Foundational Truths

The demands for foundational truths are necessary in order to identify a proper understanding of content and context of scripture, whether historical or allegorical. If conclusions drawn by the text lead you to an understanding of God that is something other than these foundational truths about God, then your understand is imperfect and further prayerful study is required. While I list these foundational truths about God they are not set in order of importance.  They are all equally true, no one characteristic is more important than another.

1. God is Holy. Sin does not exist in God nor can it exist in His presence.
2. God is love. Agape love, God’s love is pure, without any selfish intent.
3. God is just. Since God is Holy sin must be dealt with, justice is demanded.
4. God is merciful. We are saved by grace and that is a gift from God, unmerited, unearned.
5. God is true. God neither lies, nor tempts. All God’s promises are real, He will keep His word.

Note that I did not list any of the omni words. Only omnipotent appears in the King James version, meaning almighty, ruler of all things, and does not appear in the New International Version at all. The reason I left them out is that while they convey a sense of what God is capable of doing, they will not indicate if you are having an improper understanding of scripture. The same applies to the Jehovah characteristics of God. God may act within any one of those characteristics at any time, but not present Himself as another. These five truths about God will remain true at all times.

Malachi 3:6a For I am the LORD, I change not.

Quote from Bible 101 by Larry Perry

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I am driving north on the interstate in the middle lane doing the speed limit, because I am a law abiding citizen. People have been passing me on the left for some time. Note, I am still doing the speed limit.

Soon traffic slows, much more so on my right. A State Trooper has a speeder pulled over. Everyone is now a law abiding citizen. Soon after passing the trooper the number of cars passing me at a higher rate of speed increases. Fear of being caught seems to have left those drivers.

Not much further down the interstate a black and white clearly marked State Trooper comes onto the interstate and is slightly ahead of me and to my right. I, as always, am doing the speed limit. I note the trooper is keeping pace at exactly the speed limit. All the traffic is following the trooper at that exact pace.

It seems his presence keeps everyone law abiding. To my left a car comes slowly alongside and the trooper is in plain sight, yet this car inches forward perhaps only five miles an hour faster. Histrionics has taught us that tickets are not usually given out for that grace amount, so he boldly moves on.

The trooper pulls sharply to the left lane and his lights come on. The slight offense is an offense none the less. Perhaps the bigger offense here was not going alone with the plan to keep pace. That was after all the trooper’s mission that day, not to catch offenders but to prevent offenders.

Immediately afterwards the traffic was passing me on the left even faster than before.

Do you have to see Jesus in order to follow Jesus? Is your failure to see Jesus justification for lawlessness?