What is Truth?
Have you ever pondered the age old question WHAT IS TRUTH? I mean really questioned God about the truth in His Word?
Personally, I have read the Bible several times all the way through and still find it hard to put it all together. My memory isn’t so good so it is difficult to remember what scripture is where and all the whys to it all. Over the years, in my frustration I have quit reading the word because it was so overwhelming. I knew that wasn’t the answer but my humanity says “I can’t do this!”. However, every time I would really turn to Jesus and ask Him to show me in His word His truths I would see real revelation’s in the Word. I can recall saying “Wow! I have read that same passage many times but somehow I see it so differently this time!” Why is that? It was the Lord speaking directly to me through His Word.
There are some folks that give their life to studying the scriptures but cannot see the biblical truths. Just like the Sadducees and Pharisees in the New Testament, they were so concerned with Moses’ law that when Jesus taught love and compassion they rejected Him and literally killed Him for teaching contrary to what they thought was truth. Think about that! They were face to face with Jesus Christ and still refused truth! They were willfully blind to the truth.
2 Timothy 3:7 the Bible talks about people that are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. In other words, they study scripture and maybe even preach scripture but never actually see the truth in the Word. They don’t want to see the real truth but only want to see only what makes them feel good. Go read 2 Timothy 3 it will enlighten you about our world.
“If you continue in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free: John 8:31-32
So often the question is what do different religions believe? But that isn’t what we should be asking, instead how about asking what does the “Word of God “say? It really doesn’t matter what anyone’s opinion about biblical truth is. What matters is, What does the Word of God say? What does the Bible say, concerning salvation, which is probably the most important question to ask. What did Jesus teach the apostles to preach! And quite frankly, what is all of the truth! Not just partial truth, believing a part of the truth is the same as having no truth at all. Think about it! If baking a cake, you leave out the flour it’s not a cake anymore. If I believe anything in the Bible, I must believe all of it. If I say I believe this scripture but not that one then you don’t believe at all! We don’t have the option of pick and choose!
Paul said: Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.10 ¶ For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
John 18:38 Pilate asked Jesus…37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
In John 17:17… Jesus is praying for the disciples saying 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. In essence He said I impart my truth to my disciples and commission them to preach it.
John 17:18-20…18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.Jesus said “I have prayed over them and nowI am sending them out into the world to preach what I have taught them.” But Jesus didn’t stop there. He also prayed over them that believed the words of the apostles. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Think about this for a moment.
- Some people say it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. Ask yourself “Can someone be “sincerely” wrong?”
- Is Doctrine important according to the word of God? What does the word “doctrine” mean? According to Google: Biblical “doctrine” is defined as the biblical “teachings” that are found in God's Word. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived on this earth, wrote to his children these important words: “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; FOR I GIVE YOU GOOD DOCTRINE… Get wisdom
- Could there be false prophets today? I say yes because there were false prophets in Bible days how many more are there today?
If someone asked you “What must I do to be saved?”. Using scriptures how would you respond?
These questions should provoke us to search the scriptures for answers. They should make us literally say out loud “Lord, I need answers!”
John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
I’m gonna leave you with this question. How do I believe on Jesus “as the scriptures” have said?
(to be continued)
Pray: Jesus, open my eyes to all of the truths in Your Word. Lord, don’t let me be willfully blind to your ways. I want to see Your Word in a whole new light!
