What Is Truth ?
Compiled by Rev. Timothy P. Cotton
Truth and Way Ministries
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
“…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
TRUTH VS LIE
(reality)
(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: Jesus: “No, you have another
father.”
Jews: “Well, God is our
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
VS LIE
(Reality) (Illusion)
Child
of God 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 in
“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 are taken 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
Do we still believe this answer?
Isaiah equates an idol
“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
Isaiah 44:18-20
The prophet
is trying
“ 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
Isaiah shows that this is mere foolishness.
Lies lead
What is
insanity? Losing
Our actions
reflect what we believe
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
“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
Common
insanity would be the disbelief in that which He testifies
So how much
faith we have is directly in line with how much we believe His testimony.
Do you
worry when he says not
Do you believe that what jesus testifies as to the
truth is really the truth?
Does your life display this?
What is truth?