What is Truth

WHAT IS TRUTH

 

This question was first asked by Pilate, the Roman Governor who interviewed Jesus, as recorded in (John 18:38). And it has been asked many times since then by various people. The simple answer is that truth is found in a person whose name is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who came down from heaven to earth to become the Savior of mankind! His supernatural birth was foretold by God through His prophets many years before it happened, and is explained fully in the pages of the Bible. The word "truth" is mentioned 3 times in Matthew, and 5 times in Luke. But John uses it 27 times in his gospel account, and 20 times in his 3 letters. God's truth is "absolute", and according to the Oxford Dictionary absolute is "an adjective meaning complete, or perfect". That means God's "TRUTH" is perfect, and not subject to change or compromise. In a recent article from the July/August issue of the Sharon Star by Markus Hansen, he gives five facts about this word TRUTH. They are 1/ What "truth" is ascribed to. 2/ The effects of knowing and walking in "truth". 3/ What we are to do with the "truth". 4/ The benefits of obeying the "truth. 5/ The consequences of disobeying the "truth". We will briefly look at each of these five statements about truth.

 

1/ What truth is ascribed to----( Ascribed means to consider or declare as belonging to).

A. God's Laws--- God's Law "is the truth",(Ps 119:142),  "The Law "is perfect ", (Ps 19:7).

B.Jesus Christ---John declared "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us ---full of grace and truth", (John 1:14), And Jesus declared about Himself "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

C. The Holy Spirit---Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as "the Comforter", and also the "Spirit of truth" in both (John 15:26) and in (John 16:13)

D, God's Word---Jesus stated as part of His prayer to His Father recorded by John "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth", (John 17:17)

E. The Church---In Paul's first letter to Timothy he described the church as "the household of God, this is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth".(1 Timothy 3:15)

 

2/ The effects of knowing and walking in the truth.

A. Knowing the truth sets us free---Jesus told His followers "----If you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

B. Truth purifies and makes us pure within.--- "you were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth." (1 Peter 1:22).

C. Truth sanctifies, sets apart, makes one holy.--- "Make them holy by your truth, teach them your Word which is truth" (John 17:17)

D. Truth exposes one to the light of God---"Those who do what is right come to the light, so others can see that they are doing what God wants." (John 3:21)

 

3/ What are we to do with the truth.

A. Come to the truth--- "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come into knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim 2:4)

B. Be established and walk in the truth.---"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

(3 John 4)

C. Obey the truth---"You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters." (1 Peter 1:22)

D. Speak the truth---"So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body." (Eph 4:25)

E. Declare the truth.--- "But  Paul replied, I am not insane Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth." (Acts 26:25)

 

4/ The benefits of obeying the truth.

A. Obeying God's laws and statutes.--- "These  are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy." (Deut 6:1)

B. Peace is a direct benefit of walking in the truth.---"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift that the world can not give. So don't be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27)

C. Joy and happiness.---"Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy." (Isaiah 51:11)

D. Promise to look after our children.---"Take heed that you despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." (Matt 18:10)

E. Eternal life.---"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

F. Answers to our prayers.---"If you abide in Me, and My Words (the truth) abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)

G. God promises those who tithe.---"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so there will be enough food in My Temple. If you do says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in. Try it! Put Me to the test!" (Mal 3:10)

 

5/ Consequences of not obeying the truth.

A. Exodus 20:13. "You must not murder"

B. Exodus 20:14. "you must not commit adultery"

C. Romans 1:18. "But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness."

D. Romans 6:23. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

E. 2 Corinthians 6:14. "Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

 

As a summary to this teaching on TRUTH, I would suggest a careful reading of Peter's second letter, (2 Peter 1:3-12). This gives an excellent outline for growth in spiritual maturity, along with Paul's letter to the Ephesians "until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ" (Eph 4:3)!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer