Parts 4A through 4D show that Bible study teaches a person how to discern between spiritual truth and spiritual error. The ability to possess spiritual discernment is especially critical in the 21st Century because of the proliferation of theological error whether intentional or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part 4C explains how the Bible is the only source of truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secular America is postmodern. In his article \u201cRepresenting Christ in a Postmodern World,\u201d Michael Patton advances the following definition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most briefly, \u201cpostmodern\u201d describes a current trend within our culture that began in the late 20th century that is relativistic in its thinking concerning truth and knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introduction to Theology, The Theology Program, Biblical Studies Press, Dallas, Texas (2004), p. 128, footnote 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living life without absolute right and wrong leads to a life of chaos. It is foolish to say that a society can function based on what is good for me is okay and what is good for you is okay. What if someone wants to steal your car? While that may be good for them, it is not good for you. What if your neighbor doesn\u2019t like your dog barking at night and shoots it. While that may be good for your neighbor, it is not good for you. When faced with the practicalities of postmodernism taken to its logical extreme, even intellectually honest postmodernists must admit that there has to be absolute right and wrong or society would break down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Truth is what defines absolute right and absolute wrong. It is vital to realize that truth holds a society together and keeps it from falling into chaos. Truth is found only in the Bible. Two passages taken from Ephesians help us better understand that only in the Bible does truth, i.e., correspondence with what is real, reside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first passage is Ephesians 1:13\u201314 (ESV), and it reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth [logon al\u0113theias<\/em>], the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Paul used the expression logon t\u0113s al\u0113theias<\/em>, i.e., the \u201cword of truth\u201d, he was saying that the message or the content of the gospel is true or in conformance to spiritual reality to be saving. The \u201cword of truth\u201d refers to \u201cthe gospel of your salvation.\u201d See Colossians 1:5. Bratcher, R. G., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul\u2019s letter to the Ephesians<\/em> (p. 24). New York: United Bible Societies. Paul also used the expression \u201cword of the truth\u201d [log\u014d t\u0113s al\u0113theias<\/em>] in Colossians 1:5 (ESV):<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,<\/p>\n\n\n\n