Lesson 2- What is Truth?

The previous lesson focused on embracing a proper attitude before opening the Bible.  The conclusion was that proper Bible understanding requires a good conscience, a pure heart, and sincere faith.  Having a pure heart presumes that the heart is also honest, and an honest heart will accept the truth without wavering.  Nonetheless, in a world where mullets and speedos are allowed to parade the sidewalk unrestrained, there is certain to be confusion.  Such is the case as we approach the question, “What is truth?

Why do we even have to ask this question?  The answer is simple: dishonest hearts.  An honest heart can look at a person that is 5′ 5″ and certainly know the person is not 6’5″.  This is an exercise in identifying truth.  Truth is nothing more than what accords with fact or objective reality (Merriam-Webster).  However, when objective reality is obscured with a dishonest heart, a heart that says truth is whatever feels right to the individual, then thousands of babies die, men look in a mirror and call themselves women, Hitler is justified for killing millions of Jews, and otherwise intelligent people cannot discern 5′ 5″ anymore.  Rather, they can simply choose otherwise.

Truth is objective.  Truth is absolute.  If truth were subjective and each person’s opinion was just as true as the next, then it would actually be right and justifiable to say, “Black lives don’t matter.”  Of course, something deep inside the human intuition and being says this cannot be true.

The reason most people believe that truth is relative, or varies from person to person, is because such a philosophy fits their preferred lifestyle.  That way, two passionate souls can have sex before marriage and everything is all good, because it feels right.  This is not what the Bible teaches about truth.

If you want to understand the Bible, you have to grasp this core concept: the Bible teaches there is an absolute standard of right and wrong.  In John 7, Jesus makes two statements which prove this fact.  In v. 19 Jesus says, “None of you keeps the law.”  Why would Jesus make such a bold and exclusive statement if truth were relative?  In v. 24 Jesus goes on, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”  Why would Jesus tell His audience to judge, for one, and why would He imply there is such a thing as a standard judgment that is “right,” if truth were relative? A more indelible example is found in Acts 9: Saul (later named Paul) is blinded by the Lord and told to stop persecuting Christians.  In recounting this event later on in life, Paul would tell Timothy that he was persecuting Christians “ignorantly in unbelief,” (1 Timothy 1:14).  So basically, when Saul was executing innocent Christians, it felt right.  Wait… it felt right.  The moral of the story is this: truth is not relative, and God requires all men to live according to His moral and revealed standard of right and wrong set forth in scripture.  Read the Bible with this truth impressed on your mind or be very confused very frequently.

So far you have learned a lot en route to understanding your Bible!  Step 1: Approach the Bible with an honest heart.  Step 2: Realize that the Bible teaches truth to be absolute and objective.  Step 3: Understand the Bible claims to be the very breath of God contained in ink (Lesson 3).

 

Homework Questions

1. An honest heart will accept the truth _______________

___________________.

 

2. Truth is:

1. 1. Objective
   2. Subjective
   3. A & B

3. The Bible teaches there is an _________________ standard of right and wrong.

 

4. Why do you think most people reject God, the Bible, and His standard of truth?

 

Helpful Resources

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman Geisler & Frank Turek

Love Your God With All Your Mind by J. P. Moreland.