Straight Forward Truth
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church. Cape Town, February 2024

Gal 2:11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
Gal 2:12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?
Justified by Faith
Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Gal 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Continuing our series of the Gospel from the letter to the Galatians, we see some clear elements of the straightforward truth of the Gospel.
Once again, we realize the simplicity in Christ and how He desires all nations to be saved and worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

1. Stand up for the simple truth about Jesus. Don’t fear man. Don’t play the hypocrite to save face.
Jas 2:4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
When you realize that Truth is a person, our Lord Jesus Christ, then you know the truth experientially through a relationship with the living Christ.
You also realize that the truth is very sharp, and needs to be sheathed in love:
Eph 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Eph 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

2. Become straightforward about the truth of Jesus’ heart of love and mercy.
Jus as Jesus said the kingdom belongs to the little children, so we should guard the truth against high-minded philosophies that creep in to corrupt the simplicity in Christ.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The truth is that Jesus preached mercy and forgiveness.
Jesus on the merciful: Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Jas 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Jesus and Sinners: Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Mat 9:12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Mat 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Jesus and the Sabbath: Mat 12:7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus delivers and heals the oppressed by having mercy on htem and setting them free:
Mat_15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

3. Become justified by faith and let your works confirm it.
The balance of being justified by faith is found in James:
Jas 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Jas 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Jas 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jas 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Jas 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Jas 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God.
Jas 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Truth Addendum: G225 alētheia Thayer Definition:
1) objectively
1a) what is true in any matter under consideration
1a1) truly, in truth, according to truth
1a2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
1b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
1b1) in the greatest latitude
1b2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
1c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among

Christians
2) subjectively
2a) truth as a personal excellence
2a1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G227, Citing in TDNT: 1:232, 37

Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth:
Joh_4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Experiencing the Truth as a Person in Jesus Christ sets you free:
Joh_8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

We have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth:
Joh_15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Joh_16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

The Word of God is His Truth:
Joh_17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

The problem in the world today:
Rom_1:25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Rom_2:2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

Love rejoices in the truth:
1Co_13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

People shouldn’t use God’s word deceitfully to justify their lies:
2Co_4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Remove the hindrances to the truth when you run the race of faith:
Gal_5:7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

The Holy Spirit will seal the truth in your heart and mind so nothing can shake it!
Eph_1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,