What is Truth?
Greetings, Wayne, a servant of God, by the grace of God, teaching truth under the authority of Jesus Christ to any who are willing to receive it, or as Jesus put it, to any who have ears to hear (Mat 11:15).
I will be the words in green. Purple Highlights will be key words or phrases of truth.
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, asked Jesus Christ "what is truth?":
Joh 18:38 Pilate said unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Jesus did not even attempt to reveal the answer to Pilate, knowing it would be pointless. Without having God's Holy Spirit, the governor would have dismissed any explanation of God's truth as foolishness:
Pro 19:3 The foolishness of man perverts his way: and his heart frets against the LORD.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
However, Jesus Christ had already revealed the answer to His disciples while He was praying to God the Father:
Joh 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them [Greek: to detest or love less], because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth.
So, we clearly see from the mouth of Jesus the Christ of God that the word of God is truth, words spoken by His holy prophets in the Old Testament:
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
And words spoken by Jesus Christ in the New Testament:
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, you say 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 hears my voice [Greek: His sayings (Pro 4:10, 20; Mat 7:24, 28; Joh 14:24; Rev 22:7)].
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
If the word or doctrine of men contradicts, compromises with, or omits the word of God, and you follow those men, then you are not following the Christ. You are following anti-Christs:
1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.
And from the apostle John concerning anti-Christs [Greek: opponents; adversaries (of the truth: 2Ti 2:25):
1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that anti-Christ shall come, even now are there many anti-Christs; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Who is behind the "many" false teachers or anti-Christs?
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour [with lies and deflections from the truth (Joh 8:44)]:
Are you placing your salvation entirely in the hands of men? Your focus should be entirely on the word of God for so great a salvation:
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
"Them that heard Him" beginning with the apostles - witnesses, followers, and teachers of the truth and doctrine of Jesus the Christ. They are the men we ought to be trusting in for "rightly dividing the word of truth":
2Ti 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Any who claim to be followers of the Christ, should be following the apostles' doctrine, the same doctrine taught to them by Jesus Christ:
Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
They continued in a doctrine that accurately teaches the way and truth of God leading to eternal life through Jesus the Christ:
Joh 14:6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.
A doctrine that teaches the commandments of God:
Pro 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.
Lev 22:31 Therefore shall you keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.
Have you been taught that scriptures like these from the Old Testament have been nailed to the cross with Jesus? Then what about these scriptures:
Joh 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Do these commandments include the ten commandments? A big question when it comes to whether or not one is approved for eternal life:
Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.
A profound statement that emphasizes the necessity to place our focus, prayers, praises, thankfulness, and love toward God the Father through Jesus Christ our Saviour as well as keep His commandments. Now, about "keeping" those commandments:
Mat 19:18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, you shall do no murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour your father and your mother: and, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.
Consider this:
Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
But why can not the many who teach against or apart from the doctrine of Jesus Christ and His apostles see these truths? Consider these; though speaking of a future fulfillment of a prophecy concerning the man of perdition, the following verses emphasize the power of God to send strong delusion to believe a lie to any who refuse the love of the truth:
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
"Pleasure" that can come from making a large sum of money from the "unrighteousness" of one's own interpretation of the word of God.
But here is the word of God:
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve God and mammon [Greek: wealth].
Could you part with wealth, distribute it to the poor, and follow Jesus Christ?
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
"Take up the cross" emphasizing the strait and narrow "pressing" into the kingdom of God:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.
Let us now return to the truth of God through the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles He personally taught. Here, Jesus, honouring the Father while responding to the Pharisees who questioned His authority and who sought to kill Him:
Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Joh 7:18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks His glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Joh 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keep the law? Why go you about to kill me?
Is it possible to worship Jesus in vain by following false teachers who follow doctrines introduced by men?
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Now that we have seen that the doctrine of Jesus Christ was in keeping with the will of God the Father concerning the truth of God, let us conclude with writings that reflect that doctrine by His apostles, beginning with Paul:
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
These received the love of the truth, repented, became baptized. Was this in accordance to the doctrine of Christ?
Luk 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark [Greek: regard; consider] them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine [of Christ] which you have learned; and avoid them.
Some love to use this scripture against any who attempt to emphasize the true doctrine of Jesus Christ while pointing out the error of their own doctrine. An example being the doctrine of avoidance of other baptized people of God who do not subject themselves to their false doctrine. Jesus did not implement any such doctrine of avoidance. In fact, He introduced "a new commandment" for all the baptized people of God in the truth:
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Jesus wants unity, wants us to adhere to His doctrines:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Paul understood the seriousness of false doctrines of men which are in truth "doctrines of devils". Notice:
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times [our times] some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Paul endorsed "good doctrine" in order to be recognized as a good servant of Jesus Christ:
1Ti 4:6 If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister [servant] of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto you have attained.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you.
From the apostle John:
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
So, regardless of what you may have heard regarding doctrine, faith comes by believing that the true doctrine will always come from the Holy Bible - the word of God:
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.
Amen.
Freely I have received, freely I have given.
Farewell,
Servanthood