John 18:37
"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. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.'"
What is Truth? This timeless question, first posed by Pilate, has been asked through the ages, with people seeking answers through philosophy and education. Many quote the words of Jesus, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32), but often without understanding the context. Every word in Scripture has meaning, and it's essential to study the biblical definition of truth. Jesus declares, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The LORD Jesus doesn’t merely show the way or teach the truth—He is the Truth. We cannot arrive at truth apart from Christ. Christ is the Truth.
Every mention of Truth in Scripture ties directly to Christ and His death. There is no separation between the Truth and the Faith; both are singular and absolute. The Bible speaks of the Truth, not truths. Some preachers today try to make room for multiple truths, but Scripture affirms there is only one Truth, which is Christ.
People often argue against being too absolute about the Gospel, questioning if there’s room for error. But no, there is only one Gospel that saves: the Gospel of Christ and Him crucified. God is precise, Christ is precise, and His work is precise. There is no room for the notion that there are different ways to heaven. Jesus is clear: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." All truth is embodied in Christ. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:18). Salvation comes through Christ alone.
It should not surprise us when people oppose the truth. Just as the ones who condemned Christ before Pilate rejected Him, so too do many today. As John writes, "And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). Christ’s coming is an objective revelation of truth. We are in Him, and through Him, we know what is true.
The message of Truth in Scripture is Christ’s Person and work. It's not just about how He died, but why He died and what His death accomplished. Some mistakenly view Christ’s death as only a partial act, as if He did His part, and now we must do ours to secure salvation. This is not the salvation Scripture teaches. Salvation is not a cooperative effort between the sinner and Christ; it’s an operation of God, entirely by grace. From eternity, God chose whom He would save, gave them to His Son, and in time, Christ came to lay down His life for that specific people (Ephesians 1:3-14). Christ did not die for everyone. There is no one in hell for whom Christ died.
Psalm 85:10-11 declares, "Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven." None of God’s attributes contradict one another. Many people struggle to reconcile His attributes, asking, “How can God be both loving and just?” In their attempt to explain God, they reduce His attributes or ignore one. Some focus only on God’s love, trying to explain everything through it. But when they come to difficult topics like wrath and justice, they are left without answers. The key is to place God’s holiness at the center. The angels cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty" (Revelation 4:8). Holiness explains how God’s love can be extended to sinners without compromising His justice.
Truth shines brightest against the darkest opposition. Christ’s enemies did not do anything outside of God’s ordained purpose. Christ was delivered up not because they were stronger, but because it was God’s will for Him to be crucified. In doing so, God offered His Son as the Sacrifice for the sins of even the worst sinners. Christ is King, and His Kingdom is here. He is currently calling out those for whom He died. Not one will remain lost. He will save every one of His people.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever." Revelation 5:9-14
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