"...And Nothing But The Truth"
PREFACE

    
      “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God!” We are all familiar  with the oath one is required to take in a court of law. For centuries, witnesses have been taking this oath. The requirement of such an oath is based on the premise that criminal justice proceedings cannot be  successfully held unless the truth is forthcoming and that truth must be whole and complete. It is so important, it must be given with the help of God Himself: or so the oath implies! Of course, in order to state the truth, one must be in possession of the truth! In other words, a successful trial requires absolute truth!

      I would argue that if life is to be lived successfully it, also, must be based upon truth. For that to happen, one must be in possession of truth, the whole truth a nothing but the truth! Seeking the truth upon which life is based becomes a never ending pursuit and if you are to truly find it you must seek out the very source of  life itself. For Christians, that life is the Creator, God Himself and His truth can only be found in the one book He has given mankind…the Bible. I believe that the Bible not only contains truth but is the very embodiment of all truth! I acknowledge, however, that not everyone would agree.

      For some in today’s world, the Bible is an interesting, albeit antiquated, compilation of historical writings: Opinion pieces, if you will, written by men who lived long ago. People believe this sacred text is inspiring, even useful if occasionally referenced, but little more. 

      For others, the Bible is a wonderfully exciting, living work given by God Himself as a handbook for Christian living. They maintain the Bible is absolute truth communicated to mankind by their Creator. By immersing themselves in its teachings, it will lead to the most intimate relationship with God Himself. They believe it is inerrant…that is, without error.

      I also subscribe to the latter view!

      Seeking out Biblical truth is essential for all Christians who desire to become the best that they can become. Applying these truths to life and then sharing them with others is the essence of successful Christian living.

      I have selected, from Scripture, seventy two fundamental truths all Christians should understand. At first glance, you may be tempted to say, “O, I already know that!” Perhaps so, but do you really understand  the depths of each truth and how to apply it to your own lives well enough to bring others to a similar understanding? Do you really understand where in Scripture each truth comes from and do you accept the absolute nature of each? It is my prayer that you will be the better for having sought out this important knowledge.

      I wrote this book so that you will have these biblical teachings at your fingertips for quick reference: either  for your own use or while seeking to win others.

      When I was a much younger man I wanted very much to share my faith with all who would listen. When the opportunity presented itself, I eagerly told others that God loved them and Jesus died for their sins.
 
      I soon learned, however, that there were many other Bible truths that I was not yet ready to share as I had not fully understood them. Further, I had some difficulty backing up my facts with the Scripture that  supported these very important Bible truths. 
 
      There are fundamental principles contained in Scripture that all Christians should be aware of. This book is written to address the most basic of these principles.

      Most of us develop a level of awareness that serves to help us in our Christian walk. For example, we  know that God is love. We see examples of His love all around us. We know that there are certain  standards of behavior that God expects of those who claim His name. Further, we have become aware of  specific doctrinal truths, contained in the Bible, that are critical to our understanding of God and His divine  plan.

      This book will help all Christians, new or old, develop a broader knowledge of basic Bible principles. It  will assist them in understanding the authority upon which these principles rest and it will guide each through the process of discovery, using the Bible, so that each principle can be shared effectively with others.

      Another discovery I made as a young Christian was that while I understood the existence of truth I did not always realize that my knowledge was very limited. It is important for all Christians to have as broad a range of Scripture knowledge  as  possible. This is so that we can grow spiritually and help others to do the same.

      While I have written this book for new Christians, I believe all of us will benefit from the lessons contained  herein. This book will serve to remind all of the inerrancy of God’s word. It will remind us how important it is to be sharing God’s Word and not our own.

      The truth of God’s word, the Holy Bible, is often thought to be for a specific people living in a certain age. In  reality, these truths are for all mankind through the ages. The Bible is still relevant today...perhaps more  relevan t than ever.
 
      So, I challenge all who read this book to learn and apply the truth of Scripture and to do so continually, every day! If you do, God will reward you with peace, your life will overflow with joy, and your ministry will be blessed beyond measure!