Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth
What is truth? This is the question Pilate asked Jesus Christ. In John 18 our Lord had been grilled by the Jewish High priest and council, then by Pilate. He returned to the Jews to say “I find in Him no fault at all”. We should consider the discussion that prompted Pilate to ask this all important query. Pilate had asked the accusing Jews what charge they had against Jesus. Their response in verse 30 is vague at best. They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Their use of the word “malefactor” is indicative of the fact that they had already condemned the Lord. A malefactor is an evil doer or a criminal.
Pilate, recognizing the thinly veiled attempt of a “rush to judgment”, told these enemies of the Lord to “Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.” These unbelieving Jews, fully knowing the Lord had done no wrong of any kind, tactfully tried to shift the responsibility of their wicked intent on the government of Rome by stating it was “not lawful for us to put any man to death: ”. Pilate then attempts to ensnare Jesus in His own Words. However, Christ could not be tricked in such a way. Christ’s response to the governor prompted him to report his judgment to these malicious Jews. Pilate then offered an alternative, (a Jewish custom), whereby their wicked conspiracy could be carried out. So they desired Barabbas’ release and Christ’s death.
Yet, Pontious Pilate’s question was still unanswered, or was it? Had not the Lord, previously, in John 8:31-32, said to the 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.”? Interestingly, Christ did not say “my truth” as many say in this day. He said “the truth”. Why then, didn’t the Jews know truth? Should the Jews not have known from their own Law, which God had specifically given to them? Did not the Spirit have the psalmist make the declaration in Psa. 119:151, identifying truth as their Law from God? Of course he did. It reads, Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Why did the Jews not know truth?
Jesus’ response to the question of the Sadducees in Matt. 22:23-29 as they challenged the Lord on their misapplication of the Law from Deut. 25:5-6 provides the answer why the Jews, and many others fail to know the truth. He said, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” He then, using God’s Word, responded to the issue on which they challenged Him. He reminded them that marriage is an earthly institution. The Words of God are Scripture and Scripture is truth.
In 1John 2:27, during the time when spiritual gifts were still in place as the N.T. Word of God was still being revealed, we have inspired teaching showing that God’s revelation through the Spirit is truth. The Spirit had John write, But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. We are to believe “the witness of the Word”. In 1John 5:6b, we are told, And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. The Spirit brought the Word of God to mankind. Col 1:5 reminds the child of God wherein their hope lies. How else could we have hope if not for Christ’s Sacrifice, and how else would we know of that hope except for the N.T. Word of God? For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Sadly, some will reject truth, trusting in gain. According to 1Tim 6:3-5, some are teaching things other than the “Words of our Lord Jesus Christ”, and His doctrine. They are “proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words”, and bring about things such as “envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings and perverse disputings”. These are described as “destitute of the truth”. Timothy (and we) are told that these suppose that “gain is godliness”, and we are told to withdraw ourselves from those of this mindset. Also, 2Tim 3:7-8 introduces us to the O.T. characters, “Jannes and Jambres”, who withstood Moses. It is obvious that they did so by “resisting the truth”. According to these verses, those who resist the truth, are of “corrupt minds” and reprobate (unapproved, cast away, rejected) concerning the faith. Surely folks don’t want to be unapproved, cast away, or rejected by God because of their refusal to follow truth.
When Jesus said “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”, He was speaking of the ONE TRUTH, the Word of God. This is fully verified in 1Pet 1:22, written by inspiration to the church that was “scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”. These were Christians in that area, those who had applied truth and been made free. We read, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: The Spirit brought the Word of God, the “TRUTH”.
I love you, though I don’t know you. This is because you have an everlasting soul. Won’t you obey the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth today? Your soul is going to spend eternity somewhere. It will be in one of two places. The soul that obeys the truth, and continues faithfully in it, will be a child of God while here on earth, and will spend eternity in Heaven with Him after the judgment. However, those who follow man-made doctrine or resist the truth in any way, and those who fail to continue to follow truth, will face eternity in Hell. The time to decide your eternal destiny is now. Let us help you find the truth as God has presented it in His Word.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
