source: self designed.
To be good is to be kind, to be benevolent, etc .
To be right is to be societally correct, morally okay and accepted.
Truth is neither of these but based on the word of God.
I'll take an example of these and be vivid as possible.
GOOD
The story in the Bible clearly shows us that, being kind, being patriotic, being affectionate is not all the pre-requisite there is for eternal life.
I can part my goods with the poor or less privilege, if the standard has not been met, I am only an earthly good person and probably recognized by man only.
We see in the scripture, Jesus clearly States that none is good. It means even our being good is not referred to as good in the real contest of "goodness". He says, none is good but God.
Matthew 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
RIGHT
Let me address the "right" term.
In the old days, when Christianity was not yet known or introduced perhaps because Jesus had not been manifested, many people who served God were termed as 'righteous'. The derivative of 'RIGHT'. Although, they were accepted and some of them really had closed relationships with God. Where God would appear in a form of Fire to speak to Moses; where Abraham would hear a very loud voice from heaven as to what or what not to do, Elijah would have power with God and he determined when or not the rain from heaven should drop. These were people on the premise of 'righteousness'. However, there is self-righteousness which is mostly referred to in this context. People living based on what's generally accepted or by popular opinions.
We can see Jesus addressing these in his days. This really talks about morality. Being right. It was exactly what the children of Israel, as popularly tagged in the bible, were about. God permitted some of the things they did, not because it was perfect, but just to allow them sometimes. Example of this is the popular story of The ordination of the King Saul. This wasn't the will of God, it was just what they wanted. They needed a king who will judge them, even after receiving the first morality-the 10 commandments- which also was not God's intention. But he did give them the law.
THE LAW
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The law is a perfect example of right living. Right living is based on what the society generally accepts.
It is hinged on, 'WHAT I CAN DO'? Not on what God, through Jesus, did already. God didn't want a stereotyped way of living, even Himself is dynamic. But, he gave the Israelites a king and that act brought the whole country to Judgment as King Saul was sentenced to death, untimely.
1Chronicles
10:4 Then said Saul to his armor bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
10:5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.
10:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all His house died together.
Someone may want to argue,
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'BUT JESUS HAD NOT BEEN MANIFESTED YET AS AT THEN?.
That's not true, my dear.!!!
Jesus Christ didn't come in the new testament. He was there even in the beginning.
The very Creator of the Universe, surprisingly is JESUS CHRIST.
He was behind the scene, doing stuff.
John 1:1
Genesis 1: 1
JESUS IS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCEALED, BUT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT REVEALED.
Right living is hinged on 'I CAN'.
But this scripture will play with your mind a little...
Isaiah
64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
This brought the concept of labor and yet little or no results.
In Matthew, we have a story. A man who Jesus tried playing on his intelligence.
Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
From the above, we can see that this man was already proud thinking eternity is about good deeds: "..., what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?'
Then in 2 verses later, we see that Jesus tried playing on his intelligence. Since you now think eternal life is about right doing, then go do the law Moses gave your fathers. Not knowing the tactics, he would proudly say, "all these I have kept from my youth".
TRUTH
The truth is not man's opinion. It's neither popular opinion. It's the opinion of God from the mind of God.
It's settled on the word of God. The infallibility of his word no matter your experience is what the truth entails.
This now brings us to the difference between real and ideal.
The first thing with the truth is "IN KNOWING".
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
KNOWLEDGE HERE WILL BE BROKEN INTO THREE.
- MIS-INFORMATION
- PARTIAL KNOWLEDGE
- FULL KNOWLEDGE
MIS-INFORMATION:
this is the exposure or the acceptance of fables; words or things that are not true. This can be seen in our day to day life as we know the Devil is not resting in any way. When there is at least a degree deviation between the real or the truth from the ideal. Occurrence of this nature puts in the subconscious some school of taught which now become the dogma some people carry about.
Someone once said to me, "Casting out of devils is for clergymen alone".
For once I had to retire to the scripture, what it says.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Note that, it didn't say for pastors only. It says believers. So as a believer, i am entitled to same. But mis-information can lead one to deviate from the truth.
PARTIAL KNOWLEDGE.
This is even more dangerous because it carries deceit with it.
One thing we must note. The devil takes advantage of the incomplete knowledge gotten by believers and manipulates them with the unrest part.
Remember the story of Eve and the serpent. "You shall not surely die".
But God has said, "you shall die".
Take into consideration what this means.
Genesis
3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
He knows what God has said, but plays on our intelligence on what we didn't get completely about the knowledge of God's word and then he strikes.
FULL KNOWLEDGE
This is when a believer is fully armed and he knows when to defend or attack when the devil comes at all.
This gives a believer so much confidence to carry out more adventures in the things of God without fear of failure.
The otherwise of this fact is what brings destruction.
Hosea
4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Note that, he uses the term, "my people"-meaning God's people(believers).
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When believers are fully armed with the truth, they become indestructible.
Amazing!.