The Importance of Truth

Coming soon we'll be offering our once a year Truth Corps program, with a challenge to give one summer to equipping yourself to share the Bible more effectively. In this memo, we'll look at why sharing truth is vital! Is it time to pull your sword out of the stone?

Some time ago, I preached a sermon entitled The Power of Truth. In it I suggested three reasons we should value knowing truth. Given our focus on Scripture here at FAST, I thought it seemed a good idea to share a quick synopsis of the sermon in this week's memo.

Why Truth is Important

Despite the relativism so often promoted today, pursuing objective biblical truth is important. While it's not an exhaustive list, here are three reasons I give for assigning truth a high priority:

1. Truth is important because it changes lives.

According to , we are born again, and become a new creature by the "word of truth". And Jesus made it clear that continuing our study of truth is an important part of the sanctification process. The more truth we know, the more freedom we will experience (). Every believer who has been rescued from a life of sin can attest to the power of truth to change us.

“Every believer who has been rescued from a life of sin can attest to the power of truth to change us.”

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Here's how Paul describes the process of change: "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (). As we grow in our understanding of truth, and lay hold of it by faith--the Holy Spirit uses that truth to transform us. That's how sanctification works. See also .

The flipside of this is that error is never unimportant or insignificant. It should never be considered harmless or irrelevant. Just as truth brings us closer to Christ, error pushes us farther away. The enemy has a reason for every lie he has spawned.

2. Truth is important because it is at the core of our work.

God's will is for "all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (). Therefore, "seeing we have this ministry" our work is "by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (). We are to "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" ().

If sharing truth is an important part of our work, a preparation to do that is likewise important. We are to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (). That requires us to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (). Jesus gave a stern warning to those who know God's will, but fail to prepare themselves to do it. See .

3. Truth is important because deceptions are everywhere.

The book of Daniel prophesied of a "little horn" power that would work counter to Christ. A "host was given him" and "it cast the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered" (). Those familiar with this prophecy know historically that this happened exactly as predicted, resulting in the tremendous doctrinal confusion today.

The Word of God was like a mirror thrown to the ground and shattered. And through the centuries various men stumbled across some piece of glass, picked it up, and fought for that truth. But the churches they founded generally stopped there. Rather than the path of the just being a "shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (), they clung to their one or two little pieces. The result? More than 30,000 Christian denominations in the USA alone.

And the Bible predicts this problem will only grow worse. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (). In other words, truth will become increasingly rare, and therefore increasingly important, the closer we get to the end!

How to Fortify our Minds

So how can we avoid being deceived? Listening to sermons is valuable. A good reading program is helpful. But neither of these alone will prepare us for the endtime crisis foretold in prophecy. The final scenes will be rapid ones. They will come upon us as an overwhelming surprise. And "none but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict" (Great Controversy, p. 593).

“None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.”

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But how exactly does one fortify his mind? I'd like to suggest there are two steps in that process. And that both are essential:

1. Study Deeply

Study one Bible truth at a time. Dedicate between one week and one month of prayerful study to each topic. Look up every verse on the subject you can find. Read commentaries and explore relevant study guides. Try to reconcile difficult verses until you have a fully consistent understanding of the subject. Don't rest until everything fits. Once you are finished, create a simple outline of the clear teachings of the Bible on the topic.

Not sure where to start? Here are some suggested topics:

How can I know the Bible is true?
How does a person become a Christian?
Will the second coming be secret?
What will heaven be like?
What happens after death?
Does God torture sinners for eternity?
Is God's law still relevant?
Is prophecy real?
What is God's purpose for the church

Even if you are familiar with what the Bible teaches on some of these, study them over again, until you are able to explain each subject simply and clearly to another person.

Our FAST Facts study course gives a quick introduction to some of the most common questions people ask. Consider using these as a starting point for your study. Then once you have studied the topics in those lessons, move on to others. You'll never exhaust the treasures of the Word of God!

2. Memorize Diligently

Once you have completed your survey of a specific topic, identify 4 or 5 key verses that best capture the essential teachings of the Bible on that subject. Look especially for verses that give a clear overview, or rule out common false interpretations. Then take some time and prayerfully memorize those verses.

