Core Essentials of the Truth

There's a phrase that I've heard all my life. A phrase that I grew up with. A phrase that encapsulates a comprehensive amount of material. A phrase that captures vital spiritual information. That phrase, quote, the truth. I still use that phrase. It doesn't go out of style. It hasn't lost its reality. It's a way of expressing. It's a way of labeling. It's a way of capturing and summing up the spiritual things of God. And when you say the truth, the term is totally 100% comprehensive. You know, God is truth. There's not one shadow of turning in, one touch of darkness. And His Word, what we have a copy of here, His Word is truth. And I won't turn to John 17-17. We know it so well, don't we? Set them apart through Your truth. Your Word is truth. Now, the Bible is called the Word of God. And we speak of it as the written Word of God. Jesus Christ is also called the Word of God. He's the living Word of God. And the written Word, the Bible, and the living Word, Jesus Christ, they agree. So, what I want to do today is deal with that phrase, the truth, in terms of its core elements.

If somebody says that they're part of the truth, if somebody says they have the truth, what are the core elements that have to be involved for that to be a true statement on their part?

Now, in an hour's time frame, there is no way to cover every single aspect. That's impossible, just like it'd be impossible for us in one hour to study the whole Bible. It's not possible.

But there are fundamentals. There are foundational core elements of it. And these fundamental foundational core elements do cover the truth in a comprehensive way. The way I would title the sermon is, and I'll give you two words, core elements of the truth, but when you understand the necessity of these elements to be present in order for it to really be the truth, it'd probably be better to change that word elements to essentials. Core essentials of the truth. Core essentials of the truth. And with a little bit of defining, we'll get to that word essential and see why I would change it to that.

When you use the word core, when somebody says, oh, let's get to the core of it, or what's in that person's core, or that person has no core. When you use the word core, you're using a word that conveys or connotes very deep significance, something that is deep and significant, something that goes to the center of things at the heart of an issue or matter, something that goes right to the heart of a matter. Now, Webster's dictionary, short form, the word core, simply says, the innermost or essential part. The innermost or essential part. And, of course, we all know what essential means, don't we? Again, I'll use Webster's. Webster's essential is absolutely necessary. That's number one. They give two brief meanings of the word essential. Number one, absolutely necessary. Indispensable. Indispensable. Number two, under essential, relating to inmost nature, basic, fundamental. So, if you take Webster's definition there of essential being absolutely necessary, essential, indispensable, if you take that and put them together, essential, indispensable, then what are the core elements of the truth that are essential and they're indispensable?

And if you delete them from the picture, you cut into the reality of the truth and you can change it from being the truth to something that's not the truth or that's corrupted. So, what are the core elements, what are the core essentials of the truth?

We live in a world, of course, in America we're known as a Christian nation, in spite of what our president said at one point. You know, we're known as a Christian nation.

And we profess to have the truth. If you're going to deal with core essentials of the truth that are indispensable, that are essential, that you must have for it to truly be accurately the truth, what indispensable, essential would you start with? And if you start with top priority, number one, the most important issue that there is or can be in our lives has to do with even how we came into being. God. God. Who and what God is. Beyond today's TV program for August 31st through September 6th, this past week, presented by Gary Petty, the subject was, Meet God. It's the great mystery of life. Who is God? Now, that might not seem to be that crucial right up front, because if you believe in God and know there's a God, isn't that enough? No.

Not unless you're not interested in really having the truth. Is it true that God exists? Yes. Is it true that He created us? Yes. Is it true that He's always existed and always will? Yes. You can find bits and pieces of truth sprinkled all over. You can find some pretty good-sized truths. But I'm talking about when you say, I'm involved with the truth. And you're using that as a phrase that captures sufficiently that it can be referred to as the truth. I have the truth. Is that a valid claim or not? So, number one, God. Who and what God is? Then in dealing with that, you have to get into and deal with the nature of God.

And that's not something that is accurately understood, basically, by all of Christianity. God is not a trinity. Period. God is not a trinity. The second week of August, Steve Myers presented the telecast. It was titled, Is God a Trinity? And, of course, offered as part of the material that was offered, our booklet, Is God a Trinity? And Steve Myers said, under that subject, Is God a Trinity? Although this is a core, and use that word, core, although this is a core, mainstream Christian belief, discover why it's a false concept that hinders your relationship with God.

