What Is Truth ?
Compiled by Rev. Timothy P. Cotton
Truth and Way Ministries
http://truthandway.org
This question, asked by Pilate of Jesus remains the single most
important question of society. It is the most important question of our
age. We will herein venture to look at this question and examine its
effect on how we see the world.
So, first let us ask this question. Why did Jesus come into the
world? In his recording of the “Good Confession” John quotes Jesus
thus: “You are a king then? Jesus answered,
“ Thou sayest that I am a king:
For this cause am I born, and for this cause
Came I into the world..
That I should bear witness unto the truth”
- John 18:37
We may actually find many reasons why he came, along with to
redeem us and all that goes with that. However, we shall find that this
clarifies all of the others. In addition to hi direct testimonies of the
truth he bears witness thus:
“For the law was given
by Moses; but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ.”
- John 1:17
“Jesus said unto him,
I am that Way and that Truth and that Life.
No man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
- John 14:6
“Sanctify them with thy truth; thy word is truth.”
- John 17:17
“God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must
Worship him in spirit and in truth”
John 4:24
“And shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32
“and I will pray the Father,
and He shall give you another
Comforter that he may abide with you forever…
the Spirit of Truth”
John 14:16-17
“Howbeit when he is come, which is the Spirit of truth;
he will lead you into all truth.”
John 16:13
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
who will that all men shall be saved and
come unto the acknowledging of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:3-4
“Stand therefore,
And your loins girded about with verity (truth)”
Ephesians 6:14
I believe the point is made. The issue of truth is very important. There
is a great scriptural link between truth and salvation !
Looking at Israel and Judah before their destruction the lack of truth
brings lament:
“…truth has fallen in the streets…”
Isaiah 59:14
“Truth is perished, and is clean gone out of their mouths”
Jeremiah 7:28
Jesus came to testify to the truth.
How does society react to this truth of which Jesus testifies to?
“…the time will come when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine; but
having their ears itching, shall after their own lusts get them an heap of
teachers. And shall turn their ears from the truth, and shall be given unto
fables.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
Sound familiar. In the first century God knew exactly what the
reaction would be in the future.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven…which withhold the truth...”
Romans 1:18
“Moreover from your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to
draw disciple after them.”
Acts 20:30
“But unto them that are contentious and disobey the truth and obey
unrighteousness shall be indignation and
wrath.”
Romans 2:8
“Which turned the truth of God unto a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature...”
Romans 1:25
For this cause am I born, and for this cause
Came I into the world..
That I should bear witness unto the truth”
- John 18:37
Side of Truth? This definitely implies that there are two sides. How do
we know what the sides are? Well this is explained as well.
“We are of God, he that knoweth God heareth us;
But he that is not of God heareth us not. Hereby know we the Spirit of
Truth and the spirit of error.”
1 John 4:6
THE BIG BATTLE
TRUTH
(reality)
VS
LIE
(Illusion)
What are the consequences of the two sides?
“Even him whose coming is by the effectual working of Satan, with all power,
and signs, and lying wonders, and in all deceivableness of unrighteousness,
among them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved.”
2 Thessalonians 2;9
Who are the leaders of the two sides?
Jews: “Abraham is our Father:
Jews: “Well, God is our Father:
Jesus: “No, you have another father.”
Jesus: “No, God is not your father.”
“Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father’s ye will do. He
hath been a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, then
speaketh he of his own; for he is a liar, and the father thereof.”
“…and because I tell you the truth ye believe me not! Which of you can
rebuke me of sin? And if I say the truth why do ye not believe me. He that is
of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not because ye are not
of God.”
John 8:34-47
There are Two Fathers. How can we know which is which?
“In this are the children of God known and the children of the devil:
Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not
his brother”
1 John 3:10
TRUTH
(Reality)
Child of God
VS
LIE
(Illusion)
Child of Devil
There is a direct relationship between sin and untruth. We may rightly
claim that sin is belief in a lie.
“For sin took occasion by the
Commandment, and deceived me, and thereby slew me”
Romans 7:11
“and in all deceivableness of unrighteousness among them that perish…”
2 Thessalonians 2:10
“…that is that ye cast off, concerning the conversation in time past, that old
man, which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts,, “
Ephesians 4:22
“…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 3:13
Thus the need for the testimony of Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God,
To free us from the lies and into all truth.
“But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but must be gentle toward all
men, apt to teach, suffering the evil, instructing them with meekness that are
contrary minded, proving if God at any time will give them repentance, that
they may acknowledge the truth, and to come to amendment out of
that snare of the devil, of whom they aretaken prisoners, to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
If there are those who have this truth, then there are those who do
not. How should those who do view those who do not?
“Walk wisely with toward them that are without, and redeem the season. Let
your speech be gracious always, and powdered with salt, that ye may know
how to answer every man.”
Colossians 4:5-6
It is a battle of worldviews on every front !
How does the world answer the question, What is Truth? This could
well be the most important question our culture must answer.
Webster’s dictionary, 1828:
Truth: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is,
or has been, or shall be….We rely upon the truth of the scriptural
prophecies.”
Do we still believe this answer?
Isaiah equates an idol to a lie. In this text he refers to idols carved
from trees and those who carved them.
“They have not known, nor understood; for God hath shut their eyes that
they cannot see, and their heart that they cannot understand. And none
considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
‘I have burnt half of it, even in the fire; and have baked bread also upon the
coals thereof, I roasted flesh and eaten it, and shall I make the residue thereof
an abomination? Shall I bow to the stock of a tree? He feedeth of ashes: a
seduced heart hath deceived him, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say ‘Is
there not a lie in my right
hand?”
Isaiah 44:18-20
The prophet is trying to awaken the people to the absurdity of what
they were doing.
“ He boweth unto it and worshipeth.
And prayeth unto it and saith, “Deliver me;
For thou art my god.”
Isaiah 44:17
It does not have to be a graven image. The world that is deluded by
lies has many variations of gods; things that they worship. Money,
prestige, cars, houses, entertainment, acclaim…we could go on and
on.
Isaiah shows that this is mere foolishness. Lies lead to insane
notions.
What is insanity? Losing touch with reality…believing that the lie
(illusion) is real, and not being able to tell which is which.
Our actions reflect what we believe to be really real.
Where is reality? Where can we find it?
“…to know the mystery of God, even the Father, and of Christ, in whom are
hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. and
this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”
Colossians 2:2-4
Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of all truth, by the Word He has
revealed to us whereby He points us to what is really real.
“Ye cannot serve two masters”
“Therefore I say unto you, be not careful for your life, what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what shall ye put on. Is not the life
more worth than meat? And the body than raiment?....Wherefore if God so
clothe the grass of the field which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the
oven, shall he not do much more unto you, O ye of little faith?.....but seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be
ministered unto you. Care not then for the tomorrow, for the morrow shall
care for itself; the day hath enough with his own grief.”
Matthew 6:25-34
Will he not care for you, O you of little faith? What is Jesus saying
here? He is equating faith with the belief in the truth which He has
testified to.
Common insanity would be the disbelief in that which He
testifies to for belief in lies leads to insane notions.
So how much faith we have is directly in line with how much we
believe His testimony.
Do you worry when he says not to? Is he lying? Is His testimony a
delusion?
Do you believe that what jesus testifies as to
the truth is really the truth?
Does your life display this?
What is truth?