Internalizing key verses on important teachings of the Bible is one of the most powerful ways to equip yourself to share truth. Memorization allows you to meditate deeply on the verse, and really grapple with the nuances of every word. And when stored in the memory, it requires only the slightest whisper of the Holy Spirit to bring it to mind in time of need. It allows you to share vital truth at any time, and in any situation--even if you don't have a Bible handy. That should be every believer's goal, don't you think?

FAST can help with this too. We provide powerful tools to help you memorize Scripture, and even recommend verse sets on many important doctrinal topics in our tools area. Use these to jumpstart the process of fortifying your mind.

Conclusion

Truth is important because it changes lives, because it's at the core of our work, and because deceptions are everywhere. Listening to sermons and reading the Bible are both valuable, but to truly fortify our minds we must study deeply and memorize diligently. Determine to begin that process of internalizing truth, restarting the process if it has slipped, or continuing on if it is already a regular part of your life. Never underestimate the importance of truth!

Comments

How important is truth to you? How has it impacted your life? Do you have a regular process you follow to fortify your mind with the teachings of the Bible on specific topics? If so share your strategy. How strong is your determination to know truth?

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Use this link: http://fast.st/271/

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/31/23 - Coach
	It seems God has been leading you all along the way into a closer walk with Him. Keep pressing forward Carla!

	Posted by Carla Phillips on 05/30/23
	Before first joining the SDA church, I have visited many different churches. I was a Catholic until I was about 13 yrs old. Then i joined a Baptist church and got baptized. Then thru the years visited many different churches /denominations. Coming to the SDA church was different than the other churches, the people were nice, they went more in depth in teaching the gospel than what i had been used to. The more I studied about the SDA gospel the more i was convicted that this church had the true message. There are many churches still out there today but I have always loved the sda church message and what it teaches and how thorough the message is taught . So truth is most important to me and that is the reason why I am a SDA

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/22/23 - Coach
	That's awesome Carol. Glad this was helpful. We just opened enrollment for Truth Corps where we'll go into the specifics of this in much more detail. I encourage you to join us for that if you can! :)

	Posted by Carol Lathen on 05/22/23
	Hello, I praise God for this teaching the importance of truth and how to fortify our minds with God’s word. I often wondered how to do it. The teaching was very helpful to me. Blessings!

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/14/23 - Coach
	Glad everything clicked together for you Paula! If you want a big boost on this, be sure to sign up for Truth Corps, opening soon. There you'll get a good 1 summer intensive that will help leap you forward. I love that saying from your grandma! :)

	Posted by Paula Currey on 05/13/23
	Aha! I just finished cross reference and after reading this, the study makes more sense! It takes time to actually do this. Study deeply, week to month per doctrine, think on and digest. Then memorize diligently is easier as these things are set deeper in your mind. My challenge is this, having spent years in the church, classes and seminars, and now seeing that I missed a very important point. Study and grow it into your life, keep it there by application by memorization. Too soon old too late smart.( a sign at grandmas home)!

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/11/23 - Coach
	Thanks for the note Thomas. I'll have to see if I can't fix it up. :)

	Posted by Thomas Frick on 05/11/23 - Coach
	Thanks for sharing this. Very valuable information. A little note: when playing the audio version of the article some parts of the code are read out too. (Headlines, links and end of the article)

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/09/23 - Coach
	Nice thought Rebecca: "leaving a trail of truth..." May our lives be like that too!

	Posted by Rebecca Gottfried on 05/09/23
	Barbara What disheartened me the most was how Pilate could obviously see Jesus was not an evil man. Jesus was a kind man and his looks showed it. Pilate was at multiple times ready to release Jesus. He saw through the schemes of the Jewish leaders, but because he naturally was a character that was wish-washy or unstable he fell to the threats of the chief priests and officers. This is what I LOVE about Jesus, He doesn’t send Pilate to the worst pit of hell. He explains to Pilate that the punishment of the chief priests and officers will be worse than Pilate’s because they had greater responsibility in following Truth because they knew more of the Scriptures and God’s will than Pilate knew. On His way to Calvary Jesus was leaving a trail of Truth, some people rejected it and some people accepted it. Even on the cross Jesus was still saving souls: the thief on the cross, the centurion, and Simon of Cyrene who carried His cross. He is mighty to save!