God is not a trinity. The Holy Spirit is not a person. You can do your own survey if you want to. You can go in and out of congregations all across the country on Sunday morning.

And you will be taught, when they speak of God, when they speak of the Holy Spirit, they will speak of the trinity of three personages, three beings in one, one who is three. Even the math doesn't add up. But the Holy Spirit will be spoken of as a person. And, in fact, and I have mentioned this before, those who are cult watchers, who are identifiers of Christ, will say, here's the number one identifying mark. They've got a list. You can go do a study if you want to. They've got a list of how you identify a cult. And the number one thing on their list as identifiers, do they believe in the trinity or not? I do not believe in the trinity. That makes me a cultist in their eyes.

Now, they will say, if they do believe in the trinity, you've got to go on down the list and see if there are other things that would make them a cult. But if they don't believe in the trinity, you don't have to go any further. They're a cult.

So, I would ask you, do they have the truth when they don't even understand the nature of God? Because you can go to your Bible. We do it in the booklet. It's in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is not a person. The Holy Spirit is the power. It's the energy, and it's the essence of God the Father and Jesus Christ by which they work.

It is their outflow. It is their power. It is their energy. It is their essence by and through which they do and create.

It is not an intelligence of itself. It conveys their intelligence. It conveys their decisions. It is how they transfer themselves into creation and all.

God is the Creator. God is building a family. God is a family. God has a family. When you start talking about God, you're dealing with Jesus Christ, obviously, too, right? Because He also is God. Jesus Christ is God. He's not a created being. He's not an angel. He had eternal, eternal pre-existence with the Father.

Not just pre-existence before His human birth, but eternal pre-existence with the Father.

And He is the only way to salvation, period. Whether it's this age, the world to come, or the general resurrection, He is the only way to salvation.

And there are scriptures we could reference. We'll turn to some scriptures in a few minutes.

Also, they inhabit eternity. You know, you and I currently, right now at this moment, are living for a moment, for a few hours, right here in this room.

We live in our homes. We sleep in our homes. You will spend probably the night in your home. We live in time. We live with the rising and the setting of the sun, so to speak, or the setting and the rising of the sun. We live in time.

We mark things by time, which is a created thing.

I'm not going to turn to Isaiah 57, verse 15, but Isaiah 57, verse 15 says that they inhabit eternity.

They live in eternity, and without beginning or end, for that matter.

And what is so important and crucial, also, for you and me, is that God, the Father and the Son, they are rewarders of those who believe they exist, and that believe that they reward those who diligently seek them. That's Hebrews 11.6 in the faith chapter, Hebrews 11 and verse 6.

Now, if I were giving this in almost any Christian group that exists in Paducah, Cape, Evansville, Memphis, I probably wouldn't have gotten this far.

Because as soon as you say God is not a trinity, you're out of here. People either shut their minds down, they don't listen, they don't look, they get mad, because that is so hard and core to them.

But it's not accurate as to the truth.

Number two, if you deal with God, as the first essential, and understanding accurately those basics about God, then secondly, what do you think...

And in that first one, you've dealt with God as both the Father and the Son and their Spirit.

Secondly, what would you need to look at?

Number two, man. And when I say man, I mean men and women, or that is human beings. The human being, mankind.

And what do I mean by man would be the next essential that you would... essential in the sense that you would have to have an accurate understanding of the human being, or mankind, man, man and woman.

Who and what man is.

If you've got the truth, and you don't understand certain basic things about the human being that God created, how can you say, I have the truth, or I'm involved with the truth?

Now, exploring that a little bit further, what do I mean by that? As far as who and what man is. First of all, man is a mortal being. He is mortal. He is made of matter, temporary material.

Man has no inherent eternity or immortality. He's not born with it. He doesn't have it. He has no inherent eternity or immortality.

But if you go again and listen to what is propounded, you will hear over and over about the immortality of man, his soul, that he can't really die, his shell dies, but not the real him or the real her.

That's not part of the truth. That's part of the corruption that has been fostered into the truth and corrupted it. Man has no inherent eternity. That's provable. You can prove that from the Bible.

