OceanSide church of Christ

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WHAT IS TRUTH? (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    During the trial of Jesus, Pilate asked the question:  “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38a)

 

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?  Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was 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.  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?

 

B.      In this lesson, we want to discuss some of the answers that could be given to that question.

 

I.                   TRUTH IS A PERSON, NAMELY, JESUS CHRIST

 

A.    Jesus acknowledged that He is truth in John 14:6.

 

Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

B.      When Jesus said this, He meant that His very nature is truth.

1.      Jesus is truth.

2.      Truth originates from Him.

3.      There is not one lie or one ounce of deception in Him at all.

 

C.     Here is the challenge for the infidel.  Show us one time when Jesus lied or deceived any individual?  It cannot be done. Jesus is truth clothed in flesh.

 

II.                TRUTH IS REVELATION FROM GOD’S MIND

 

A.    In John 17:17, Jesus said:  “Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth.”

1.      The Word of God is truth.

2.      The Word is the revelation, the message, from the very mind of God.

 

B.      I Corinthians 2:9-12

 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which the Lord hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:  for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 

1.      Paul says that “the Spirit of God searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

2.      Now listen to what Jesus said the Spirit would reveal to the apostles (John 16:13).

 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth:  for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:  and he will shew you things to come.

 

a.      The Spirit would guide them into “all truth.”

b.      Where did the Spirit get this truth?  It came from the mind of God.

c.       This book that we hold in our hands is truth revealed from the very mind of God himself.

 

III.             TRUTH IS FACT THAT STANDS

 

A.    The Greek word for truth is “alethia.”  Thayer defines the word “truth” as “of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly.”

 

B.      Truth is fact.  Facts involve things that are real, actual, and absolutely certain.

 

C.     Facts can be denied.

Facts can be ignored.

Facts can be dismissed.

Facts can be mocked.

But, facts never go away.

 

D.    Facts stand.  Facts last.  Facts endure.  Facts never go away.

1.      Matthew 24:35

 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 

2.      I Peter 1:25

 

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel if preached unto you.

 

E.      Application

1.      When the Bible says:  “There is one body…” (Eph. 4:4), that is a fact will not go away.

2.      When the Bible says:  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” (Mark 16:16). that is a fact that will not go way.

3.      When the Bible says:  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (II Pet. 3:10), that is fact that will not go away.

 

IV.             TRUTH IS A LETTER OF LOVE FROM GOD

 

A.    One of the messages that shines throughout the New Testament is that God did what he did because He loves us.

 

B.      Conservative Christians often shy away from the love of God because those who are liberal put so much focus on it.  We should not do this.

1.      Does God love us?

2.      Was it God’s love that sent Jesus to die on Calvary?

3.      Is His love expressed for us in the pages of the New Testament?

4.      Is there anything wrong in our seeing the New Testament as a love letter?

5.      Did He manifest His love as a motivator for man to love Him? (I John 4:19).

 

We love him, because he first loved us.

 

C.     The New Testament affirms God’s love for us over and over again.

1.      John 3:16

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

2.      Romans 5:8

 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

3.      Ephesians 2:4-5

 

But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he love us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

 

4.      Titus 3:4

 

But after that the kindness and love of God toward man appeared.

 

5.      I John 3:16

 

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…

 

6.       I John 4:9-10

 

In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he love us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

D.    According to Paul, love is the greatest thing (I Cor. 13:13).

 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

V.                TRUTH IS A TEACHER THAT EDUCATES

 

A.    The gospel of truth was revealed in order to educate man regarding spiritual realities.

 

B.      The word educate comes from a Latin word that means “to lead.”  God uses His truth to lead us to Him, to righteousness, to freedom, and, ultimately, to heaven.

1.      Psalm 25:5

 

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:  for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

 

2.      Psalm 143:10

 

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God:  thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

 

C.     Every person who becomes a Christian is first educated in truth.

1.      “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…” (Matt. 28:19).

2.      “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45).

3.      “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4).

4.      “…I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts…” (Heb. 8:10).

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    When Pilate asked:  “What is truth?” he never dreamed the answer would involve so many different avenues of thought.

1.      Truth is a person, Jesus Christ.

2.      Truth is revelation from God to man.

3.      Truth is fact that stands.

4.      Truth is a love letter from God to man.

5.      Truth is a teacher that educates man in godly things.

 

B.      There are many today who do not appreciate these concepts. 

 

C.     Sadly, there are some Christians who discount them or underestimate them.

 

D.    According to II Thessalonians 2:10, those who do not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved will perish because they are deceived by unrighteousness.

 

E.      QUESTION:  Do you love the truth?