IDEA: An idea is true when it conforms to reality as God knows it to be.TEXT: "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 'For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:36-39).

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand why "truth" matters.

We live in a pluralistic society.

What does that mean?

Are all the ideas in our society of equal value?

I. What do we mean when we say that an idea is true?

An idea is true to what?

When the Bible speaks of truth, what do you think it is referring to?

That it is preferable?

Or that we like it?

Or that it appeals to us?

II. When the Bible says that something is true, it means that it conforms to reality as God knows it to be.

What does this presuppose?

It presupposes that there is reality.

It presupposes that God knows and embodies reality.

It presupposes that God has revealed that reality to us.

And it presupposes that what he has revealed in the Bible conforms to that reality.

III. When we say that the Christian life is a life of faith, it means faith in the truth that God has revealed to us in the Scriptures.

Insofar as we know that revelation, we can say that we know the truth.