We've done that times past with sermons or Bible studies.

What is the purpose for man or mankind? What's the basic reason for his existence, for his creation? Why did God make him? I saw a writer on the Internet the other day who said the purpose for our creation was to worship God.

No, that's not the purpose. That's not why God created us. God's not sitting in heaven and saying, Oh, I just gotta be worshipped. I gotta be worshipped. The angels are worshipping. I need more people to worship me. I'll create more beings just so I can have worship. That's not why God created us. Do we worship God? Yes. Should we worship God? Yes. Is God happy with our worshipping of him? Yes.

This is part of our worship of God today, to be here today. Does this please God that we're here? Yes. Worship is a part of it.

But to say the reason we're created is just to worship God. No. God created us for a supreme purpose.

And within the fulfilling of that purpose, there is worship of God. And for those who fulfill that purpose, they will always be in a worshipful state of mind, attitude, and operation with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Why did God make him? In Genesis 1.26, is the most basic, simple, and profound, far-reaching answer to that. And people read it and read right over it. They don't grasp what God is saying. Right here at the beginning, where God said, Let us, let us, me the Father and you the Word who became Jesus Christ, plural, L-O-A-M, two of them, let us, and it's correctly translated in the King James, let us make man human beings. In our image, which has to do with their character, and no baby is born with the character of God. A baby is not born evil, it's not born with the character of God. It's neutral. Adam was created, he wasn't filled with the character of God, which is what image has to deal with. After our likeness, they're made for a supreme purpose that will have to be carried out over time.

And other scriptures explore and expound upon, they define what God is talking about here when he says, Let us make man in our image after our likeness.

So let's define it briefly. Galatians 4, 19. Galatians 4, in verse 19, Paul said, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until... Here's what he was doing, what he could to help in the process, to help in whatever way he could to influence this, till what?

Christ be formed in you. That has to do with image. That has to do with the image part back there. That has to do with character. Until Christ be formed in you. That takes time. No baby's born with it. No human being naturally has it.

Ephesians 4, 15 follows that same suit when he wrote this to the Ephesians, and he said in Ephesians 4, verse 15, But speaking the truth in love, may grow up. Somebody at the home office in recent times gave a sermon. Are you going to grow up?

May grow up. Mature. Progress. Increase. Into him in all things. Which is the head, even Christ. And then if you look at Hebrews 1, verse 3, Bear in mind as we read Hebrews 1, verse 3, bear in mind, till Christ be formed in you. Grow up into him in all things.

And when we read here of Jesus Christ, in verse 3, speaking of Jesus, chapter 1, verse 3 of Hebrews, who being the brightness of his glory, of the Father's glory, and the express image, and I gave a sermon where I detailed this out, the express image of his person, the express image of the Father's person, and express there to mean exact, an image literally is translated from the Greek word character. Spelled almost exactly the way we spell it in English.

So, it is saying the exact character of the Father. So, if Christ is formed in us, if we grow up into him in all things, to the degree that that occurs, we become like the Father. And the purpose for that is so that the human being who does that with God and through the working of God's Spirit can be in the family of God, which is the kingdom of God. Romans 8, 29. Go through just a few quick ones here. Romans 8, 29. I often will use some of these scriptures I'll read right now as part of a funeral sermon.

When I'm speaking of someone who has died in their destiny and what their hope was and what they were looking forward to and what they're now waiting in the grave to become a part of at the resurrection. Romans 8, 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, conformed to that image or character. Why? That he, that individual, that person, be it man or woman, that he, Christ, would be the firstborn among many brethren, which includes brothers and sisters. But think about that. That Christ might be the firstborn sibling among, in the midst of many brothers and sisters.

The eternally pre-existent word, second member of the God family, Jesus Christ. We know it was Jesus who came to this earth. Through what he went through, there's a process going on by which you and I have an opportunity to become his younger brother, younger sister. Hebrews 2, 10. Thirty-something years after the Church began, evidently, I believe the Apostle Paul wrote it, but the writer says this in Hebrews 2, verse 10. For it became him, Christ, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory.

