God’s Definition of Truth

What Is Truth?

Pilate asked Jesus the age-old question, “What is truth?” There are many answers to that question in our world today. Some say truth doesn’t exist, others say truth is what you make it, and others say that it doesn’t even matter. But truth is important because truth describes reality. One good definition is: “Statements that accurately correspond with reality.” Truth is absolute. Since God created reality, then He is the ultimate source of truth. It originates with Him.

I. God Is Truth

• The prophet Isaiah twice refers to Jehovah as the “God of truth.” (Isaiah 65:16) He speaks truth when He makes promises, stresses His faithfulness, and reliability. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
  Isaiah 65:16 (NKJV) So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes.
  Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV) He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
• The Thessalonian Christians were commended for turning from idols to serving the true God. (I Thessalonians 1:9) He is the real God.
  1 Thessalonians 1:9 (NKJV) For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
• Jesus is described as being full of truth. (John 1:14, 17) He is the embodiment of all that is true. (John 14:6) He is the real, the accurate way to heaven. He is the source of true food and true drink. (John 6:55) All others are imitations.
  John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
  John 1:17 (NKJV) For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

  John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

  John 6:55 (NLT) For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

The third member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, is called the “Spirit of truth.” (John 16:13) See also I John 5:6. These verses stress that if something is true, it is true because God makes it true.
John 16:13 (NKJV) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
1 John 5:6 (NKJV) This is He who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

II. The Bible Is Truth

• Jesus declared, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) Later He proclaimed that the Word of God is truth. (John 17:17)
  
  John 8:32 (NKJV) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
  John 17:17 (NKJV) Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
• The inspired apostle Paul emphasized the accuracy of what he was speaking. (Acts 26:25)
  
  Acts 26:25 (NKJV) But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
• Paul also stated that those people who taught things contrary to what he taught were to be rebuked. (Titus 1:10-14)
  
  Titus 1:10-14 (NKJV) ¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. ¹² One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
• The Bible, the word of truth, doesn’t contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God. (Revelation 21:5) 
  
  Revelation 21:5 (NKJV) Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

III.What We Must Do with the Truth

• Live by the truth. (John 3:21) Do what is true. (I John 1:6) Practice the truth.
  John 3:21 (NKJV) But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
• We can come to a knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4)
  
  1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV) ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• We must truly listen to God’s voice as recorded in the scripture. (John 18:37, I John 4:6)
  
  John 18:37 (NKJV) Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
  1 John 4:6 (NKJV) We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
• The church (You and I) is to support the truth. (I Timothy 3:15)
  
  1 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV) but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
• Be very careful not to wander from it. (James 5:19-20)
  
  James 5:19-20 (NKJV) ¹⁹ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.