DELIGHT IN TRUTH & JUDGEMENT

1. God Delights In Truth and Judgement

Jer 9:23-24  “I am Lord – exercise loving kindness and judgement in earth.”

· Lord delights in showing kindness and dealing with issues.

Jer 5:1-3  “Oh Lord are not your eyes upon the truth.”

· In times of moral and spiritual decay – truth fails.

Is 59:13-15  People that speak and stand for truth are considered mad.

Jer 9:3-6  When people don’t walk in truth – can’t know God.  2 Thess 2:10-12  Love of truth.

· Deceit = withhold truth/absence of truth/alter truth/create impression.

· Impossible to have a relationship with God without truth.

· Truth is foundational to building relationships.

· Deceive neighbour:      (i)   deliberately mislead.  Prov 12:2  Lying lips = abomination.

                                                                                                 Deal truly – His delight.

                                          (ii)   hear and say nothing – come into agreement with what he

                                    has said.

                                          Eg, Num 30:4-7  Father/husband disallow in day heard.

· Truth = God’s perspective on reality:  Seek truth Þ Seek God’s perspective.

2. God’s Love Manifests in Truth and Judgement

· Love    - lost its meaning.

· Truth    - also lost its meaning – become relative/subjective.

                  - truth must connect to reality, objective.

1 John 4:10   Herein is love of God manifested – mercy seat, for our sin.

· Love must express itself through giving.

· Love of God characterised by:        à generosity                     - gave

à personal involvement     - son

à truth                              - word made flesh

· God does not tolerate evil – exposes it with good.

· God’s love:      (i)      confronts evil – manifests truth

                              (ii)      calls to repentance – period of grace.

                              (iii)     ensures there are consequences – free will

· Tolerate        = allowance given to something don’t really approve of

                           = permit, put up with something even if disagree

Þ no opinion or idea is to be criticised

Politically correct = new idol = what is currently in vogue, fashion

· Jesus taught that truth incorporated in life sets us free.

· John 8:31-32   Truth = substance.  Lie = lack substance Þ unstable.

· Key principle in dealing with people.

· Key principle in raising children.

· Cost in leading people.

· Love = truth/calls for responsibility – ensures consequences.

Examples:

à     Adam                  à     Noah

à     Egypt                  à     Ananias & Sapphira   

à     Israel

Example:       (i)      Luke 4:18 - anointing

                     (ii)      preached repentance

                     (iii)     wept and pronounced judgement

3. The Cross of Christ Demonstrates God’s Love

- Mercy and Truth, Justice and Judgement

· Cross:    (i)      sin judged – wages of sin = death

                     (ii)      mercy extended – Jesus our mercy seat

· Cross – divides history – AD/BC.

· Cross – truth of cross and name of Jesus confront and call for repentance.

· John 3:16-19  For God so loved He gave – believe not is to be judged.

· John 14:6  I am the way – no man.

· Acts 4:12  Neither is their salvation in any other name.

· 1 Tim 2:5 One mediator between God and man.

· God’s word divides as we absorb it into personal life and learn to apply it to own life then to others.

· Need to:    (i)      seek truth

                        (ii)      speak relevant truth

                        (iii)     stay open to truth – can’t guarantee 100% right all the time