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/09/23 - Coach
	It's interesting the point you made about Pilate Barbara. The verse (John 18:38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.) definitely sounds like he just asked the question and walked out. It would surely have been an interesting answer. My guess is Jesus would have said something like John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.. :)

	Posted by Barbara E. LaRose on 05/09/23
	I love all of the steps you have pointed out to us. This was a great post now I need to take the steps of incorporating them into my life. I wish Pilate would have waited to hear Christ’s answer. I would have loved to have read it and to know what Pilot would have done.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/08/23 - Coach
	Interesting point Rebecca. I think we can see from Pilate's life how destructive it is to not really ask that question sincerely. He rejected the evidence that was bringing conviction to his heart, and ended up facing a miserable end. So sad...

	Posted by Rebecca Gottfried on 05/08/23
	Jordan Peterson, a well known psychologist, was asked what his favorite Bible verse was…He said it’s when Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth?”

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/04/23 - Coach
	That's a sad but true point Julio, that being sincere but wrong, is, well, still wrong. And error is never harmless... There's a reason for everyone one of the devil's lies. Constant study and memorization is our only hope!

	Posted by Julio Useche on 05/04/23
	Truth is vital to our understanding of God's Word and the ability to live godly lives. If we're following things that appear to be true, but don't study the Word of God to confirm their truthfulness we are allowing ourselves to be led astray. There are so many poor souls that are doing this because they refuse to search for truth and simply accept tradition, or worse; when convicted they refuse the truth due to the adversity it might bring. A daily study of His Word and memorization as outlined in this article is the only thing that can protect us from falling into the traps and deceptions of the enemy.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 02/06/23 - Coach
	Thanks for such a positive testimony Lana. I can't imagine what a difference it would make to be raised having all this information. I spent my whole childhood wondering about many of these questions. So glad those questions have largely all been settled...

	Posted by Lana Rose on 02/06/23
	The truth is important to me. I grew up in a home where Bible truth was taught and put into practice. So thankful for my wonderful parents! It has shaped who I am and want to continue growing into more truth and light from Him. Loving all the verses and comments that have been shared here on how important truth is!

	Posted by Dan Vis on 01/24/23 - Coach
	That's fantastic Sam. Sounds like a very ambitious plan. Sometimes you can get with a memory group where each person shares the verses they are learning. That's how our partners checklist program works. Each just gets with their partner who quizzes them on whatever verses they have recently learned. That's a nice well rounded list of resources also Barbara. Thanks for including FAST on the list. :) Now that I think about it I guess we have tools for pretty much all the fingers: sermons, reading record, study guides, review engine, and a healthy dose of application emphasis!

	Posted by Barbara E. LaRose on 01/24/23
	Truth is vital in knowing and understanding what we believe and helps us in our witnessing to others. It is our firm foundation upon which we stand, it keeps us clear from error. Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. It guides our path into the way of truth. My morning Watch is a great start, listening to sermons and making notes, memorizing scriptures and don’t forget good Godly music and Fast Missions for all its study guides and helps. Prayer for the Holy Spirit to enlightenment me and for his help in teaching me and giving me a willing heart to obey and stay interested.

	Posted by Shawnda McKnight on 01/24/23
	Truth is very important to me, it has given me a peace beyond understanding, and joy unspeakable joy! I have a plan to fortify my mind, I wake up at 3am most mornings (sometimes I start at 5) But I start each day with prayer and a sermon. When I am all the way up and alert, I study the Bible (which now I am going to study more deeply using both inductive and deductive approaches) and then I internalize scripture. I even have scriptures that I study out even if I don't memorize. I have not joined a memorization group because I have a list of over 200 verses that I plan to memorize, and I don't want to join any others until I have memorized this list. (Not including the 100 already posted on Fast My review pack and my verse pack is now 50 each so by the end of the summer I will have 200 verses memorized and even more studied out!)

