5. What effect does obedience to the truth have?
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.” Verse 22.
6. How should the truth ever be cherished?
“Buy the truth, and sell it not.” Prov. 23:23.
Note.—That is, buy the truth at whatever sacrifice or cost, and sell it under no consideration.
7. Does the Bible recognize what may be called “present truth”?
“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” 2 Peter 1:12.
Note.—Some truths are applicable in all ages, and are therefore present truth for every generation; others are of a special character, and are applicable to only one generation. They are none the less important, however, because of this; for upon their acceptance or rejection depends the salvation or loss of the people of that generation. Of this kind was Noah's message of a coming flood. To the generation to whom it was preached that message was present truth; to later generations it has been past truth, and not a present, testing message. Similarly, had the first advent message of John the Baptist, of the Messiah at hand, been proclaimed in the generation either before or after John's time, it would not have been applicable—would not have been present truth. The people of the generation before would not have lived to see it fulfilled, and to those living after, it would have been wrongly timed. Not so with general truths, such as love, faith, hope, repentance, obedience, justice, and mercy. These are always in season, and of a saving nature at all times. Present truths, however, always include all these, and hence are saving in character, and of vital importance.
8. What was the special message for Noah's day?
“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopherwood.” Gen. 6:13, 14.