EMBRACED BY TRUTH
Reflections on Theology
from the perspective of Truth
Affirming that Truth is not discovered and then embraced,
but rather
Affirming that Truth embraces the individual,
who then acknowledges the Transformation
The work of Theology
is an ongoing attempt
to comprehend, organize, and proclaim the Truth,
and thereby,
to be obedient to the commission given by the Lord
to the Church
Embraced by Truth is devoted to the "Truth."
This website is an ongoing attempt to comprehend the Truth,
to organize the Truth, and to set forth the Truth so that those who are
prompted to visit this site may consider that which is of
incomparable significance. This endeavor constitutes the work of
theology.
Embraced by Truth deals with
"Life."
The focus is the life of the believer, the one who has been embraced by the
Truth and who is seeking to live the Truth he has come to know. Life is
the struggle to embody the theology that one professes.
Embraced by Truth is
characterized by "Reflections."
There is no assertion of
infallibility in the content, though there is every intent to be
orthodox and not innovative in the presentation. Every human composition
is flawed and must be constantly critiqued and continually brought into
conformity to the Truth. No human writing is ever normative.
TRUTH
David affirms that he has been redeemed by the One he addresses as "YHWH God of truth" (Ps. 31:5). Isaiah simply speaks of "the God of truth" (Isa. 65:16), while Moses states that God is the One "abounding in truth" (Ex. 34:6) and refers to Him as "a God of truth" (Deut. 32:3-4). Thus, God and Truth are equated.
Jesus asserts: "Your word is truth" (Jo. 17:17), true because it is revealed by Him who is true. The One “abounding in truth” (Ex. 34;6) cannot communicate error. Earlier the Old Testament writer had declared: "The entirety of Your word is truth" (Ps. 119:160); additionally, it is "a truth that endures forever" (Ps. 119:30). Thus, God's Word and Truth are equated, meaning the Word is reliable and normative.
The psalmist pleads "Oh, send out . . . Your truth" (43:3) and also beseeches God to "lead me in Your truth and teach me" (25:5). Truth is a necessity for discernment and proper living, and the Truth of God can be known by man and can set the recipient of it free (Jo. 8:32). Without Truth, man dwells in intellectual darkness and has no definitive guide. The psalmist commits himself: “Teach me Your way, YHWH; I will walk in Your truth (Ps. 86:11).
God is the God of Truth,
and His Word is Truth.
and His Word is Truth.
EMBRACED
To be embraced by Truth is to be the object of Divine favor; it is to be blessed by the invasion of Truth into the mind. One is transferred from darkness into Light, from ignorance to understanding, from death to life, from self to God. Embraced speaks of God's initiative; regeneration takes place, and conversion is experienced. Because of grace man is embraced by the God of Truth and His Word of Truth.
To be embraced is to be chosen by God from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and "belief in the truth" (II Thess. 2:13). Paul speaks of "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5), and to the Ephesians he affirms that they heard "the word of truth" (Eph. 1:13), the gospel of their salvation.
Belief in the Truth and practice of the Truth are the inevitable responses to being embraced by the Truth. After being taught the Truth by YHWH, the psalmist affirms: "I will walk in Your truth" (Ps. 86:11), and "I have chosen the way of truth" (Ps. 119:30).
Truth transforms
and requires emulation.
and requires emulation.
FIRST TIME VISITORS SHOULD BEGIN WITH: Foundations
For Scriptures related to Truth, see: Scriptures-Truth
For overview of THEOLOGY, see: Site Map - Theology and An Overview
For overview of LIFE, see: Site Map - Life
For overview of EXEGESIS, see: Site Map - Exegesis
For Books, see: Bibliography