Many sons to glory. And that was in the, that was thirty-something years after the Church began, probably in the early sixties. You can go another thirty years further on down the road in that century to probably the nineties to 1 John 3, 2. And the last of the original apostles still living, writes in 1 John 3, and verse 2. As an aged apostle, beloved, now are we the sons of God, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that.

When he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Now are we the sons of God, we're the begotten children. And I always like to go to 2 Corinthians 6, 18 for one specific reason.

So much of the Bible is written with male terminology, which is okay. It doesn't exclude the women, but I can understand how women sometimes can feel a little left out, although they should not. But I love 2 Corinthians 6, 18 because it uses both genders in the way it's worded. Where God the Father has Paul quote him in 2 Corinthians 6, 18, and will be a father unto you.

And you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. And then along this particular line, one final scripture, Ephesians 3, verses 14 and 15. Ephesians 3, verses 14 and 15. Just bring out one thing along this line. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father. Paul said, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

And of course, the part of the family, because God is the Father of spirits, the holy angels in heaven, and then those on earth that God is working. So if you're going to lay claim to knowing the truth, and you don't understand what man's basic material condition is, and why it was created, and what his destiny is, how can you say you truly have the truth?

You can say you have, oh, I have some truth. I mean, I will acknowledge again. There are many people that have elements of truth, that have some of the truth. And when I say the truth, I'm not talking, I'm not saying that we understand every single T or I, that every T has been crossed here, every I is dotted. I'm not making that claim. I'm talking about if you do lay claim to having the truth, there are certain core essentials that have to be there.

Okay, number three. We talked about God, we talked about man. So what would number three be a core essential? Eternal life. That is a core essential. It's not a light matter, is it? And doesn't that go to the heart of things too? Eternal life. First and foremost, eternal life is a gift. It is a gift. Now, if somebody comes to me and says, Mr. Beame, I have a gift for you. I say, I got it right here in my hands. They say, no, you don't. I have a gift for you. If they have a gift for me, they haven't given it to me yet.

I have a gift for you. Oh, well, thank you. When are you going to give it to me? Well, I'll bring it tomorrow. Or whatever. By the very definition of what a gift is, it is something you don't already have. If you already have it, it's not a gift. Mr. Beame, I'm going to give you that which you already possess. That item over there that has your name on it that's yours that's on your desk, I'm going to give it to you.

Well, how can you give it to me when I already have it? It doesn't make a lick of sense, does it? Eternal life is a gift. It is not something that we already have or possess. It can only come from. It can only be given by God through and only through Jesus Christ. Now, let's turn to Acts 4, verse 12.

This statement is getting some people's heads cut off right now in certain parts of this world. And it's either true or it's not. You and I know it's true, but there are those who don't believe it's true. And this is a truth that at least a good part of the world understands as far as where salvation comes from. But Acts 4, verse 12, Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, period. But let's add to that Romans 6, verse 23. I have often referenced that billboard, that black and white billboard sign on Interstate 65 south of Nashville, Tennessee, where it says, where will you spend eternity, heaven or hell? And my comeback, as I talked to the sign, as I went by, you can't spend what you don't have. You can't spend what you don't have. You don't have eternity. You can be given eternity, but you don't have it.

You have to be given it to have it. Romans 6, verse 23, For the wages of sin is death. We're very familiar with that. What's that tell us? I have sinned. You have sinned. We have sinned. And if we're not somehow delivered from our sins, we have only death to look forward to, because we're mortal. And you and I, we relied on Acts 4, 12, because it goes on to say and notice, and I would dare say, and I don't think it's stretching it, that the Apostle Paul was far more brilliant than any one of us in this room.

He said, but the gift of God, and again, gift of God, is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A third scripture, 1 John 2, 25, again going to the Age of Apostles writings there towards the end of the century, 1 John 2, 25, and this is the promise. Somebody says, I promise you I will do such and such. I promise you I will. That is not historical.

That is futuristic. It could be, well, I promise I will come by tomorrow, or I promise next week I promise. Promise is projecting something you will do out there in the future. This is the promise that He has promised us, even eternal life. And if you want to read sometime the faith chapter of Hebrews 11 and get to the end of it, it plainly says they have not received the promise. And 30-something years later, when John wrote this, and he had read Hebrews, he knew what Hebrews said, and he knew what it said about the faith chapter, because the book of Hebrews was available.

They had not received the promise. He has promised us even eternal life. But then you have to go on to another essential, number four, because it ties in also with what man is. It ties in with this issue that we don't have eternal life, and that is eternal death. And that is a core issue of the truth, eternal death, because it's obvious, isn't it? If man is mortal, and he's not inherently eternal, there is no eternal, never-ending burning, and some eternal ever-burning hellfire.

Makes sense, doesn't it? There is a hellfire. There will be a hellfire ignited. There is a gohenna fire that will be ignited someday. But there is no eternal, never-ending burning of the individual, and some eternal ever-burning hellfire. That which is mortal and temporary burns up. Two scriptures. Again, we're not turning to every support scripture there is. Time doesn't permit. And it's not necessary to turn to everyone, because it's not a sermon on each specific one of these essentials. But it's showing certain crucial essentials that are needed if you're going to claim this truth. Psalm 37, verse 20.

David wrote, in Psalm 37, verse 20, Here is the ultimate end of the wicked. When it's all said and done, those who don't repent, who don't change, who are or become, as we would say, incorrigible, what the ultimate outcome will be, but the wicked shall perish. It doesn't say they will live forever in an ever-burning hellfire. It says, the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord, because in that kind of state of incorrigibility with them, they are enemies of God. And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs.

And those sacrifices, the fat of lambs, you know, fat will burn faster than regular tissue anyway. But it says, they shall consume, and to smoke shall they consume away. Malachi 4, 3. Malachi 4, verse 3. He says, And you shall tread down the wicked. Notice what he says. We read with David's inspired words about they will consume away into smoke.

It says, You shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet. And the day that I shall do this says the Lord of hosts. That which is mortal and temporary burns away into smoke and ashes.

The doctrine of an ever-burning hellfire makes God the biggest torture that has ever existed. That's not the God I serve. And that's not a just and accurate portrayal of God. There is a gahanna fire. And in the ultimate, the wicked will burn up. But that's just it. They will burn up into smoke and ashes and be no more. Number five, an essential. Resurrection. This is one that's probably understood more so by more people. And it definitely is an essential that it's through resurrection that we enter eternal life. But it's always a wonderment of if you're already eternal and the real you goes to be with God, why does there even have to be a resurrection? But anyway, I won't get off on that. It's through resurrection that we enter into eternal life. It is through resurrection that we enter into the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15, verses 50 and 52. 1 Corinthians 15, verses 50 and 52. And verse 50, it says, Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. While we're flesh and blood, we can be shooting for the kingdom of God. We can be given a taste of it. We don't actually become a part of it. Neither does correct. We're part of it in a certain sense, yes, in a begotten way, yes. But we can't inherit it. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither does corruption inherit incorruption. He says, verse 52, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. We're made spirit at that point. We're resurrected as a spirit being. And it's through resurrection that we enter the family of God, and we become the children of God. We become the sons and daughters of the Father, bona fide, full-fledged. At that point, we're begotten now, but we become full-fledged. Sons and daughters of the Father, younger brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ at that point. We are there, composed of the same spirit they are at that point. And we become full co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Don't you think about something? Some of you have dealt with wills. Some of you have gotten inheritances, maybe. So-and-so dies, and they mention in their will their three children, or their three grandkids, or whatever, are all equal co-heirs. And the inheritance is divided, let's say, equally among them. If you notice Romans 8 and verse 17, it's interesting. I could pick it up in verse 16. Romans 8 verses 16 and 17, the Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Notice what Paul says. And I said, we are begotten children of God already. We carry God's Spirit, His Holy Spirit. And if children notice, then heirs, heirs of God, to inherit God, to inherit those things of God. And if there's any question about that, notice the rest of it. And joint, or co-heirs with Christ.

