If there was any biblical topic I specifically avoided studying it was the subject of “What Is Truth?” It is by far one of the most difficult to research and even more problematical to nail down of any subject I know of. Likewise, there are many reasons for this. Sincere believers agree that the Bible is the truth. And if you review what I have previously written you will also note that there is a significant list of what the Bible identifies as truth, Jesus being first and foremost. However, we face huge complications in a study of truth from Scripture because throughout history, as the Bible was translated into various languages and differing cultures affected the translations, human beings unwittingly constructed various filters that slightly skewed the interpretations of what was written. Therefore one translation in a specific language might say one thing and it might be slightly different in another language translation. In fact if you were to compare new translations with others done even a few decades earlier, you would see that because human vocabulary has changed, so has the rendition and sometimes consequently the meaning. Furthermore, original definitions of words were lost or had evolved according to the affects of the cultures and times so that what once a word meant was lost and it came to mean something else entirely thereby causing it’s interpretation to be something other than the truth God had intended. Therefore, before we can determine how to recognize truth for what it is we must define it!
Truth is a subject that demands definition. Paul warned the church of Thessalonica that the love for truth will be gravely absent in the End Times Church and world. It is a condition we need to be aware of and correct. Without an absolute standard for truth, deception runs fully unhindered affecting saint and sinner alike. Souls are vulnerable, faith is virtually nonexistent and lawlessness dominates the human condition on all levels especially spiritually. As these attitudes develops the viewpoint of what the Bible is changes and the Bible is then perceived as simply an ancient work of literature. Defining truth, for that reason, is mandatory. As I’ve already mentioned, the believer’s standard for truth is supposed to be the Bible. Hence, truth can be defined by considering, investigating and combining the definitions of the 9 Hebrew and 5 Greek words translated as the word and concepts of truth. The problem is that these words can be translated in a wide assortment of words exposing unique aspects to what truth is. Nonetheless one common theme is found. The primary concept of the combined words reveals that truth is whatever is stable. For that reason if you discover truth of any sort from God YOUR revelations should produce stability. In order to exemplify this I’ve pulled together a summarized definition for truth derived from the various Hebrew and Greek words translated as truth in the Bible.
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!
The majority of Christians innocently parrot “the truth shall make you free” without the slightest clue about what they’re talking about. Until truth is defined and settled as to which kingdom it originates from, the statement Jesus made means little.
In John 8:31-32 Jesus connected truth with faith and discipleship. Then in John 17:17 he defined truth as being God’s word. “Your word is truth”. Therefore in order to restore a love for truth, the kind of love that defends what it believes to be truth means, there must be a restoration of love for His Word. Lawlessness thrives in an atmosphere where truth from God’s word no longer exists and where the love for the Word is absent. Everyone believes and does what is right in their own eyes, according to their own interpretations and understanding. This predicament causes enormous problems. This is why truth must be pursued diligently and loved defensively.
John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
So Let’s Define Truth As Best As We Can
Truth is the principle or often invisible fact that establishes the base or foundation of anything to make something or someone STABLE, firm, reliable, certain, trustworthy or FAITHFUL as originating out of God’s character, His Word or His Spirit and producing the result of balanced righteousness, justice, merciful communication and loving interaction in relationship. It is the opposite of anything fictitious, false, unstable or pretend.
If truth is truth it will set you free from demonic lies and bondages! It will also expose the satanic agenda designed to cripple true spirituality and remove the un-biblical expectations that unforeseeably counter a healthy relationship with God! Furthermore, truth exposes how deception perverts, dilutes and prevents the work of the Holy Spirit as the lies attempt to disable the affects of Redemption and the New Birth. We need a solid, researched understanding of Biblical truth applicable to all areas of human expression.
In addition to this there are essentially 3 Categories of Truth identified in the Bible. These groupings radically affect whether you develop unhealthy filters as you study. The first and most important category of truth is the truth that exists in the Kingdom of God. Please see the chart below. If you are confused about any one of these truths, then how you interpret Scripture may be skewed. What we must also remember is that truth to the believer is not simply a thing! Truth includes and consists of the character of God, an aspect of the Holy Spirit and the person of Jesus. I have compiled a list of these three categories for your consideration.
