What Is Truth; John 18:37-38
Two men had an argument. To settle the matter, they went to a judge to let him decide. The plaintiff made his case. He was very eloquent and persuasive in his reasoning. When he finished, the judge nodded in approval and said, "That’s right, that’s right."
On hearing this, the defendant jumped up and said, "Wait a second, judge, you haven’t even heard my side of the case yet." So the judge told him to state his case. And he, too, was very persuasive and eloquent. When he finished, the judge said, "That’s right, that’s right."
When the clerk of court heard this, he jumped up and said, "Judge, they both can’t be right." The judge looked at the clerk and said, "That’s right, that’s right."
We have heard that truth is relative, what’s true for you may not be true for me, what’s true for Americans may not be true for Iraqi’s, what’s true for some religions may not be true for other religions. If truth is relative… 1). Nothing is true… 2). Nothing is knowable… 3). Nothing matters… 4). No authority – there is no God… all religions are equal. That’s exactly what society is telling us… But TRUTH is not relative, it is absolute.
Billy Graham, “Truth is timeless. Truth does not change from one age to another, from one people to another, from one geographical location to another. Men’s ideas may differ, men’s custom’s may change, men’s moral codes may vary, but the great all prevailing truth stands for time and eternity.”
What we believe to be true may be relative, but the TRUTH is absolute… (John 18:37-38)
Many have asked that same question, books have been written on the subject, philosophers have debated the question for OVER 2000 years, and they continue to debate. They think they can find truth through rationalization. But what they think, doesn’t influence truth…
Others think they must experience something before they see it as truth - They are called EXISTENIALISTS. I have never been hit over the head with a hammer, but I believe it’s true that it would hurt… Common sense tells me it would…
Personal experience doesn’t create truth, nor does opinion, or culture, or religion, or anything else. Truth is truth whether we believe or not, experience it, or accept it… Truth is absolute.
I would like share with you 3 Great All Prevailing Truths:
I. God Formed Us
I believe that most people have some questions about where we came from, how we got here, what our purpose is in life. Many people have theories about how life began.
Scientists try to study organisms and cells and all sorts of life forms and they try to come up with some type of “theory” as to how we got here. Do you know what Webster’s definition is for a theory – “An untried assumption,” in other words it’s a guess.
The truth is scientist, professors, and teachers don’t know how we got here and so they have made some assumptions as to how life began.
A. The Big Bang Theory (Dynamite) B. The Theory of Evolution (missing link)
Both are just what some people assume or guess how we came to be and they teach it as fact. And they call it science, but for something to be scientific it must be testable & observable… They are untried assumptions.
But the Bible is not a book of assumptions or guesses; the Bible is the word of truth. Many have denied it, many have tried to disprove it, some have tried to do away with it, but none have been successful. As a matter of fact some that have tried to disprove it found themselves trusting in it because they found overwhelming evidence for it. The bible is the source of all truth.
God tells us in His word how we were formed, how life began. Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” We don’t have to guess about how life began because God told us how we began. The scientist or professors or teachers were not there when life began, but God was and we can trust His word.
God’s word says, “God formed man.” But some people would rather choose to believe a lie – Romans 1:18-22. Why doesn’t man believe? “They hold (Suppress) the truth in unrighteousness.” They don’t want to be held accountable… But the truth is God formed us and we are accountable to Him.
II. Sin Deformed Us
Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” We were created in the image of God… spirit, intellect, and a creative ability… But because of sin that image is marred. You see sin DEFORMS US.
Satan’s deception: Genesis 3:1-5 – “You will be like God.” Almost every false religion upon the face of the earth has said the same thing. One day you’ll be your own God. Man was already made in…
The Bible tells us that sin deforms us:
1. Physically – because of sin we deal with sickness, disease, & death - Romans 6:23. But look at what the serpent said in Vs. 4. Now look at Genesis 5… “It is appointed unto man once to die, & after this the judgment.” One day you will die, I don’t know how or when, then you will stand before God and give an account for your life.
2. Emotionally - robs us of our joy, peace, and purpose.
3. Spiritually – When we sin we are separated from the presence of God and that is spiritual death. After Adam & Eve sinned they didn’t die physically immediately, but they did die spiritually… They hid themselves from God and then were removed from the Garden of Eden and from the tree of life.
I know there are some people that believe that we can get away with sin, but the Bible in Num 32:23, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” actions, character, conscience, judgment.
Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” In other words we will get what we deserve unless we turn to Jesus Christ and ADMIT that we are sinful, BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is Lord and COMMIT our lives to HIM. WHY?
III. Only Jesus Can Transform Us
Do you know what it means to be transformed? Have you ever seen those toys that change form…? That’s what many people are looking for. They are not happy with themselves because sin has deformed us and so they think they can change themselves.
A. We can change some things about ourselves:
1. Our education – more education is good but it cannot transform you, it cannot change who you are… 2 Timothy 3:7, “Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth…” Philosophers, teachers, professors… great knowledge but they don’t know the truth.
2. Our appearance – clothes, cut or dye their hair, pierce their body, even spend millions on plastic surgery trying to look beautiful so they can feel good about themselves… (Michael Jackson).
3. Our actions – doing good things, go to church, get religious, help the needy, give to the poor… All good things but they cannot change who we are, our past, our sinful nature, or our destiny…
Jeremiah 13:23, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” We can change things about us, but we cannot change the fact that we are deformed by sin. The only way we can be transformed is through Jesus Christ.
B. JESUS CAN Transform:
1. Our past – Jesus takes your sins and casts them as far as the east is from the west. (clean slate).
2. Our present – He can take a life of loneliness and despair and give you a, “Peace that passes all understanding, a hope beyond circumstances, and a purpose for life.”
3. Our future – No matter where you are headed right now; Jesus can change your direction. He can take a life that is destined for Hell and change it’s direction to a life destined for Heaven.
Romans 5:8-9, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We must allow Jesus Christ and His word to renew our mind. No longer living by our selfish ambitions and desires, but by the spirit of God.
Conclusion: In Jesus you don’t get what you deserve, instead, you get mercy and grace and forgiveness. ABC’s of salvation;
If you would like to receive the gift of salvation - you must ADMIT that you have sinned, BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and COMMIT your life to HIM.
These three things cannot be changed for they are TRUTH.