	Posted by Dan Vis on 10/10/22 - Coach
	:)

	Posted by Zewdi Isaac Enbom on 10/09/22
	Dan Thank you for your positive feedback.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 10/09/22 - Coach
	That verse in Titus 1:1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; is an interesting one. I've always use I Timothy 6:3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; to emphasize that the kind of "doctrine" we need is that which leads to practical godliness. But I've never noticed that verse. Thanks for sharing Deanne! I love your opening sentence about God's kingdom being built on truth, and the importance of truthfulness ourselves if we want to be part of that. I also love those cross references Zewdi. John 3:21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. is an amazing verse! That whole section there in John is fascinating... :)

	Posted by Zewdi Isaac Enbom on 10/09/22
	Dan God’s Kingdom is built on truth and anyone who wants to be a follower of Christ has to live in truth. Without truth we cannot please Him. Truth is God’s foundation. If there was one thing my mother emphasized again and again when we were little is that if we want to go to Heaven, we have to speak the truth at all times. One lie, and the door of Heaven will be closed to us. God sees and hears everything. She didn’t tell us to scare us but to let us know that God wants us to be with Him forever. And as parents we are supposed to educate you to know the truth and to live in truth. If we live in truth, we honor God. John 3:21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deed may be made manifest, they are wrought in God.” John 4:23-2423 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. – “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. 24) God is Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.”

	Posted by Deanne Reinke on 10/08/22
	When I read this article I immediately thought of these texts: Titus 1:1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;--the acknowlegment of the truth which accords with Godliness John 8:32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.--you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Mark 13:22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. says false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive if possible, even the elect... I want to know truth so that I will not be deceived and so I can help others not to be deceived

	Posted by Dan Vis on 10/07/22 - Coach
	I appreciate your point Sam that truth leads to transformation. Or sanctification as the Bible puts it: John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.. As for taking our journals with us, I'm not sure. I have quite a few from over the years. :)

	Posted by Shawnda McKnight on 10/07/22
	The truth is very important to me. Once I learned the truth I wanted to be a better person. I wanted to be the best me. I simply use repetition to memorize and when I study the Bible I write down a paraphrase. I have a notebook with all of my paraphrases (when I first heard they would take our Bibles and we would have to run to the hills- I was hoping to be able to grab my notebook.) I love the truth because like God is Love Jesus is the Truth. To have truth is to have Jesus..

	Posted by Dan Vis on 10/05/22 - Coach
	Those are beautiful verses Linda. Longtime favorites of mine, right along with John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. which is my inspiration for practical application of the Word of God... Thanks for your testimony Tonya. Memorization is a powerful way to equip ourselves for ministry. Someone once described it as filling the quiver of our heart with arrows from God's Word. I've always liked that!

	Posted by Tonya Anspach on 10/04/22
	Memorizing scripture has been a real blessing for me. It is amazing how God will bring one to mind just when I need it. I was just on the phone with a friend who is going through a crucible in her life right now and I was able to share with her a verse that would let her know that God is in control. God is so good. I definitely need to make time to do in depth study on bible truth.

	Posted by Linda Johnson on 10/04/22
	I would love to share this verse, John 1:12,13But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: . . . Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. NIV I read in my Morning Watch time this morning: "Yet to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to be children of God-Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

	Posted by Dan Vis on 10/04/22 - Coach
	Nice verses Linda. Both show how important, and valuable truth really is. Good post!

	Posted by Linda Johnson on 10/04/22
	I love II Timothy 2:4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Who (God) will have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God's heart is so big with love for mankind that He wants all men saved and that includes me and my loved ones. Then John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ...Thy word is truth. I study God's word to learn the truth, for the truth well set us free indeed.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 10/02/22 - Coach
	Sounds like a good plan Julio. We've got some GREAT tools for creating verse topics in our online Bible and all sorts of memorization tools for brushing up on those topics or learning new verses as needed. Be sure to check out the Verse Sets link in the MEMORIZE tab, with a special focus on your custom topics. We've done massive amounts of work on this part of our site over the last year or so, and it's been dramatically improved...

	Posted by Julio Useche on 10/02/22
	I think I've got suggestion #2 down pat. I practice my bible memorization religiously, and what a tremendous blessing it has been to me! The study deeply part takes time, which always seems to be a struggle for me! I need to group the verses I've memorized into specific bible subjects that will help me to "create a simple outline of the clear teachings" on each subject and add any new verses that support the truth that I'm trying to share.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 09/30/22 - Coach
	I like the way you summarize these little studies so succinctly, and so precisely. Nice job Louise!