THE FIRST CATEGORY OF TRUTH IS Truth in the Kingdom of God (ALMOST ALWAYS PRECEDED BY MERCY)
Truth of God in His Character- Ex. 34:6; Jer 10:10
Truth of God in His Word- John 17:17; Ps 119:160; 1 Thess. 2:13
Truth of God in His Spirit- John 16:13; 1 John 4:6
Truth of God in His Law- Ps 119:142
Truth of God in our Lives and His Ways- Way of Truth- Ps. 119:130; 2 Pet. 2:2
Truth of God in His works- Dan 4:37
Spiritual truths in doctrines-Gal. 5:7; 3:1
Jesus is- John 14:6
The message of the gospel- Col 1:5
The anointing- 1 John 2:27
Character Truth- Way of righteousness
Theologians will often call this moral truth (OR RIGHTEOUSNESS) producing a corresponding expression with inner conception. The emphatically characteristic teaching of Christianity is that the will to produce truth, to do God’s will, is the requisite attitude for apprehending the truth.
THE SECOND CATEGORY OF TRUTH IS Truth that is identified as worldly or earthly truth .
Sadly many believers ascribe to this category instead of God’s Kingdom truths and find faith difficult as a result. See the list below
Worldly Truth or Earthly Truth
Logical truth. Truth in this sense involves the correspondence of concepts with facts. This truth is not primarily found in Scripture, except in Eph 4:21; 1 John 2:4,21. May not necessarily be accurate.
Religious truth is a term found in modern literature. It has no sound basis in reason and it has none at all in the Bible. All truth is ultimately religious and only in a superficial way can religious truth can be spoken of as an independent conception. Least of all can religious truth and scientific truth be at variance.
Ontological truth- a term of metaphysics that is influenced by the philosophy it comes from as well as what is considered the accurate and adequate idea of existence as ultimate reality. It is never in the Scriptures except in maybe in Pilate’s question.
Perceived Truth- Sciences, Facts, Opinions, Philosophies, Superficial possibilities
THE THIRD CATEGORY OF TRUTH IS What is deemed as EXPERIENTIAL TRUTHS.
This category of truth tends to be where most Christians and unsaved individuals live. These “so-called” truths are actually not truths and exist temporarily, constantly changing. When an individual chooses to believe these conditions as the truth then all biblical truth is practically cancelled out in living. This is one of the most dangerous categories of truth. Once spirituality centers on experience then the daily intimate walk with Jesus is devalued. Consequently feelings and circumstances determine the truth that is embraced inevitably leading to deception.
Human “SO CALLED” Truth MOST CHRISTIANS LIVE IN THIS REALM ! Which one do you live in?
Circumstances and experience
Feelings
Physical conditions such as health, wealth, poverty, natural conditions
Relationship situations
Social condition
Anything relating to the human life experience that influences the choices a person makes as to what they do
Replacements for truth- Fiction, Fables, Myths, Music, Visual influences, Culture, Traditions of man
An inaccurate understanding of God’s word as truth can produce catastrophic problems. Furthermore, the Bible must be our authority on this matter of what is truth and what is not. There are several key points you must always keep in mind when reading the Word and seeking to understand His truth! The most important is that fact that the authority of the Scriptures provides us with the witness to the life changing and redemptive power of Jesus. Truth can therefore be jeopardized if our reading of the Scriptures doesn’t constantly point us back to the purpose and accomplishments of Jesus life, death and resurrection. In saying this, in the name of “Truth” the Church has ‘used” Scripture to justify countless atrocities such as persecution of and killing the Jews, killing thousands in holy wars, burning women suspected of witchcraft, burning doctrinal heretics, torture, and enslavement. The statement, the Bible “says so” has armed countless people with oppressive weapons and enslavement eventually subverting the life giving good news of God’s redemption through Jesus. Scripture is supposed to empower the Church to a life of the gospel that Jesus came to redeem all people through the cross. We need to remember that the truth of God brings life not death, liberty not bondage, love not hatred and conviction without condemnation.
A PROPER LOOK AT THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!
