Truth vs. Relativism

Two types of relativism:

Cultural relativism – Culture decides what is right and wrong.

Moral relativism – The individual gets to make their own determination of what is right and wrong.

Video on cultural relativism – https://youtu.be/uzT-RDrWbZo?si=XIqZX0M_WkI0YfXr

John 8: 31-33 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

Romans 6:19-23 “I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul mentions two options:

  • Slave to sin which leads to death.
  • Slave to righteousness which leads to eternal life.

John 8:35-36 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Sin attacks our feelings and emotions.

Documentary on the Pacific Crest Trail

When feelings rule your life, then it is likely that sin rules your life.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”