Co-heirs. In Revelation 5, when Christ returns, we're in training to sit with Him in His rulership when He comes. We become kings and priests to our God. And I want you to notice something, and maybe you've focused on this before, and maybe you haven't. In Revelation 5, 10, when it says, and has made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth, we're destined to be kings and priests with Christ when He is sent back. And just like Lord, the word Lord, can mean the Father. Just like it says in Revelation 11, 15, that now the kingdoms become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. So Lord can refer to the Father, and the word God here can refer to Jesus Christ also. If you want proof of that, look at chapter 1, verse 6. Chapter 1, and verse 6. Because you tell me who God is referring to here in verse 6 of chapter 1 if it's not referring to Jesus Christ. And has made us, Revelation 1, 6, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father. So the word God there has to be referring to Jesus Christ, because it mentions Him, and we know Christ is God also. So again, it's just more additional proof that we're going to rule with Jesus Christ. I'll just reference Revelation 20 in verse 14. Well, maybe I shouldn't just reference it. Maybe I should read it. Revelation 20 in verse 14. Because, verse 4, pardon me, Revelation 20 in verse 4.

Okay, another essential. Number 6. The plan of salvation. Crucial to understand that God has a plan of salvation as laid out by and in the meaning of the Holy Days. And we won't take the time, we don't have the time to go through those meanings. But the plan of salvation is laid out in quite a bit of detail. In steps and stages and timings in those Holy Days. And through those Holy Days and the meaning of them, we understand about this being the day and age of the first fruits. And that there's the millennial time. And then there's the time of the eighth day or the last great day of the general resurrection. But that's essential. If you're going to claim you have the truth, it's essential that you understand God's plan of salvation as laid out by the Holy Days. Number seven, the way of life. The way of life. God lives a righteous way of life. And that way of life is defined by His law. And paramount in His law are the Ten Commandments. When you read Matthew 5, 6, and 7, the Sermon on the Mount, He lays out core principles, elements, essentials of true Christianity. And heart and core to those things in Matthew 5, 6, and 7 are the tremendous depths of His commandments. I have yet to have somebody show me how it is bad for me, how it is good for me to take God's name in vain, how it is good for me to murder somebody, how it is against me for my neighbors to know not to come over and murder me, how it is good for me for people to lie to me. In other words, nobody can show me what's wrong with the Ten Commandments. See, they express God's way of living. God is faithful. God is true. You can count on Him. You know, there are some things that Satan can do that God can't do. Satan can lie. He can cheat, steal, lie. God can. Think about that. I'd rather be in God's shoes than Satan's, but you think about it. And Satan is the one who says, that way of life, you don't want it. Oh, if you want to keep some of it, fine, but let's mix all this and that in. Ten Commandments have not been done away with. They are in force. They express the way of life. Number eight. Now, you might wonder in one sense why this one's in there. If you're talking about the truth, I'll explain. Faithfulness. Faithfulness. Being faithful to our calling. If you're not faithful, you're going to lose the truth. It doesn't matter if you have the truth. If you're not faithful, it's going to fade on you.

It's going to fade away. You're going to lose it. Being faithful to our calling in this age and not letting it fade away on us requires measures of, and if you want to do like ABC numbering, it requires measures of self-denial and sacrifice. And those who are not willing to do self-denial and sacrifice are going to fade away from the truth. So that's why I say it's an essential of the truth. It's an essential for staying in the truth. B. Measures of... It's going to require measures of commitment, dedication, and loyalty. C. It's going to require measures of learning and growth and overcoming. When a man says, I've got enough truth, I don't want any more, the learning, the growth, the overcoming start shutting down. And I've noticed some individuals who have made that statement, I've got enough truth, I don't need any more, I don't want any more. And D. And these are just an idea under that issue of faithfulness. Standing fast in the face of persecution. Standing fast in the face of persecution. Those that are spiritually successful in this age are defined in Revelation 17-14. I'll just reference the Scripture. In Revelation 17-14, those who are spiritually successful in this age and resurrected are defined as, with three words, called, chosen, and faithful.

This age is the time of the straight and narrow for God's people. It's the time of persecution and much tribulation. You go through Scripture after Scripture. It is not the easy way. It'll be far easier in the millennium. It'll be tremendously easier in the eighth day. But it's not easy. This is the hardest age of salvation of all. The time of the first fruits is the most difficult time. It's not an easy way. Number nine. And this is something that's essential. Because when this is not understood, it can turn a well-known evangelist—I won't name him. Not that it would hurt to name him. It can turn a well-known evangelist many years ago to an atheistic viewpoint because he doesn't understand what's going on.

Well, I can name him. It's not wrong to name him. No problem with it. Charles Templeton, who was a good buddy of Billy Graham, they traveled and preached together. And Charles Templeton was a very upcoming evangelist.

But as they toured the world and saw the sufferings and all the evils, especially after World War II, he lost faith in God. He couldn't understand why an all-powerful, all-loving God could allow such a world with so much misery and pain and suffering and death in it.

It turned him into—put him in an atheistic mindset.

So, nine is essential. And I title that essential the Age of Learning. The Age of Learning. This age is man's time of blood, sweat, and tears. It's his time of blood, sweat, and tears. It's his time of self-induced troubles, as stimulated and magnified by Satan. It's the time for writing into history, for all time, that the way of sin does not work and cannot be made to work.

Eternal lessons of such reality are being proven and recorded in the annals of human history. It's part of the learning process that will help to serve as a safeguard for all time, all eternity.

In a certain way, as a gentleman said one time, this world ain't nothing but a turning ground.

And I will just reference these scriptures for sake of time, but you might want to just put down these three. Proverbs 14, 12. Proverbs 14, 12. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

And the ultimate of walking that way is Matthew 24, verses 21 and 22.

Then shall there be a time of trouble so great that those days aren't cut short, no life would be saved.

Extinction. And Jeremiah notated in Jeremiah 10.23 that it's not a man who walks or directs his own steps.

But how do you convince humans of that? You convince them by just letting them go their own way, letting the world go its own way, intervening where you need to, where you choose to.

God is God. He reserves the right to intervene where he chooses. Yes. But as a whole, you allow the world to do its own thing, go its own way.

And man's learning will eventually entail him bringing himself to the time of the greatest blood, sweat, and tears that this world will ever see.

And when that happens, it necessitates number 10, the final one that I've got listed. Number 10. And you've got it. You know it.

The return of Jesus Christ and the setting up of the Kingdom of God on this earth.

The return of Jesus Christ and the setting up of the Kingdom of God on this earth.

There in Matthew 24, where it talks about those days becoming so bad in verses 21 and 22, there should be great tribulation and no life would be saved. If they're not cut short, verse 30 tells you how they're cut short. It's the return of Christ in power and glory.

It's at that time that what's mentioned in Revelation 11.15 occurs.

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. I will turn to a couple of scriptures. Actually, two are in Zechariah and one's in Micah.

Zechariah 8.

And again, I love this quote. The direct quote of Jesus Christ, a prophetic quote.

Verse 30 of Matthew 24 says he's come back in power and glory. Revelation 11.15 talks about the signal of these kingdoms becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ.

Christ is being sent back. And in Zechariah 8 and verse 3, thus says the Lord. And in a sense, he said, you can quote me, I am returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.

And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth and the mountain or kingdom of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain or the holy kingdom.

And when that occurs, it will be true what is mentioned. The truth of chapter 14, verse 9, will become the reality of the world.

And the Lord shall be king over all the earth. In that day shall there be one Lord in his name, one.

And then Micah 4, verses 1-5. But in the last days, Micah 4, verses 1-5, In the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established.

In the top of the mountains it shall be exalted above the hills people shall flow to it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, let's go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.

He'll teach us of his ways. We will walk in his paths. For the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge or rule among many people, and rebuke, correct, strong nations afar off.

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn more anymore.

But they shall sit every man under his vine, under his fig tree. None shall make them afraid.

For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken it. For all people will walk, everyone, in the name of his God or his ruler, those lesser kings and lesser lords, the resurrected saints, the resurrected firstfruits, the kings and the priests that will serve with Jesus.

And we, the resurrected saints, we, the kings and priests, will walk in the name of the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, and the Father, forever and ever.

These are the core elements, these are the core essentials of the truth. God, man, eternal life, eternal death, resurrection, the plan of salvation, the way of life, faithfulness, man's age of learning, the return of Jesus Christ, and the setting up of the kingdom.

And if somebody claims to truly have the truth, none of these can be missing. They've got to be part of it, to truly be the truth.

And if these are not contained in the package, then you cannot accurately refer to the truth, having the truth.

But if we truly understand these essentials and incorporate them into our thinking and doing, then we can honestly and accurately say, I have the truth.