Veritology – What is Truth? (Part 1)

John 18:37-38 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

This last week, Pastor Phil started a new med-week topical Bible Study on foundational Christian beliefs and theology through the Focus on the Family’s “The Truth Project” with Dr. Del Tackett. I’d heard of this study years ago and seen previews, but never had the chance to participate in the 12-course lessons. I found the first session and group discussions to be just what I needed for more biblical knowledge, personal Christian growth and life application. The focal point for the first class was the concept of “truth” itself. What is truth? Why is it important? What role does it play in the biblical view of the world, God’s purpose for the cosmos, His will for mankind, His plan of salvation, and the way we live our personal lives? Why did Jesus come into the world?

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Truth was fundamental to the mission of Jesus Christ in the world.

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Truth forms the heart of the cosmic battle that has been raging since the beginning. Satan put a question of doubt to Eve that set up the believing of the great lie which brought about the “Fall of Man”.

Genesis 3:1, 4-5 He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? You will not surely die.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Every man and woman now has to choose between God’s truth claims and the opposing perspective of the God rejecting world system and society, the flesh, and the devil.

John 8:44-46 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?”

This battle has divided the world into two opposing camps or sides: Truth verses Lies, Unity verses Division, Accountability verses Blame, Authority verses Rebellion, Faith verses unbelief. In almost every case, the perspective of contemporary culture stands in direct opposition to the truth-centered worldview presented in the Bible. 

Isaiah 59:4, 14-15 “No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly;
they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.”

1 John 2:4, 3:9-10 & 4:6 “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Let's finish our look at "What is Truth?" tomorrow.

In Christ, Brian