Santa and the PB&J
What's more reasonable?

I. How do you Know What's True?

Concepts, Conclusions, Convictions. Is Truth unknown, unknowable, relative, or irrelevant?

A.  Belief, sincerity, tradition, majority opinion, and experience can be right, but are incorrect determiners of Truth. (cx true)  Material/Immaterial+/-

B. We let our experiences in the world form our understanding of Truth, instead of letting Truth form our understanding of the world.

C. To say that Truth is unknowable or relative (non absolute) is to make an impossible “knowledgeable”, absolute truth statement about the Truth.
Ac 26:25 speak the words of truth and reason   Laws of Logic: Identity A=A; Non-Contradiction A?a'; Excluded Middle A?a'

D. The only way a finite being can know infinite Truth is if an Infinite Being reveals it to them. Scientific vs Legal/Historical evidence

E. A Creator with the power to create would have the power to communicate so His creatures could understand, and preserve that communication. If all around and within us has purpose, is it reasonable to think that we have one too, and that God would tell us it?
Jn 1:17 grace & truth came thru Jesus 16:13 when the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth 1Cor 2:10 us=apostles

F. Truth best explains ALL the facts (found at the convergence of: supernaturally authenticated Revelation, logically consistent Reason, pragmatic Reality)

II. Basis of a Relationship with God

1Tim 2:4 Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Js 1:18..He brought us forth by the word of truth   Eph 1:13 In Him you trusted, after you heard the word of truth...
Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jn 4:23 true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth  Eph 5:9 fruit of the HS is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth
Basis of future hope Col 1:5 the hope which is laid up for you in heaven...heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel

III. Vital for Sanctification

Jn 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth 19...they also may be sanctified by the truth
Jn 8:30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 34...whoever commits sin is a slave of sin  cf Rm 6

2Th 2:13 salvation thru sanctification by Spirit and belief in the truth, 1Pt 1:22 purified your souls by obeying the truth thru HS...love
Basis of Spiritual warfare Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth    (Replace dark lies w/ light of Truth)

IV. Basis of Ministry

Eph 4:15 speaking the truth in love, may grow 21...taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus...25 Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another  Gal 4:16 enemy if tell T?
2Tim 2:25 in humility correcting those in opposition, God perhaps will grant them repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth
Js 5:19 anyone among you wanders from the truth, someone turns him back 20 sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death...

To Obey or Disobey Gal 3:1 bewitched you that you should not obey the truth 5:7 ran well..who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Rm 2:8 to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth...Rm 1:18  who suppress the truth in unrighteousness 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie  2Tim 3:7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 reprobate concerning the Truth 4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth  2Tim 2:18 who have strayed concerning the truth, 2Th 2:10  they did not accept the love of the truth, that they might be saved 12 they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness  1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  2:4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

Learn, Live and Love others w/ Truth Titus 1:1 knowledge of the Truth which acc godliness  1Jn 3:1 love...in deed and in truth.   
1Ti 4:3...who believe and know the truth. 2Pt 1:12 established in the present truth.
3Jn 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly...you walk in the truth 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What mechanism or thought process do you use to make your determination about what's true and what isn't?
2. Are your thoughts about life and Truth: a) a conglomeration of concepts you've uncritically adopted, b) defensible conclusions from purposeful study, or c) convictions you've reached from objectively pondering the alternative explanations of the facts? What's the likelihood of discovering something that could invalidate  your conclusions? Why do some folks think otherwise?
3. Why would someone say that it doesn't matter what you believe, or that you can't know truth with certainty? Is Truth relative (can mean different things to different people) or absolute (has a universal meaning independent of one's perceptions)?
4. Does Truth make a difference in a person's life? If so, how? If not, on what basis are decisions made?
5. Are all believers sanctified? Do all believe and practice Truth? How do you sanctify and purify yourself with the Truth?