Georgia Division

Lemie B McGarity

What is the Truth?

In our pursuit of understanding the Scriptures, we find that Pilate’s question in John 18:38—“What is truth?”—remains profoundly relevant for Christians today. This inquiry challenges believers to examine whether their faith, beliefs, and practices align with the truth of God’s Word. Are your convictions rooted in the teachings of Christ, or are they shaped by human traditions? This self-reflection is essential for anyone claiming to follow Jesus Christ. Equally important is understanding Christ’s perspective on the Law.

Christ and the Law: Clarifying Misconceptions

Jesus declared in Matthew 5:17-19 that He did not come to abolish the Law.  He warned that anyone who teaches otherwise will be considered least in the Kingdom of Heaven. He emphasized that not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law would disappear until heaven and earth pass away (Rev 21:1). This passage is often misinterpreted by some Christians to justify disregarding God’s commandments. However, Christ’s words make it clear that the Law remains essincial as a way of life. What did Christ fulfill or end if it was not the Law?

Before His arrest, Jesus prayed, saying, “I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4). What was the work Christ completed? In Luke 24:44, He explained: “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” This statement points to the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, such as His birth (Isaiah 9:6-7; 53:1-12, Psa 2:7) and His suffering, death, for the forgiveness of sins and resurrection (Luke 24:46-47, Rom 3:21-31, 1Co 15:50).

The Timing of Christ’s Death and Resurrection:

Many Christians traditionally believe that Christ was buried on Good Friday and rose early on Sunday morning. However, this timeline does not align with Christ’s own words in Matthew 12:40, where He stated that He would be in the heart of the earth for “three days and three nights.” From Friday evening to Sunday morning accounts for only a day and a half. To reconcile this with Scripture, Christ died and was buried on Wednesday before sunset (marking the start of a High Sabbath, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread) and He rose at sunset at the end of the weekly Sabbath on Saturday.

The Sabbath: A Commandment of God

The observance of the Sabbath has also been a point of contention. Scripture establishes the seventh-day Sabbath as holy (Genesis 2:1-2; Exodus 20:8-11) and designates it as a perpetual sign of God’s covenant. Yet many Christians today observe Sunday, a tradition influenced by historical changes linked to pagan practices rather than biblical instruction. Nowhere in Scripture does God grant authority to change the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week. Christ Himself affirmed in Luke 6:5, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Paul’s Writings: Misunderstood and Misused:

Peter cautioned that Paul’s letters contain some teachings that are difficult to understand and prone to distortion by untaught and unstable men, leading to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). Misinterpretations of Paul’s writings have contributed to the widespread departure from observing the seventh-day Sabbath, even though Scripture consistently upholds its sanctity.

A Call to Truth

As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to prove all things to ensure our beliefs and practices align with His teachings, 1 John 4:1. We must make a commitment to understanding and obeying God’s commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath, as established in Gen 2:1-3; Lev 23:1-4. Let us strive to ground our faith not in human traditions and philosophies, but in the truth of what the Scriptures say about the way of the God Family, John 15:10

Join us every Saturday at 3 P.M. for an inspiring open study of the word of God on Zoom Meeting – ID#:967-661-8852 Password: Messiah. Contact us by phone 404-232-9384 or 770-894-9829; email us at [email protected]

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