Facing the Truth

Facing the Truth

Have you ever questioned someone’s authority based on the fact that you doubted who they said they were? Think about gravity. Have you ever questioned whether or not there is this electromagnetic force that binds the Earth together and keeps everything in place? What happens when you try to defy gravity (on Earth)?

Example: You know that gravity claims to be able to keep you planted on the Earth so you can accomplish everything that requires stability, but have you ever seen or met gravity? Obviously not, but can you imagine trying to fly across he college campus by launching yourself from the swimming pool’s high dive? You are just going to end up wet.


That seems silly, but we often do the same thing with the authority of Christ.

Can anyone tell me what RELATIVISM is?

Relativism is the idea that some element or aspect of experience or culture is relative to, i.e., dependent on, some other element or aspect. Some relativists claim that humans can understand and evaluate beliefs and behaviors only in terms of their historical or cultural context. The term often refers to truth relativism, which is the doctrine that there are no absolute truths, i.e., that truth is always relative to some particular frame of reference, such as a language or a culture.
In other words, what is right for me may or may not be right for you. Is this way of thinking Biblical or is it just another convenient way for us to justify our own selfish behavior?

Is this what Christ taught?
Luke 20:1-18
Jesus’ Authority Questioned
1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” 5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then[a] did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. 13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!” 17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘ The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’?[b]
18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

John 15:5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Why did Christ use the example of the vineyard? In the OT the vineyard referred to the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people. The metaphor that Christ used in His parable would not have been missed by the Jewish officials?

If we admit to Christ’s authority then we also have to admit to our own sin. The beauty of this is that Christ’s authority takes care of our sin burden, if we accept His gift of salvation.
Denial of this absolute truth will lead to eternal destruction