This is a continuation of a series of articles about truths within Christianity.

Read the first article here: When is it Time for True Christians to go to the Mat?

Read the second article here: Truths that cannot be Compromised: Part I

There are so many amazing truths within Christianity that it becomes difficult to explore a list such as this. Ultimately, any truth is significant and worthy of our effort to defend it. However, the aim here is to defend those truths that are foundational; to defend those truths that cannot be compromised. The aim is to explore the truths that require us to draw a line in the sand and tell the world they cannot cross it – and to do so would surely mean death! The types of truths we are talking about are the truths that get at the heart of God, that draw us closer to Him, and require us to bow humbly at His feet. In continuing these articles, I am not aiming to rank these truths. Instead, I am merely going at them in as logical a way as possible. Please do not consider this a ranking, as all of these truths deserve our reverence. Instead, I am simply trying to link them together, so I will attempt to build upon each prior article.

In Part I (linked to above), I stated that we must start this understanding of truth with Jesus. We must understand Him rightly. I would like to now build upon our understanding of Jesus as God. I will allow John 1:1-18 to show us the way (ESV):

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

I highlighted a couple of key pieces of information that will illuminate our understanding of Jesus. I believe this to be hugely important, not only in our understanding of our savior, but also in our foundational thinking as it relates to how we came to be. Everywhere around us there are those who have surrendered to the logic of our day that says, “Matter plus time plus chance equals man.” However, John 1 and Genesis 1 are tied together rather uniquely to claim that Jesus is not only our savior, but also our creator. The Genesis account of creation is tied to Jesus and Jesus is tied to the creation. It is only logical, but it is often either overlooked or otherwise deemphasized by Christians not wanting to seem foolish for believing in creation. I will take the charge of a fool, be it necessary, but I cannot deny what is plain in scripture. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him (John 1:1-3). And for those who like to toy around with Genesis 1 to avoid creation, how do you deal with the statement, “and without him was not any thing made that was made”? This is not a description of a God haphazardly making man from goop. It is a description of God in control. It is impossible to mush evolution into two descriptions of God’s creation such as this. And so here is our second key truth: God is our creator. You are not a product of chance. You do not result from a cosmic accident billions of years ago. No, you were wonderfully and fearfully made by God. To deny this is to deny Jesus and ultimately, to deny God.

Now, let me back track so that I do not create a misunderstanding. I am not saying that someone has to have a full understanding of this the moment they become saved. There are examples of Christians, some key ones in fact, that did not come to understand this until later in their Christian walk. There are truths that are foundational that some people will not understand, and yet they may in fact be a Christian. However, in my experience, they are almost always ignorant on the subject. So, what I do not want to create here is an environment of antagonism. Going to the mat is not to be understood as calling out heretics (even if that is sometimes warranted). No, we should be very careful to defend the truth in love. In some cases, we will meet those who are in fact out of the faith and it is for this reason that they do not believe these foundational truths. And then there are those described above that simply have not considered these truths fully. In either scenario, we must hold our ground with love.

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