The TRUTH is NOT ALWAYS in the MIDDLE (part 3)

Paul also wrote the Corinthians concernings spiritual gifts, and showed the equality of the members of "the body," comparing each believer to a member of the human body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 
I Corinthians 12:21-26  NIV, emphasis mine.

So with truth there is justice and thus equity and fairness.  The truth does sometimes bring about balance and moderation. 

But not always.


Our commitment is to the truth, whether it is extreme or moderate, whether it causes unions or separations, for sometimes truth unites, and at other times truth divides. 

Christ was and is the Prince of Peace who blessed peacemakers.  The death and resurrection of Christ brings peace between God and people, and between people and each other WHEN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTED ARE ACCEPTED!

But if Christ is rejected, then He does not bring peace.  He brings a sword that divides families and friends.  The Scriptures declare these absolute truths:

Friends of this world are enemies of God.
Those who are not for Christ are against Christ.
No one can serve two masters.  One master will be loved and the other hated.
God is light.  In God there is NO darkness AT ALL.

These truths are not "in the middle."  Truth, by definition, excludes falsehood or that which contradicts it.  This does not mean we should strive to be as obnoxious, abrasive, and blunt as possible, "in the name of the Lord!"  It does not mean we should see how many people trust in Christ, NO THANKS TO HOW RUDE AND STUPID WE ACT!!!

No.  We should speak the truth in love always, being as gentle as possible.  Yet at times, no matter how gentle we try to be, and no matter how loving we say it, the truth will indeed offend some who hear it!  Who is more gentle and meek than Christ?  Who has EVER been more loving and wise than the Lord Jesus?  Yet He was hated and called demon possessed!  He was accused of blasphemy and crucified as a result.  Therefore, as Christ warned His followeres, if we are as committed to truth as Jesus was, then we will experience the same responses He did.  The Lord Jesus said:

"For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world:  to bear witness to the truth.  All who are of the truth hear my voice." 

Our cause is His cause.  Those who hear Him will hear us.  Those who reject and hate Him will reject and hate us.

Followers of Christ are His witnesses, as well as witnesses of the truth.  They cannot, do not, and will not tolerate contradiction or compromise.  If a truth is "moderate," they will proclaim it.  If a truth is "extreme," they will proclaim it.  They live for and are willing to die for the truth.

Are you?

GOD IN ME

Think of this:  God made us in His image and likeness. 

Think of the words of Jesus:  "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father."

Think of the implications of the purpose of our creation:  To be Christ imitations--Predestined Christian.

Think of what this means right now: 
If you believe in Christ, you possess the nature of Christ,
and the Holy Spirit of Christ;
so when someone sees you,
they have seen the Lord,
assuming you live in agreement with the Lord.

If you accept the mission of Christ as your mission, then men and women encounter God when they indeed encounter you.

This is the mission of Christ, in the words of Christ: 

"For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. All who are of the truth hear my voice."

Believe in Christ and commit yourself to the cause of Christ; in doing so you will be one with Christ.

Thus, when people encounter you, they will encounter Christ in you.

JESUS

"I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He died for my sins."

As I said before, I say again, after saying the words above, I felt peace cover me like a blanket, and I no longer wanted to die.  Before I said these words I felt intense turmoil and suicidal.  Jesus saved my life.  Jesus gave me life.

"Jesus is God, and He died for my sins."

I gave this answer when asked point blank, "Who is Jesus?"  The one who asked this question questioned "religion," and knew my devotion to the only one who gives salvation for sin.

Jesus is the truth, the meaure of all reality, the means to the end of knowing God by His Spirit.  All of the word of God is measured by these words of God:

"Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures.

He was buried.

He rose the third day, according to the scriptures."

Jesus is the truth.

His gospel is the measure of all words of truth.

By these declarations one knows the Spirit of God:

Jesus is Lord.

Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.

To see Jesus is to see the Father.

To love Jesus is to love the Father.

May all who read be certain of the identity of God's Son:  JESUS!