truth, but warns that this joy must be tempered with responsibility.

🔹 Stage 4: Responsibility

“The final stage is the hardest: truth comes with a responsibility.”

  • Knowing truth means one must now:

    • Live it

    • Speak it

    • Defend it

    • Endure the cost of it

  • Peters draws on Ezekiel 33:6 – if the watchman sees danger and does not warn, he is responsible for the blood.

  • Matthew 10:34–36 – Jesus did not come to bring peace, but a sword (division).

  • Peters highlights that speaking truth will:

    • Cause division within families

    • Bring rejection from churches or friends

    • Require boldness and suffering

  • But truth is not optional—once known, it must be acted upon.

  • “Don’t be just a hearer, but a doer.”

🛠️ Additional Themes & Illustrations

  • Many people stall at Stage 2 (reception) because they are not willing to change or be uncomfortable.

  • Those who reach Stage 3 often make the mistake of camping there, enjoying their knowledge without bearing the burden of spreading truth.

  • Peters uses the analogy of lighting a candle: it’s not meant to be hidden under a bushel.

  • He criticizes Christians who keep truth to themselves to avoid offending others or because of fear of rejection.

  • He likens cowardice in truth-telling to treason against God.

📖 Key Scriptures Referenced

  • John 8:32 – Truth sets free

  • Jeremiah 16:19 – Inherited lies from our fathers

  • Isaiah 30:10 – People prefer lies over truth

  • Psalm 119:162 – Rejoicing at God’s Word

  • Ezekiel 33:6 – Responsibility of the watchman

  • Matthew 10:34–36 – Truth divides households

  • John 15:19 – The world hates those not of it

  • James 1:22 – Be doers of the Word, not hearers only

🧠 Final Exhortation

  • Truth is not entertainment or trivia—it’s revelation that demands action.

  • Christians must advance through all four stages, or they risk being stagnant, self-deceived, or cowardly.

  • The final call is to take up the cross of truth, love not your life unto death (Rev. 12:11), and fulfill your calling as a witness of truth in a world filled with deception.

 

More Coming……….