THE QUEST FOR TRUTH
John 8:31-32
4/22/07a RRC Senior Recognition Day
Throughout men’s lives most are on the quest or the search for something. Some peoples’ quest is focused on money, some on power, some on fame.
Some people’s life’s mission is to save a tree or the environment. Some have very noble quests of humanitarian advocacy or to simply find a good spouse and raise a godly family.
As I grow older and hopefully a little wiser I am beginning to see more and more clear that the greatest thing to quest for is truth. Over the years the two verses that have had dramatic influences on my life are:
(John 10:10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
(John 8:32) And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
In (John 18:37-38) we find an interesting dialogue between Jesus Christ and Pilate, the one who had the power to set Jesus free or to condemn Him to die:
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. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? ……..
truth (American Heritage Dictionary)
1. Conformity to fact or actuality.
2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
3. Sincerity; integrity.
4. Fidelity to an original or standard.
5. a. Reality; actuality.
b. That which is considered to be the supreme reality and
to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.
THE SACRED VALUE OF TRUTH
Definition of Truth:
(John McArthur, The Truth War, p. 2)
“Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory and being of God…..truth is the self-expression of God.”
Since God is eternal, then truth is eternal.
Since God never changes, then truth never changes.
Since God is absolute, then truth is absolute.
Perfect in quality or nature; complete.
In 1992 a Barna Research Group survey on what Americans believe confirms what this brief scenario illustrates: we are in danger of becoming a nation of relativists. The Barna survey asked, "Is there absolute truth?" Amazingly, 66 percent of American adults responded that they believe that "there is no such thing as absolute truth; different people can define truth in conflicting ways and still be correct." The figure rises to 72 percent when it comes to those between the ages of 18 and 25.
Christianity Today, October 26, 1992, p. 30
Today, that percentage is even higher with over 90% of American teenagers not believing in absolute truth.
Only Through Truth Can We Truly Know God
God alone is Truth
- He alone is eternal
- He alone is righteous and never changes
God alone is the Source of All Truth
- He alone defines and delimits what is true
God alone is the Ultimate Revealer of Truth
- Self Revelation through Creation
- Revelation through our conscious
- Revelation through His Inspired Scripture
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(John McArthur, The Truth War, p. xix.) “All truth therefore starts with and what is true of God: who He is, what His mind knows, what His holiness entails, what His will approves, and so on. In other words, all truth is determined and properly explained by the being of God. Therefore, every notion of his nonexistence is by definition untrue. That is precisely what the Bible teaches: ‘The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.’”
Only Through Truth Can We Truly Experience Freedom
When we think of freedom, we immediately think of political freedom, but true freedom is not political in nature. This is exactly what Jesus’ audience assumed. Political freedom is external in nature, but true freedom is internal. Some of the most free persons in the world are living in a suppressive political environment or locked behind bars; and some of the most bound people in the world are those who walk around to live their lives as they want.
I want you to think with for just a moment on this idea of freedom by asking yourselves these questions:
- Why do I do the things that I do?
- Why do I wear the clothes that I wear?
- Why do I do things that I really don’t want to do?
***I would suggest that the answer to these questions for most of us is that we are trying to please people or just fit in…..that’s not freedom but bondage.
Only Through Truth Can We Truly Enjoy Protection
There is a world outside that is wanting to eat us up. There is an adversary that wants to destroy us. And sadly we all have a sin nature within that will lead us down the road of destruction by our own desires. That is why we need a protector and we find that protection in truth.
(Ps 40:11) Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
(Ps 91:4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Only Through Truth Can We Truly Find Purpose
Most people do not even know who they are and what is their purpose in life, because we have allowed a world full of deception define our identity and our purpose.
THE SPIRITUAL WAR AGAINST TRUTH
Two Major Tactics in Warfare Against Truth
1) Offer a Counterfeit Truth through Deception
a. Counterfeit Religions claiming Truth
Numerous religions, but only one can be true
b. Counterfeit Philosophies claming truth
Philosophies shift/change over the ages so none can be held as truth.
2) Claim There is No Such Thing as Truth
THE SUPREME QUEST FOR TRUTH
(Prov 23:23) Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
(Prov 4:5-9) Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Seek Truth through God’s Son
(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Seek Truth through God’s Word
(John 17:17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth
Seek Truth through God’s Spirit
(John 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
