Here are my notes for the final part of the Is It Relative? series.  As always, you will be able to listen and download the notes as a pdf after I preach them on Sunday (11/13/11).

Is It Relative? Living morally in an Amoral World.

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Relative Truth and morality (right & wrong)?

• If everyone is true... then there isn't any real truth...
• Not applicable in the material world – Natural law operates with absolutes.
• Not consistent with “real life”
  • If a child takes a cookie when told to not take a cookie... did the cookie really exist?
  • Moral Relativity would say, that the child must decide for himself if it's time for a cookie
• Not reflective of God's nature

The problem with the idea of Relativity is that it is almost right

• There are many things that are dependent upon culture, language and circumstances
• God relates to each one individually, in this way there is an aspect of “relativity” that is true.
• But it is a corruption of this truth to say that because some things are relative, that there is no objective truth. The statement “all things are relative” is taken as objective, absolute – and therefore negates itself.
• It is more correct to say, because some things are “dependent” all things are “dependent” as all things are dependent upon God – and God is not vague, ambiguous, or indifferent.

Jesus is the truth – Do you believe Jesus when He says, “I am THE truth.”

• Truth is not relative, it is relational – in the sense that being true is defined by your relationship with the person Jesus Christ.
• John 8:31-32 NKJV Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
  • “abide” = dwell, remain, to live in.
  • Experiential truth, Biblical truth is never merely academic or intellectual, it is experiential
• John 3:3 NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

What about Romans 14:14-23 “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (15) Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. (16) Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; (17) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (19) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (20) Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. (21) It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. (22) Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. (23) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

• Specifically addressing two things – food and observing of religious holidays
  • Conflict of Judaism (Ritual law) and Paganism (eating meat offered to idols) with Christian freedom
  • Goal – unity and love, NOT abusing personal freedom!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-13 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (13) Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

• Christian freedom does not allow what is clearly forbidden here and elsewhere
• Anything, even if it is not forbidden, is a trap – if we are “brought under the power of any” -- the question is = who is in control
• Is this something Jesus would do?
• Which fruit of the Holy Spirit does this express?
• How will this affect those around me, will it lead to greater holiness?

Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Future Judgment:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. (14) For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.