Doing Truth VS Doing Good
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
People are often motivated to do things that are seen as “good”. It’s a kind of replacement religion that makes people feel good about themselves and potentially gives them social credit with others who are hyper-focused on these issues.
In many cases, these same people can be offended by basic morality and by those who hold to an absolutist view of right and wrong, sin and righteousness.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20
This directly addresses inverting morality and being offended by (or hostile toward) clear distinctions between right and wrong.
Think of this while reading the context of the focus verse posted at the beginning. This directly expands on “doing truth” and explains the offense/rejection:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
We live in a world that celebrates, promotes, and to the point of idolizing abject perversion while at the same time demonizing to the point of political warfare against what are biological realities and historical norms, not to mention Biblical absolutes of Christian morality.
Our culture, to a great degree, has been deluded into embracing this counterintuitive and, in some cases, mental insanity.
However, if we just deal with the trend that often gets its beginning and sanctioned by institutional denominational “christianity.” (I purposely used a little c in the word, even though my spell checker tried to correct the usage.)
Doing truth.
If one is going to “do truth”, they must reject every opinion and doctrine, no matter its source.
So much of the Bible has been dismissed, discounted and to the point of deleting it from discussion or being taught and if it’s taught, it is from a point of view that has no faith in the Bible as being true.
Rather than itemizing the examples, I want to end with a question for us to consider.
What is in my Bible that I have been taught to doubt, dismiss, and denigrate to the point that no one in my direct circle makes any effort to honor and obey?
The qualification Jesus gave in his description of coming to light was not checking the list of my brand of politics or religion, but the actual text of scripture.
Just some thoughts this morning,
If we don’t walk into the light of scripture, we have disqualifed ourselves from many promises of Scripture.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
IF
The Biggest word in your Bible. It’s a qualifier and a disqualifier. It' is the dividing line between the children of God and the children of the Devil.
Ouch. Don’t take my word for it.
“9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” 1 Peter 2:9
Selah.
In Him, BY Him, Through Him,
Scott A. Phillips