	Posted by Louise P on 09/30/22
	Wow! The value of truth - changed lives, the core of man’s work, deception countered! Truth exemplified in our Saviour! How do I fortify my mind? Study deeply, memorise diligently! Thank you for these timely reminders - a must for my toolkit - and for supportive courses! Blessed!

	Posted by Dan Vis on 09/27/22 - Coach
	Nice job getting that verse quoted Barbara! :)

	Posted by Barbara E. LaRose on 09/27/22
	It’s vitally important, one wrong error in the teachings can lead a person in the wrong direction. Truth has impacted my life because at the age of 15 or 16, I asked myself if what my father was teaching was true, is the Sabbath (the 7th day correct). I had all these questions and so I started studying for myself. That’s what helped me to know what our church really stood for and I understood the error that was out there for my own self. I believe it is a life and death matter. I want to know what I believe so I can share it with others by personal experience. I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

	Posted by Dan Vis on 09/27/22 - Coach
	Thanks Everton! Glad this was helpful for you. But I personally think your comment is even more inspiring! To "come forth with my face shining from these lengthened communions with Christ on specific areas of his doctrine". Wow, what an image... :)

	Posted by E.Guthrie on 09/27/22
	This was simply presented but clear and powerful. I'd love to have the convictions and sanctification that comes from having my mind so settled in truth. I'd love to come forth with my face shining from these lengthened communions with Christ on specific areas of his doctrine.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 05/09/22 - Coach
	That's exactly what we'll be doing in that class Dianne! I trust you will enjoy it. I think a lot of people are eager for that to get started! :) You're very welcome Debbi! Glad this was helpful.

	Posted by Debbi Romano on 05/09/22
	Thank you for posting this wonderful reminder and suggestions for others to learn and share.

	Posted by Dianne Knudson on 05/09/22
	I found this very inspiring, and I would like to do a deeper study on the important doctrines of God’s Word, and have scriptures memorized for each one!!! I’m also looking forward to participating in Truth Corps! Thanks again Pastor Dan!

	Posted by Dan Vis on 06/09/20 - Coach
	I memorized that verse many years ago Georgia, and it had that exact same impact on me as well. Made me definitely want to be more diligent in my personal discipleship, including the need to "study to show myself approved" (II Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.)... As for the class, it is a bit involved. I would estimated 2-3 hours per week.

	Posted by Georgia Kenny on 06/08/20
	The study plan set out here is similar to what I had marked out for myself to do, but I really like the idea of spending a week or month each on a topic to really thoroughly grasp it and be able to share. I certainly need that deeper understanding... Something I had not thought of was the fact that Luke 12:47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. says the unjust servant didn’t PREPARE himself. I’d always noticed he didn’t DO his master’s will, but not that he didn’t prepare himself. This tells me that if we know truth, or have truth within our reach, but do not make sincere efforts to prepare ourselves to be able to share it, we will be counted an unfaithful worker. I’m curious about the Truth Corps class - what kind of time commitment do you think would be needed per day/week?

	Posted by Dan Vis on 06/08/20 - Coach
	That's an excellent point Terri! Many times errors lie close to truth, and only a thorough familiarity with truth will equip us to identify the subtle errors we encounter. Glad you will be doing Truth Corps with us! And I like your points too Carole, about the power of truth to strengthen the mind, protect the heart, give peace, freedom, and something to share. So many blessings!

	Posted by Carole Bliss on 06/08/20
	Knowing truth keeps our minds and hearts safe and clear and strong. We are at peace. Otherwise confusion sets in and causes so much doubt and peril in our lives. It is very important to know truth. The Bible states, it will set you free. In order to present the truth, we have to know the truth. Blessings, Carole

	Posted by Terri Krovoza on 06/08/20
	It is so important to know the truth because there are so many half truths out there that sound good and if we are not strongly rooted in the Word and don’t have a strong defense when questions arise we will not be an effective witness. I am looking forward to Truth Corps and learning how to have the best answer to give when questioned about our faith.

	Posted by Dan Vis on 04/03/19 - Coach
	Glad you enjoyed it Diane! Again. :) We will be doing some classes on how to develop just such a system soon Floride. Stay tuned. :)

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