Heart attitude and the direction of one’s faith are fundamental to effective biblical research. Believers who don’t embrace God’s word as truth find study extremely difficult and incapable of application. It’s not enough to gather information. Faith-motivated doing joins hands with God’s word when revelation connects with the human spirit. However, how you hear, or how you interpret what you have learned, is affected by whether you plan on doing anything with what you have heard and received. Jesus warned in Luke 8:18 that we must be guarded and aware of how we interpret what we hear. Furthermore in the parable of the sower found in Mark 4 He describes heart conditions as distinguished by the different status of the soil.
Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. KJV
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (KJV)
How you hear, or the basis for how you interpret what you study can radically diminish or accelerate your assimilation of truth. The problem however is not dependent on interpretation alone. A hearer cannot remain a hearer without eventually producing some sort of response, action or reaction. According to James 1:21-25, hearing without doing ultimately results in self-deception. Therefore when you discover and validate truths pertaining to any subject, you dare not remain merely a receiver. People who love truth demonstrate a sense of joyful obedient activity. This is a problem, however for individuals who lack personal root and stability in their lives, a condition more common than I would like to acknowledge. In the parable of the sower Jesus describes a type of people as having no root in themselves.
Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?14 The sower soweth the word.15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.(KJV)
Individuals described as being without root, or more understandably, without root in their identity are spiritually and biblically impetuous. Upon hearing the word they receive it gladly. Nevertheless after a period of time the unforeseen battle over the Word accelerates and pressure is applied to the recipient to relinquish the truth originally embraced. Don’t ever forget! The battle is over the Word! Satan couldn’t care less about you. He wants to stop the Word! Once the truths have been acknowledged the warfare subtly increases and a satanically generated pressure attempts to steal away the word by pressurizing the recipient. Then, without insight or discernment as to what is happening, the rootless hearers misinterpret what’s attacking the word as a personal affront. They don’t realize that the pressures have specifically been sent to steal away the word or the revelation of truth. Consequently, the lack of security in their identity affecting all areas of life makes them exceedingly vulnerable and they become offended with God, with the Word, and sometimes the person who delivered the word to them. Eventually they lose the revelation they had begun to receive.
Before proceeding further, I believe we need to take a few moments and understand why these fragile souls failed to hold onto the truth they’d been so glad to obtain. The reason they lost their precious revelation is directly connected with the heart attitude of receiving they demonstrated and the meaning of the Greek word “lambano” translated as receive. At this point I want to make mention that Mark 4:20 also uses the word receive concerning those who gained 30, 60 and 100 fold. It is significant to note that the Greek word used for receive in verse 20 is different than the one used in verse 16. The word “paradechomai” is also translated as receive, but the definitions of these two words, considering the context of those verses and comparing various Greek lexical aids make some interesting suggestions that would lead us to conclude that the distinction in these types of reception is what affected the end result of the seeds of truth! To receive something according to the definition for “paradechomai” as used in Mark 4:20 describes a reception with assent to obedience. Therefore the fruitfulness achieved by this individual was a direct result of an obedient intention. However, in verse 16, the individual without root demonstrated a type of reception from the Greek word “lambano” which in this case and context would describe a form of reception that was a self prompted action, possibly with mental assent, but not necessarily a favorable reception. To put it bluntly, persons without root rejoice for a time in the word they hear but don’t possess the ability or intention to obey it. Therefore when trouble, persecution and pressure come they collapse incapable of holding onto what they received.
In reflection, the truth you discover in God’s word will be contested. Satan hates the word and will do everything and anything to take it from you. How then can we dismantle his efforts before they begin?
Number One-
Truth from God produces stability! You can almost always discover where you need truth if you recognize the areas in life you deal with instability.
Number Two-
Truth from God always functions through mercy! Without mercy truth becomes a dangerous dagger pointing and piercing others and bring condemnation, accusation and judgemental religiousity.
Number Three-
Truth from God is always filtered through the work of the New Birth, the doctrines of Grace, and the fruit of the Spirit.
Number Four-
Truth from God is consistent with the Hebraic understanding of God’s character and Spirit. Counterfeit truths, if you can call it truth at all, filter through culture, personality and historical philosophies such as the Greek philosophies developed in Hellenism and perpetuated by religious corruptions that embraced their philosophies.
Number Five-
Truth from God is not emphatic about the letter of the Law but embraces the principles of God’s character and righteousness.
If you will begin to grow in truth, these concepts must be secure and defined in your heart! Otherwise whatever you believe to be truth is what you will act out when a crisis emerges.
