Does TRUTH Matter?

"The law of God is the truth; and Jesus says, "For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."

There is a vast difference between truth and error; though through the influence of sectarianism many have come to the conclusion that the difference is quite unimportant. 

It makes no difference, say they, what a man believes, if he is only sincere. 

*But it seems quite evident if we take the Scriptures for our guide in

the matter, that men may be left really and sincerely "to believe a lie," and that, as a consequence, they may be damned "who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 

All admit that we must worship God in spirit, in order to our acceptance; but it is no less required of us that we should worship Him in truth.

1 Pet. i, 22. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." It may be objected that this text has reference to obedience to the gospel, by which their souls were purified. 

Admit it. But what is the first requirement of the gospel upon those who are convinced of its truth and are "pricked in their hearts?" 

Repentance. 

Q: Repentance of what? 

A: Of sin. 

Q: What is sin? 

A: Transgression of the law. 

Then it is impossible for a person to obey the gospel without turning from the transgression to the obedience of the law of God.

Repentance has reference solely to the violated law. 

Hence Paul ever preached the perpetuity of the law of God; for he testified both to Jews and Greeks, "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Truth purifies and sanctifies the soul. "Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth." 

Q: Will obedience to error produce the same effect? 

---If it will, it makes but little difference which we hold; 

---but if it will not, it is of vast importance that we have the truth." 

R.F.C.