STANDING STRONG IN THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH Truth

STANDING STRONG IN THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH “Truth is relative. There are no absolutes. Truth is what you make it. ”

VBS: Day 4

Lesson Focus Take the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. They will guard your from the enemy’s attacks.

A little Bit About the Middle Ages (400 -1400) The Kingdom Chronicles: Influential Thinkers in the Middle Ages

Thomas Aquinas • The great theologian and apologist of the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas (1225 -1274) • Aquinas was concerned with defending the truth of Christianity. (Apologetics) • He used reason and logic in order to “prove” the absolute truth of those assumptions.

Thomas Aquinas • He believes that man has the capacity for reason as a God-given gift. • An infinite God gave finite man the capacity to reason and logic as part of the image of God (imago Dei). • You don’t have to sacrifice your intellect for faith.

Thomas Aquinas • God’s Existence can be known by Reason, through nature. • God’s Being (His essence) can only be known by Special Revelation the Scripture

Thomas Aquinas God is also logically proven by NEGATION 1. God is not limited by time- He is the Creator of time. 2. God is not moveable- He is the Creator of motion. 3. God is not designed- He is the Designer. 4. God does not degrade- He is Eternal Perfection. 5. God is not contingent- He is Perfect in Essence.

Thomas Aquinas AQUINAS ON FAITH AND REASON • In Summa Theologica, Aquinas defines faith with exacting language. “Faith is to believe…with assent. ” (II, 2, 1). [1] Faith believes what can’t be proven or it wouldn’t be faith. [2] However, faith is not irrational. It must be made on credible grounds and evidence. • In Aquinas’ thought, faith and reason are two layers of Truth that cannot contradict one another. • Philosophy is not the enemy, but a servant of theology

King Solomon

1 Kings 2: 4 “If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul. . . you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel. ”

1 Kings 4: 30 -34 -Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all men -His fame was known in all the surrounding nations -He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand five

But. . . Solomon allowed his affections and attachments to the women in his life to blur the line between right and wrong.

1 Kings 11: 1 -3 -King Solomon loved many foreign women -They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods. "

What Happened? He let his guard down. He allowed influences in his life to skew his view of life.

Ultimately what we believe as truth will affect our behavior. We will make decisions based on what we regard as truth.

"It would have been useless to argue with Solomon for the claims of idols. He could at once, by his wisdom, have annihilated all infidel arguments, and have established the existence and unity of God. But, step by step, he was led by silken cords, a captive, to the worship of other gods. " (FB Meyer)

1 Kings 11: 9 “The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ”

Thinking in terms of Absolutes Think Truth: The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6: 10 -11; 16 “ 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. . . 16 above all, taking the shield of faith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Medieval knights always carried shields into battle. They were so big it covered their entire bodies.

The shield protected them from flaming arrows. Without his shield the knight would be vulnerable in battle.

The Shield of Faith is represented as a shield, protecting us from the fiery darts of the wicked one, those persistent efforts of demonic foes to weaken us through fear and unbelief.

The Idea behind the shield is that must we continually be aware of the lies that the devil tries to shoot our way. -The people we hang out with -The things we read in a book -What we hear from friends -What we learn from our teachers

The shield of faith helps us deflect The D-Darts of: Doubt Discouragement Deception Division Destruction

1 Corinthians 15: 33 “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits. “”

Proverbs 22: 24 -25 “ 24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, 25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. ”

Discern and Recognize Does it Agree with the Truth of Scripture? Everything has to be evaluated to the standard of the truth of God’s Word.

Ultimately what we believe as truth will affect our behavior. We will make decisions based on what we regard as truth.

Psalm 91: 4 “He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. ”

Thinking in terms of Absolutes Think Truth: The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6: 10 -11; 17 “ 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. . . 17 And take the helmet of salvation. . .

The medieval knight always put on their helmet, to protect the ‘operating system’ of the body.

The helmet of salvation protects us against thinking worldly. Proverbs 23: 7 says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. ”

Ultimately what we believe as truth will affect our behavior. We will make decisions based on what we regard as truth.

The Idea behind the helmet is that we can guard what we put into our minds. -The things we watch on TV -The things we read in a book -What we hear from friends -What we learn from our teachers Everything has to be evaluated to the standard of the truth of God’s Word.

Philippians 4: 8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. ”

1 Corinthians 2: 16 “But we have the mind of Christ. ”

Proverbs 3: 3 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart”