BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT

Prov. 23:23; Matt. 13:45,46; Jno. 8:32.

INTRO:

1. We are living in a world of buying and selling.

2. Either directly or indirectly we are depending upon it for our livlihood. Jas. 4:13.

3. In our text the commercial terms "buy" and "sell" are used to teach us an important lesson as to the value and importance of accepting the truth.

4. Let us look into this subject of truth a little deeper by noticing some scriptures with regard to the truth. Jno. 18:37,38.

A. We should:

Worship God in truth: -- Jno. 4:24; Psa. 145:18.
Serve God in truth:-- Jos. 24:14; 1 Sam. 12:24.
Walk before God in truth: -- 1 Kgs. 2:4; 2 Kgs. 20:3.
Esteem the truth as without selling price: -- Prov. 23:23.
Love the truth: --Zech. 8: 9.
Rejoice in the truth: -- 1 Cor. 13:6.
Speak to one another in truth: -- Zech. 8: 16; Eph. 4:25.
Execute judgment with truth: -- Zech. 8:16.
Meditate upon the truth: -- Phil. 4:;8.
Bind truth about your neck: -- Prov. 3:3.
Write truth upon the table of your heart: -- Prov. 3:3.

B. The fruit of light is in truth: -- Eph. 5:9.
Preachers should preach the truth: -- 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Cor. 12:6; Gal. 4:15.
Teaching should be done in truth: -- 1 Tim. 2:7.
Approved by truth: -- Jno. 8:32; 2 Cor. 6:7,8; 2 Tim. 2:15.
Kings are preserved by truth: -- Prov. 20:28.
A speaker of truth showeth forth righteousness: -- Prov. 12:17.
A dealer in truth is a delight unto God: -- Prov. 12:22.

C. The wicked are without truth: -- Hos. 4:1.
The wicked speak not the truth: -- Jer. 9:5.
The wicked plead not for the truth: -- Isa. 59:4.
The wicked are not valiant for the truth: -- Jer. 9:3.
The wicked uphold not the truth: -- Isa. 59:14,15.
The wicked are punished for want of the truth: -- Jer. 9:5-9; Hos. 4:1-6.

D. The gospel as it came by Christ is grace and truth: -- Jno. 1:17.
John bore witness of the truth: -- Jno. 5:33.
The truth is according to godliness: -- Titus 1:1.
The truth sanctifies: -- Jno. 17:17,19.
The truth is purifying: -- 1 Pet. 1:22.
The truth is part of a Christian's armor: -- Eph. 6:14.
The truth abides in those that love and obey it: -- 2 Jno. 1,2.
The truth must be acknowledged: -- 2 Tim. 2:24- 26.
The truth must be believed: -- 2 Thes. 2:11-13.
The truth must be obeyed: -- Rom. 2:8; Gal. 3:1 KJV.
The truth must be rightly divided: -- 2 Tim. 2:15.

E. The wicked turn away from the truth: -- 2 Tim. 4:4.
The wicked resist the truth: -- 2 Tim. 3:8.
The church is the pillar and support of the truth: -- 1 Tim. 3:15.
The devil has no truth in him: -- Jno. 8:44.

F. The truth is one of the attributes of God: -- Deut. 32:4; Isa. 65:16.
God keepeth truth forever: -- Psa. 146:6.
God is abundant in truth: -- Exo. 34:6.
God's truth is not to be violated: -- Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2.
God's truth endures through all generations: -- Psa. 100:5; 1 Pet. 1:24,25.
God's truth is manifested in His ways: -- Rev. 15:3.
God's truth is manifested in His works: -- Psa. 33:4; Dan. 4:37.
God's judicial statutes are in truth: -- Psa. 19:9.
The sum of God's word is truth:-- Psa. 119:160; Jno. 17:17,19.
Fulfillment of God's covenant is with truth: -- Mic. 7:20.
We should confide in God's truth: -- Psa. 31:5.

I. BUY THE TRUTH.

A. Truth is the commodity we are urged to buy.

B. What is truth?

1. The Word of God: -- Jno. 17:17.

2. The gospel with its facts, commands, and promises.

C. Why buy it?

1. It will save you.

2. Need it in every effort to live the Christian life.

II. BUY ONLY THE TRUTH.

A. Not everything sold is as good as it is said to be.

1. We have to be careful. Paul certified the gospel he preached: -- Gal. 1:11,12.

B. Not everything that is said to be truth is truth.

C. Examine before you buy or accept it.

1. Examine the doctrine as the Bereans did: -- Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15.

2. If the Bible teaches it then accept it.

D. Must discriminate between truth and error: --Heb. 5:14.

E. Just about everything of importance has been counterfieted, and truth is no exception.

F. Reject all error: -- Isa. 7:15,16; 1 Tim. 4:7; 2 Cor. 4:2.

III. BUY ALL THE TRUTH.

A. It is just as bad to buy what is not truth as not to buy all the truth. 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Psa. 119:160.

B. If you buy a car or a sewing machine, you want it all.

1. It will do you no good to have just part of either.

C. Some are willing to accept a part of truth but not all of it.

1. Truth concerning salvation. Will not accept truth on baptism.

2. Truth concerning worship. Leave off the Lord's Supper and add instrumental music.

D. Those that subtract from or add to the truth cannot please God. Rev. 22:18,19.

IV. BUY THE TRUTH REGARDLESS OF PRICE AND COST.

A. It is the pearl of great price. Matt. 13:45,46.

B. Be willing and ready to pay the price. 2 Sam. 24:18-25; Psa. 49:6-8; Lk. 14:25- 35.

C. There must be self denial. Lk. 9:23.

D. If it means severing family ties.

E. If it means lost business relations, popularity, etc.

F. Even if it means death.

V. BUY THE TRUTH.

A. Not merely hear about it.

B. Not sufficient to hear and know about it. Jas. 1:21-25.

C. Not sufficient ot recommend it to others. Rom. 2:21-23.

D. Not contentment by intending to buy it.

E. To be blessed must buy or accept the truth.

VI. BUY THE TRUTH NOW.

A. Jas. 4:14. What is your life? Heb. 3:18.

B. Too often men put off until too late.

1 Agrippa.
2. Felix.

VII. SELL IT NOT.

A. Purchase it as a permanent investment.

B. Do not sell it for livlihood, pleasure, or any other thing. Gen. 25:27-34; Heb. 12: 16,17.

C. You are cheated if you bargain it for the whole world. Matt. 16:26.

D. One is ruined eternally without truth.

CONCLUSION:

1. Will you accept the truth? Buy it today.

2. Sell it not.

By Jim Sasser

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