Focus: The Faithful Sayings (Pt.1)

Text: Ps.119:160

"Thy word is true from the beginning…"

I intended for us to focus on the 'faithful sayings' of the Apostle Paul as found in his epistles, mainly Timothy and Titus, but the Spirit is broadening it in my own spirit. So we are likely to have parts one and two in the end.

From our text, we can see that God's word is true from the beginning. The word 'true' is 'emeth' in the Hebrew, and it can be translated as 'faithful' or 'faithfulness.' It has the import of veracity, authenticity, and firmness. God's word is reliable. It has integrity and stability. God's word stands firm and sure. You can lean or rest on it for sure. There is no falsehood in God.

The word 'beginning' is the same as we have it in Gen.1:1. So the psalmist is saying that God's word is true from Genesis. Every word spoken by God is true. God speaks correct words. God is incapable of cajoling or telling lies. His words carry energy and convey matter. From start to finish God tells the truth. There is not an iota of untruth in God, and in Christ is yes and amen. In God, there are no contradictions and discrepancies; only mysteries.

*True sayings

In Rev.19:9, it is written, "These are the TRUE SAYINGS of God."

In Rev.21:5, we read, "Write: for these WORDS ARE TRUE and faithful." In Rev.22:6, John writes, "These SAYINGS are faithful and TRUE." God's words are bankable. God's words are firm and forceful. In the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus Christ uses "verily, verily" to affirm or solemnize His words. Jesus sureties His own words. His word is His bond. He speaks words of accuracy, certainty, and verity. 'Verily' is a translation of the word 'amen,' which in Hebrew is 'aman.' 'Aman' is the word for 'faith' or 'believe,' of which 'emeth' is derived from it.

*True God

God's word is true because God Himself is true. The true God speaks true words. In Rom.3:4, Paul says, "Let God be TRUE, but every man a liar." In Jh.17:3, God is the ONLY TRUE God. All other gods are counterfeits and caricatures of the real deal. In 1Thes.1:9, He is the "living and TRUE God." In 2Cor.1:18, God is TRUE. In 1Jh.5:20, John declares, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know HIM that is TRUE, and we are in HIM that is TRUE, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the TRUE God, and eternal life." God is true. Christ is true. The Spirit of God is true. John warns us: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…" (1Jh.4:1). Apart from the Father, Christ Himself, and the Holy Spirit, all other gods, spirits and Christs are false.

In Rev.3:7, Christ is "he that is TRUE." In Rev.3:14, Christ is the "faithful and TRUE witness." In Rev.6:10, God is "holy and TRUE." In Rev.19:11, God is called "Faithful and TRUE."

In Mk.12:14, certain Pharisees and Herodians say to Jesus, "Master, we know that THOU ART TRUE." They came to find fault in Jesus, but they could not suppress the truth they knew about Him. Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ is true. Nothing of Him is a lie.

*True things

Certain things are true about God. We read in Rev.15:3, that His WAYS are "just and TRUE." In Rev.16:7 and 19:2, His JUDGMENTS are "TRUE and righteous." In Phil.4:8, Paul enjoins us to think only on things that are true. There are many untrue things in this world. We can't afford to be deceived by appearances. It is only in God that we find ultimate realities and eternal verities. The world is full of things that fade away. God deals on things that last, not on things that pass away.

In Eph.4:24, we find that there is TRUE HOLINESS, which means that false holiness also exists. In 1Pet.5:12, Peter says, "This is the TRUE GRACE of God wherein ye stand." Only God's grace is true. It may look like grace, but if it is not from God, it is not grace. Any grace that ends in disgrace is not grace. God's grace ends in glory. God has no fake grace. In Lk.16:11, there are TRUE RICHES. What that means is that not all riches are true. There are deceitful riches and counterfeit miracles.

I pray for you to have a fresh encounter with the true God, for you to hear with Spirit-circumcised ears the true words of God, and for you to deeply appreciate and fully embrace God's true ways, true judgments, true grace, true holiness, and true riches of Christ. Amen.

We continue tomorrow with the five 'faithful sayings' of Paul.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter