Truth Triumphant!
Miles J. Stanford's sermon 'Truth Triumphant!' emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining divine truth in the Christian faith and warns against compromising it for the sake of love or zeal for salvation.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of maintaining divine truth in Christianity, highlighting the need for zeal for the purity of God's truth to match the zeal for the salvation of sinners. He warns against accommodating falsehoods and emphasizes that true love according to God upholds the truth, especially in the last days where the test of truth is the maintenance of it. Stanford stresses that the Holy Spirit, who pours the love of God into our hearts, is the Spirit of truth, and His role is to glorify Christ.
Text
"To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice" (John 18:37).
Charismatic Arminianism's experience omits truth. Covenant Calvinism's legality chokes truth. Cross-centered Christianity's Christ-life is Truth!
"Greater zeal for the salvation of sinners, and the amelioration of the condition of mankind, never was more manifested than at present (1850). This is ground of rejoicing to all the friends of the Gospel. But there is one unhappy symptom of the present times, with respect to Christianity. Zeal for the purity of divine truth has not kept pace with zeal for the salvation of sinners." -A.C.
"The semblance of love which does not maintain the truth, but accommodates itself to that which is not the truth, is not love according to God. In the last days the test of truth is the maintenance of the truth.
"God would have us love one another; but the Holy Spirit, by whose power we receive the divine nature, and who pours the love of God into our hearts, is the Spirit of truth, and His office is to glorify Christ.
"Therefore it is impossible that a love which can put up with a doctrine that falsified Christ, or which is indifferent to anything that concerns His glory, can be of the Holy Spirit--still less so, if such indifference be set up as a proof of that love."
"In all things commending ourselves as the ministers of God. . . by the word of truth" (2 Corinthians 6:4,7).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the concept of truth in Christianity
- The significance of truth in the life of believers
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II
- The dangers of Charismatic Arminianism
- The pitfalls of Covenant Calvinism
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III
- The essence of Cross-centered Christianity
- How Christ embodies truth
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IV
- The importance of maintaining divine truth
- The relationship between love and truth
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V
- The role of the Holy Spirit in revealing truth
- The call to glorify Christ through truth
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VI
- The minister's responsibility in upholding truth
- Conclusion and call to action
Key Quotes
“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” — Miles J. Stanford
“The semblance of love which does not maintain the truth... is not love according to God.” — Miles J. Stanford
“In all things commending ourselves as the ministers of God... by the word of truth.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Seek to understand and uphold the truth in all aspects of your faith.
- Recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding you towards truth and love.
- Encourage others in your community to prioritize truth alongside their zeal for salvation.