Where is the Truth?

(Ephesians 4:20-21)

In a world that is intent on shifting blame, covering up, hiding and denying what is right, it becomes more and more difficult to find the truth.

Too often the media are biased on important issues and report only what they, their managers, sponsors or owners want to hear and they leave out the rest. Opinions are made based on half-truths, lies and fabrications and in the tsunami of information that is the internet it is almost impossible to find out the truth about anything.

But I use the word “almost” advisedly, because there is a truth to be found that is solid and penetrating through the layers of lies built up in this world. There is a way to answer the question positively that asks: Where is the Truth?

Seeking the Truth

The scripture I am looking at today answers that question, telling us clearly where we will find the truth.

20 You did not so learn Christ! — 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. (Ephesians 4:20-21)

Every person needs to seek the truth about any matter that is important. To do otherwise is to live your life in the dark.

But the question that asks, where is the truth, is a very good one. In my opening statements we can see that this world is so deeply buried in the darkness of lies, that the truth will be hard to find.

From a Christian perspective it is just as difficult or perhaps even harder because the devil has deliberately infiltrated the church over the past two millenia and planted his seeds of lies and half-truths for the very purpose of obscuring the truth so that it is difficult to find.

There are teachings in the church today that are accepted as truth, but are not. In some cases even a cursory search of the Bible will find that there is no basis for some of the teachings that are held sacrosanct in some churches.

Some of these lies and half-truths include teachings like: infant baptism, rejection of speaking in tongues, rejection of anointing with oil, observance of so-called holy days like Christmas and Easter. And these are some of the easier ones to deal with.

There are deeper teachings, some held reverently by many believers, that are harder to recognise as lies and even harder to root out. In some cases merely suggesting the doctrines to be false is to be branded as an heretic.

In the face of these issues then, it is essential that all Christians seek the truth for themselves. Every teaching and doctrine you come across needs to be tested against the words of the Bible, and not just the words but the context of the words. Context is critical because without the correct context, scripture can be and has been twisted.

For example, look at this scripture, taken out of context.

If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)

This is a scripture used by cults to separate children from their families so they can control them. But it is taken completely out of context.

One of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:12 said the exact opposite of what this verse says telling us to, “Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”

One of the things I have learned over many years of studying the Bible is that it does not contradict itself. The Bible is in perfect balance and harmony within itself and there are no contradictions.

So when we see a contradiction like the one above, the issue is usually about context. We do not (yet) understand the context of what is being said and so we need to look further to find the truth. And we MUST seek the truth if we are to know what the Lord is teaching us in the Bible.

When we add the context of what the Lord was saying in Luke 14:26, we find that He was not telling us to hate our parents, but that in all things we need to make Jesus our first priority above all else. We must put Him and our walk with Him above all else, even if that means we have to walk away from our families and loved ones. If we invest more into our families, friends, loved ones or anything else, and if we are more concerned about things like money, power, position, material goods and the things of this world, then we are not fit for God’s Kingdom.

So in seeking the truth context is important.

What is Truth?

But this raises another question, and it was once raised by Pontius Pilate when Jesus stood before him for judgement.

37 Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, “I find no crime in him. (John 18:37-38)

This is a very valid question, and like the title of this article requires the same answer.

We know from the words in Ephesians 4:21 that the truth is in Jesus. If we want know what the truth is, then we should begin by looking at Jesus and His words.

Jesus also gave us an excellent understanding of what the real truth is all about too.

31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

First, we see Jesus tell the disciples that if they wanted to find the truth then they needed to continue in His words. They needed to listen to what Jesus had to say and seek to understand his words so that they would find the truth. This is the first thing we must do also. Seek His words by reading the Bible and immersing yourself in His words. The New Testament is where we will find the words of Jesus and all that pertains to His gospel and the New Covenant, so that is where we need to begin to look.

But then Jesus adds the importance and value of finding the truth, and we can use His next words, “…the truth will make you free…” as a guide for what is truth and what is not.

Anything, whether it be a ministry, teaching or doctrine that you come across that is designed to lead you into bondage, slavery or captivity is not truth.

Why? Because Jesus said the truth will make you free.

The truth, and especially the truth of the gospel and the New Covenant in Jesus Christ will make you free. There is no bondage in Christ, and we see as we read the bible that He has set us free from sin, set us free from the law and through the working of the Holy Spirit will set us free from the passions, lusts and desires of our flesh.

Any teaching that you hear in a church that does not set you free but binds you in some way is not of the truth. And it IS that simple.

I am the Truth

Finally we can know that we will find the truth in Jesus because He IS the truth. As He said,

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Jesus cannot speak anything BUT the truth because He IS the truth. His life is all about the truth and His words are full of the truth.

This is why the truth is found in Jesus and nowhere else, because no-one else can claim to be the truth.

So seek the truth and know that the truth is in Jesus Christ. As you study His words pray and ask the Lord to give you insight and understanding about all things. As you listen to sermons and hear things that you may not have heard before, test them against the benchmark of, “The truth will make you free.”

And when you do hear something that seems strange, look for the context of the words. How do the words sound when you read what precedes and what follows? How do the teachings fit within the larger picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant?

When you look at these things and go to the Lord in prayer, diligently and earnestly seeking the truth, then the Lord has promised that the truth is what you will find. He will not allow you to be sucked in by errors and lies but will give you the truth as He said,

7 “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

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